2008 Australian Pro Lites Motocross Champion Luke George will return to racing this weekend at the Lakes Summer X in Lake Macquarie, NSW, making his competitive comeback five months after a horrific crash that nearly claimed his life.

Fighting to retain his MX Lites crown at the final round of the 2009 Championship at Coolum in August, the young gun crashed heavily in the final moto and suffered head injuries that were serious enough to put the champion in a coma for 5 days. Since waking, his progress and rehabilitation have been nothing short of miraculous, going from strength to strength in a very short time thanks largely to his high level of physical and mental fitness.

“I’ve been waiting for this weekend for five months now – It was a big injury that I had and as far as my comeback goes I wanted to do everything right,” George said. “All the doctors who had anything to do with me are just speechless at the progress I’ve made.

“But even though doctors told me towards the end of last year that I could get back on a bike I made a personal decision to wait a bit longer. I had nothing to gain and everything to lose by rushing to come back. I’d like to thank everybody who’s supported and helped me for the last 5 months, especially the Brain Injury Unit in Newcastle. I really can’t thank them enough.”

Upon returning to racing, George explains that he has been feeling himself in practice, confident he will be comfortable on race day.

“Everything feels really really good. To tell the truth it feels like I’ve never been off the bike,” he revealed. “It all feels just like before. I’m still not planning to set the world on fire when I go out there this weekend but I’m just so happy to be doing what I love.

“I’m also really excited to be riding the 2010 Kawasaki KX250F this weekend. It’s been feeling great so far and I can’t wait to put it through its paces in a race.”

George will compete in the Pro Lites class in the Australian Motocross and Australasian Super X Championship this year, also planning to race in various AMA rounds in the USA as well.

Details of George’s team and sponsors are yet to be finalised.