Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing rider Cheyne Boyd believes a step forward in his preparation for 2011 will be key when he enters the second round of the MX Nationals at Appin track this weekend.

The 28-year-old from Rosebud in Victoria feels he has had the best preparation possible in the lead-up to a season yet and has been mirroring the fellow Honda rider’s training and preparation to ensure he leaves no stone unturned as he readies for this weekend.

“I have approached this round with the same preparation and program as Broadford,” Boyd said. “We did a lot of testing on different tracks over the past two weeks and we have definitely got the bike handling better with our new Ohlins suspension.

“I have done a lot of riding and put in some big fitness days so I feel prepared. Broadford was my first race in eight months and I didn’t feel as though I rode the best.

“Now I have an event under my belt I am looking forward to getting back out there and seeing how much I can improve on the first round.”

Boyd said he was looking forward to the challenge of a track that had been absent from the championship for some years.

“I have not ridden at Appin since the 2003/04 season and they have created a brand new track since,” he continued. “Hopefully the weather holds out and we will not see the conditions we did at Broadford which made the racing tough.”

Boyd sits fourth in the standings on 69 points, also this week admitting that he has taken inspiration from close friend Chad Reed in the lead-up to round two.

Michael Phillips’ Pro Open class debut didn’t go to plan at Broadford, with the torrid conditions catching him out.

Finishes in all four moto’s saw him collect enough points to sit tenth in the standings, a position he will look to move forward from this week. The change to two pairs of 10-minute moto’s is one Phillips feels he can benefit from.

“The first round was a tough one and despite the results I was pleased to be able to finish and collect some solid points in my first ride for the team on the CRF450,” said Phillips.

“I’m hoping we will have better conditions to race in this week, I feel like I can make up a lot of ground now that I have had more time to ride and get myself settled.

Appin is the second of nine rounds to make up the 2011 MX Nationals.