Rookie AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, contender Tye Simmonds realises he needs to make better starts if he’s to continue improving for JDR/J-Star/KTM this season.

The 18-year-old Australian failed to make the main event at Dallas on Saturday after crashing in the LCQ, and he’s determined to work on his starts aboard the 350 SX-F over the coming weeks as the season winds down.

“It was an unfortunate night with quite a few crashes and some bad luck,” Simmonds said. “I need to get better starts to put myself in a position to place up front instead of fighting through the pack each week.

“I’m going to continue to work hard this week and hope to improve in St. Louis.”

Simmonds has had a difficult initiation to the most difficult series in the world, however has impressed by qualifying at six of the 13 main events run so far in what is widely recognised as the toughest year in the sport’s history.

JDR teammate PJ Larsen crashed during the East Coast Lites main event at Dallas, ruling him out of the night with a suspected wrist injury.