Following a second overall placing at the Raymond Terrace Monster Energy MX Nationals season opener, Carlton Dry Honda Racing’s Josh Cachia is satisfied with his result after battling an arm injury throughout the day.

After signing with his team just six weeks before the opening round, Cachia looked comfortable aboard his Honda ripping the Suzuki Holeshot in moto one.

But as the race went on the Victorian began to battle with severe numbing pain in his right arm, forcing him to ease off the pace in a conservative performance.

“I got a good holeshot and led the opening race then something happened to my right arm and I just simply couldn’t hold on any more,” said Cachia. “I backed off and thought being fifth is better than being on the ground.

“In the second race I told myself I had to pull my finger out, get the job done if I crash I crash at least I am trying and I came away with second.”

After taking the moto two holeshot, Cachia was passed by eventual overall winner Luke Styke, before settling in and maintaining strong speed despite the pain.

But Cachia admits he will need to deal with his wrist issue before round two in a bid to halt the early momentum of arch-rival Styke.

“I am stoked to get the first round done and to come away with a podium,” he added. “There is definitely a problem there with my arm that I will need to get fixed before we head to Murray Bridge.”

Cachia will benefit from the upcoming weekend off in the 2013 Monster Energy MX Nationals schedule, before the series returns at Murray Bridge in South Australia for round two.