Following an onslaught of injuries to their team riders, TM Racing Australia is gearing up to make their Monster Energy MX Nationals comeback this weekend at Conondale in Queensland.

TM Racing’s MX1 contender Simon Thompson re-aggravated a back injury at the season opener, forcing himself to take the season off and undergo surgery on his back.

Adding insult to injury, MX2 contender Ryan Ziepes also succumbed to a mysterious knee injury at Raymond Terrace’s round one.

After multiple scans on his injured knee, doctors have been able to explain his nagging problem and Ziepes has decided to make a gritty return to the track.

“I will be returning for Conondale,” said Ziepes. “I have had a heap of scans and stuff done on my leg and the outcome was that I have advanced arthritis in my knee and also a bone disease which is causing my knee to dislocate and play up.

“There is nothing they can do to fix the problem at this stage and I just have to push through the pain and dramas that come with it and keep a positive look.”

Ziepes will make the switch from his TM 250 two-stroke to the more user friendly TM MX 250Fi four-stroke in a bid to make it easier on his body.

“I have decided to step onto a 250 four-stroke so that it is a bit easier on my body rather than my two-stroke,” said Ziepes. “I am really looking forward to getting back out there and mixing it with the boys again.”

Joining Ziepes at the Conondale’s round five this weekend in the MX2 class will be Nyk Geck. Team owner and manager Andrew Franklin looks forward to having the former TM rider joining the squad this weekend.

“Nyk will be joining the team at Conondale,” Franklin said. “He only got back into riding and training a few weeks ago and is coming on very well.

“There is no pressure on him at Conondale, he is there to get some quality race time and build towards the Supercross championship. In saying that, hopefully he can push towards some top then results by the end of the MX Nationals.”