CDR Yamaha’s Billy Mackenzie is scheduled to make a last-minute return to the FIM Motocross World Championship this weekend at the Italian Grand Prix.

With regular GP contender Steven Frossard sidelined with injury, Mackenzie has been drafted into the Monster Energy Yamaha team to compete in the MX1 class alongside temporary teammate Joel Roelants.

With the current six-week break in Australia’s Monster Energy MX Nationals series, Mackenzie is taking advantage of the situation and looks forward to the unexpected challenge and opportunity presented.

“This is quite a cool opportunity and not really something I expected,” said Mackenzie. “But we have a gap in our season now and to come back and try a Grand Prix with the Monster Energy Yamaha boys was a challenge I fancied.”

Mackenzie, a former GP winner, has a long history with Yamaha in Europe and admits that the factory YZ450FM MX1 machine was always a bike he wanted to compete aboard.

“Obviously I have a connection and long past with Yamaha in Europe and it will be good to hook-up with some old faces,” he explained. “That factory bike was always something I fancied trying when I was racing in the world championship and now I have the chance!

“I just want to enjoy this and it is good to race at this level without any kind of pressure for points or the championship. I have to say thanks to Craig [Dack] and the Rinaldi boys for making it all happen.”

Frossard will undergo scans this week to determine a return date, Mackenzie is currently scheduled to contest this weekend’s round nine only.