Defending Australian MX2 champion Egan Mastin debuted the all-new 2019 KTM 250 SX-F at the weekend’s double-header stop of the Pirelli MX Nationals in Raymond Terrace, New South Wales.

The number one appeared to be back in form aboard the new model, running third in the opening moto until a heavy fall on the final subsequently resulted in a concussion, cutting his weekend short.

While it was an unfortunate exit in front of a home New South Wales crowd at the Ranch MX venue, Mastin admitted he was gelling with the heavily revamped quarter-litre machine prior to coming unstuck.

“It was definitely disappointing, because I was sitting in third on the last lap and I was pretty gutted to go down,” Mastin commented. “I went down pretty hard and had a heavy head-knock.

“My face is pretty banged up and unfortunately I couldn’t line-up today. I’m feeling pretty sore and, like I said, it’s disappointing because I was feeling comfortable on the 2019 KTM 250 SX-F that we just got and I was hoping for a good weekend.”

A non-scorer across all four motos, Mastin is now ranked ninth in the championship standings. He will undergo further medical evaluation this week, although he is anticipated to return for Gladstone’s penultimate round on 5 August in Queensland.