Fresh from a strong showing at Ranch MX’s seventh and eighth rounds of the Pirelli MX Nationals, Richie Evans was hospitalised upon returning to Cairns with continued pain in his right eye.

The Yamalube Yamaha Racing rider was diagnosed with an ulcer in his eye, which he believes will take a number of days to recover from before being back to 100 percent.

Evans, who’s just bounced back from a hand injury, went eighth and seventh overall respectively in the two rounds, posting a fifth place result in the final outing of the weekend.

“I struggled with starts all weekend and then when I did get a good one, I was able to finish fifth, so it is good to know that I can run top five speed at a national event,” Evans explained.

“My eyes were really sore and I’m not sure what caused it but I went to the hospital as soon as I got back to Cairns and they found an ulcer in my eye and I have been given some things to treat it. I will have to lay low for a few days but should be 100 percent for Gladstone where I want to continue to improve and get inside the top five at the final two rounds.

Missing much of the opening half of the series, Evans holds down 14th in the standings as the MX Nationals heads to Gladstone in Queensland on 5 August, marking the penultimate round of the series.