A motocross-only deal for KTM Racing Team’s Kirk Gibbs adds urgency to his recovery from thumb surgery, with the Queensland-based rider delivering his strongest overall result to date in 2022 Penrite ProMX at Coffs Harbour despite the recent operation.

Gibbs severely ripped his UCL when he overcooked a jump in the opening moto of round five at Maitland – after qualifying fastest, and went under the knife just three weeks out from round six.

“For sure, this year has been pretty frustrating, I broke my foot seven weeks before round one so I had to rush back to get ready, and like you said, motocross only, so it’s quite hard,” Gibbs told MotoOnline. “When I talked to Steve he was really confident that I would be able to ride, he did say it would be sore. I put 100 percent belief in him.

“It was good that get out there and push through, I wanted to get some results on the board. I feel like I was taking a bit of a turning point up until I did my thumb.”

Eager to deliver on his potential before the season’s completion, the 450 SX-F rider finished second overall at Coffs Harbour courtesy of 2-3 moto scores and admitted the track conditions were favourable to his condition.

“I think this track sort of favoured me a little bit, being so deep and so gnarly,” Gibbs added. “The track wasn’t quite as fast as what it could have been, but I’m really happy because three weeks ago I was laying up in a hospital bed.

“My thumb is sore right now and race day was a little harder than what it was practising with it. I still think I am a top-three guy, definitely, going into the last two rounds. I need to give my thumb a little bit of rest and then go back after it!”

Gibbs’ next opportunity to land on the top step comes in less than three weeks at Queensland Moto Park (QMP) for round seven of ProMX on 14 August, before the series concludes at Coolum the following weekend on 20-21 August.