Following a bruising start to the year, Terrafirma Honda Racing’s Wilson Todd scored a pair of second-place finishes at Appin, with the Penrite ProMX MX2 red plate-holder looking ahead to fully recovering and getting more seat time prior to the upcoming rounds.

Todd commenced 2023 competing in 250SX West with Fire Power Honda Racing but unfortunately sustained severe whiplash when he was brought down in the whoops at Anaheim 1, later hurting his thumb and was involved in a first-turn pile-up during San Diego’s main.

He returned to Australia ahead of the opening round of the 2023 Penrite ProMX Championship at Wonthaggi, where heavy contact by Nathan Crawford (KTM Racing Team) caused him to crash, however, he was able to remount and win the season-opening moto.

Qualifying fastest at Appin, Todd fended off an early challenge from teammate Brodie Connolly to ultimately finish second and 11 seconds back from race-winner Crawford in moto one.

The defending champion made his way past Rhys Budd (Serco Yamaha) to lead the early stages of the second bout, but was unable to stop the charge of Crawford who took to the front on lap five and stormed to another commanding victory.

“Not too much [thoughts on the day at Appin], just happy I am still walking and finished my first race without picking up a new injury all year,” Todd explained. “I broke a rib, well hurt a rib in America and I got a brand new one [rib injury] at Wonthaggi, so I mean it has just been one after another all year. I’d like to get healed up and get some time on the bike again.”

Todd’s 2-2 scorecard at Appin landed him second overall for round two behind emerging title-rival Crawford, and he holds a 17-point red plate advantage ahead of teammate Connolly with the number 199 a further two points adrift following his penalty at round one.

“Yeah, I mean it is better than crashing my brains out and finishing a bit further back,” Todd added. “I was happy to just stay up towards the front and cruise it home.”

Six rounds still remain in this year’s Penrite ProMX Championship, with Wodonga, Victoria, marking the next stop on the national motocross calendar on 16 April.