Tonsillitis severely limited Brodie Connolly’s preparation and physical performance for the fourth round of the Penrite ProMX Championship, as the Polyflor Honda Racing MX2 contender ‘tried to salvage points’ amidst a challenging day at Maitland.

Conolly has been a revelation of sorts throughout this year’s championship, showing the pace and potential to challenge up the front across the opening three rounds.

This was highlighted in Albury when he won the MX2 overall, closing to within eight points of red plate-holder and teammate Wilson Todd. However, the New Zealander’s build-up to Maitland was impacted by illness which kept him off the bike for roughly two and half weeks prior to the fourth round.

He ultimately qualified 18th fastest and rode to 7-12 moto scores to bank what could be a crucial 23 points come season-end, concluding the fourth round 10th overall.

“Super tough weekend for me, was real hard on the body,” Connolly explained to MotoOnline. “Tried my best, tried to salvage points with how I felt, but yeah it was a bloody tough weekend.

“Ended up getting tonsillitis, was in the hospital on Monday night on a drip, so yeah she wasn’t really good. I haven’t really been able to do much training the last couple of weeks, I don’t think I rode for two and a half weeks or something until yesterday. Not really the best thing, but tried to get as many points as I could today. I had nothing to give today, no energy, it was pretty tough.”

At the halfway point in the 2023 Penrite ProMX Championship, Connolly is second in the MX2 standings and 27 points down on Todd as the series moves to Gillman, South Australia for round five on 28 May.