Image: Foremost Media.

A high-speed practice incident during the week leading into round five of ProMX 2025 on Sunday left defending MX1 champion Kyle Webster with two broken transverse processes in his back, with a gritty performance through the pain in Warwick resulting in P2 on the podium.

The Boost Mobile Honda rider entered the fifth round facing a 13-point deficit to series rival Jed Beaton (Monster Energy CDR Yamaha), and needing to make up points as this year’s season enters its second half.

Despite pain which had the number one contemplating whether he was going to line up in Warwick, Webster would post a commendable ride to earn a 3-1 moto scorecard, sealing second overall for the day and conceding just two points to Beaton.

“I’m sore, but happy to get the win in that last one,” Webster told MotoOnline. “For most of the week, I was very unsure… I [eventually] knew I could come here, circulate, and ride, but I wasn’t sure how I was going to go. I had a practice crash during the week, which is one of those things.

“It was high speed, and I hit the ground hard and broke two of the transverse processes in my back, which was enough to hurt a lot. The first few days, I was super stiff, and the thought was there [of not riding], but I did a bunch of physical therapy and was able to get moving again.

“Going down in the first moto wasn’t ideal and it deflates you a little bit, especially when you’re not at 100 percent. I was really hurting in that one, but it was almost easier to switch it all off for the second race – I definitely still had some sketchy moments – but it was back to the type of racing Jed and I have had all year.”

In addition to the latest injury, the 29-year-old also said that the hand injury sustained at last year’s championship-deciding round at Queensland Moto Park has yet to fully heal, with surgery on the cards at the conclusion of the 2025 season.

“I didn’t actually get it [my hand] fixed after last year, because I thought that it had come good, but unfortunately when I started riding again it started flaring back up,” he added. “It’s just my carpal tunnel as far as I know, it’s a bit blocked up, and with the time off needed to recover – I’ll wait until the end of this year and get it fixed up.”

With three rounds remaining in this year’s ProMX championship, Webster now faces a 15-point gap to Beaton, as round six in Canberra takes place on July 6.