Image: Foremost Media.

Queenslander Nathan Crawford is targeting a return to AUSX Supercross for Melbourne next month, remaining sidelined for at least the Cronulla round this weekend.

An ankle injury sustained in the lead-up to this year’s series kept the SX1 contender out of the opening two rounds in Redcliffe, with the 28-year-old also set to miss round three.

Citing limited preparation time in the tighter, more technical discipline, Crawford will continue building laps before lining up behind the gates at Melbourne’s high-profile AUSX Open on November 22.

“The plan right now is to be back for Melbourne,” Crawford told MotoOnline. “That’ll give us enough time to get back into the flow of supercross and be in a position to come in competitive.

“I only managed a few days on supercross before I got hurt, so while we’re keen to get back out there as soon as possible, we also don’t want to line up behind the gate too early.”

It’s another setback in his second SX1 class campaign as part of the KTM Racing Team, with injury also hampering his indoor season last year where he finished 14th overall.