It’s been a while since young 20-year old Michael Blair has thrown his leg over a motorcycle since crashing at Phillip Island in February during the Australian Supersport support races at the World Superbikes. In fact it was over four months since Blair rode his Finson Motorsport Yamaha R6 and went for it. Just yesterday Blair finally got to put himself through the paces once again at Winton Motor Raceway and is now looking forward to bigger things for the remainder of 2014. CycleOnline.com.au caught up with the likable rising star at yesterday’s ASC test to see how his recovery’s coming along.

Image: Russell Colvin.

Michael, today was your first ride back since the World Superbikes at Phillip Island in February. How was it out there today in these tricky conditions?

Yeah, it’s great being back on the bike! It’s far too long off the bike. It’s been a hard day to put down some times due to this weather. But in saying that, we have accomplished a good wet set up for the Finson Motorsport Yamaha R6. I’m feeling pretty confident if it does rain here next month when we come back here for the next ASC round. Hopefully we can find a few more seconds in the dry.

So will you be doing all the remaining rounds of the ASC championship for 2014?

Yes. My first race back will at Phillip Island next weekend at the ASBK. Then I’ll finish the remaining rounds of the ASC, Winton, Wakefield and Sydney Motorsport Park. I’ll also be doing all the remaining rounds in the Asia Road Racing Championship, which has four rounds to go.

Which tracks will you head to over in Asia for the remaining rounds?

Autopolis in Japan on August 15-17, then we head to Suzuka on September 5-7. On November 7-9 we head to Buriram in Thailand before finishing off of at the Losail Circuit in Qatar on December 11-13. I’m pretty excited to be on a competitive bike this year and push for points after last year I had problems at all tracks with bike dramas. So I can’t wait to get back there!

You just touched on the subject then about you had bike dramas last year in the ARRC. What was that all about?

Yeah last year was quite hard. I had a tough year with a team. Round three in India we blew up five engines in one race meeting. It was certainly a season to forget that’s for sure! This year will be a lot better and I am hoping to be a lot further up the pointy end of the field than what I was last year.

From your point of view, what is the biggest difference between the ARRC and the FX-Superbikes. And what do you prefer most?

I definitely prefer the Asian championship; I think the layout is a lot better. You have a lot more time with three 40-minute practice sessions and a 40-minute qualifying session, plus two 20-lap races. So it’s a lot more challenging and the level of competition is a lot higher… it’s almost like World Supersport level. There a lot of ex-GP riders such as Katsuaki Fujiwara and Makoto Tamada and so. So for sure, I prefer the Asian championship.

So take us back to that crash which you had this year at the island in February. What exactly happened from your point of view?

In second lap of practice in the first session I went through turn three a bit faster than what I should have been doing. It was still a bit damp and quite windy conditions and a big gust hit through mid-turn, which pushed me out onto a damp patch and I just tucked the front-end and went into the kitty litter – I was a passenger from there.

What injuries did you sustain in the crash that forced you out for so long?

I broke my wrist which needed two pins and a few other things in it, dislocated my hand and fingers. I tore all the tendons and ligaments, which also needed a few anchors to be repaired. A few pins in my fingers were needed as well. And that’s about it.

Image: Russell Colvin.

And you wonder why motorcycle races are called gladiators! How frustrating has it been not able to ride a motorcycle for so long?

Yeah extremely frustrating! I think this is my longest time being off a bike since I started riding. I have hated every moment! I just cannot tell you how good it feels to get back on it again. We’re slowly coming back and hopefully we can be back at the front very soon.

With your time off the bike, have you still been able to do any training?

I have been able to do a lot of leg work. It has been hard for my upper-body strength, so riding around today I have felt that my shoulders and arm are getting quite fatigued very early. But the more and more bike time I’m getting is making it get better. I’m trying to sort the bike out to make it easier to ride. It’s all coming along very well.

Today has all been about getting bike time to see where you are at. So after the day’s work today, out of one and 10 where would you rate yourself right now?

I would probably rate myself at around a six. I’m about 60-70 percent. I’m getting better each week.

So fast forward a week at the ASBK at the island, which will be your first race back, where would you like to be sitting by then?

Hopefully around 80 percent. I don’t think my hand will ever be back to 100 percent; I won’t get full movement back in my hand which I will struggle with.

Roll on a few weeks for the next round of the ASC. What would you be happy with?

I think a top five would be good. It’s a very difficult series this year. But I have not had a real chance yet to pace myself with any of the other boys yet. I think a top five would be a good start and a front row start. I would be pretty happy with that.