Image: Andrew Gosling (tbgsport).

Crankt Protein Honda Racing Team’s Jamie Stauffer will make his anticipated return to the Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli this weekend at Sydney Motorsport Park.

Stauffer was involved in a spectacular high-speed crash at Phillip Island’s round one of the ASBK, which he walked away from, however a crash during testing for Wakefield Park’s second round sidelined him with a back injury.

“I am excited to get back on the bike,” Stauffer said. “Sydney Motorsport Park is my home track and I am looking forward to getting back out there for round three. I have always raced motorbikes and it’s something I love, so to have to miss a round of the championship was not ideal. It was tough being sidelined, even though I wasn’t there I was still checking results.

“I am now heading into round three with my competitors having one meeting up on me, but I have a great team supporting me and I am just going to try and go out there and race to the best of my ability.

“It’s really hard to know what to expect this weekend, I have never had an injury like this before, and with only getting medical clearance on Tuesday it has been hard to prepare my body to ensure I am fit for racing. In saying that, we have a great bike to work with, a great team, and we will all be working together this weekend. I’m just happy to be going racing again.”

Stauffer was replaced by experienced Australian international Anthony West at Wakefield Park, finishing second behind Crankt Protein Honda Racing teammate and title leader Troy Herfoss in a 1-2 result for the factory squad.