Image: Russell Colvin.

Next Gen Motorsports’ Glenn Allerton completed just one day of the private two-day Australian Superbike Championship team test at Wakefield Park this week, still recovering from the severe impact of his crash in the opening race at Phillip Island.

Allerton, 37, crashed out of the first race of the season on lap one in spectacular fashion, but managed to bounce back for 11th overall once the weekend concluded. He’s been nursing his newfound wounds since.

The Goulburn circuit is Allerton’s home race of the season and, after recording a reported 58.3s lap-time in testing on Monday, he is now focused on next weekend’s race in a bid to turn his season around in its infancy.

“To be honest I probably didn’t have it in me to do two days of riding, because of my back injuries,” three-time champion Allerton commented. “I just have a really sore back and I have a bit of pain in my left hip, as I have pinched a sciatica nerve.

“We have another week on our side here before round two, so I’ll head back home and do the best that I can to get myself prepped and ready. I’m looking forward to getting back to Wakefield Park and I really enjoy the circuit. I know it’s going to be tight and tough, but I’m really looking forward to the racing.”

Last year was a disastrous one for Allerton at Wakefield Park, crashing out of Friday’s practice and sustaining a broken arm that would go on to affect him through the remainder of the year. Now back at Next Gen and riding his favoured S 1000 RR, his return will be one of the major storylines when round two takes place between 16-18 March.