Image: Supplied.

Reigning MXGP world champion Jeffrey Herlings will return to racing this weekend at the MXGP of Russia in Orlyonok, marking round eight of the world championship.

The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider suffered an injury while training in Spain in January, undergoing a complex procedure with renowned surgeon Dr Claes to fix multiple fractures in his right foot.

The 24-year-old completed national race events in Holland and Austria last week where he scored top three classifications, in what were his first competitive outings for the Dutchman since he sustained the damage.

“I’ve just been on the bike for three weeks and it has been going okay,” said Herlings. “I’ll be going to Russia with a different mindset to usual. It will be the first of three races in a row and those will be important weeks to build-up race-rhythm for the rest of the season.

“I did two national events and my speed was there but I was struggling with the normal things you get on the way back from injury – arm-pump and running with other riders again. It will be even tougher with a whole bunch of top guys in Russia!

“I don’t have a position in mind. I’ll do my best of course and I’ll be happy with something between 5-10 but we have to keep realistic. When we go to Latvia next, which is a bit sandy, then we can look and see and maybe think a bit differently.”

The 2019 MXGP World Championship is led by Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli, who holds a 10-point advantage over Tim Gajser (Honda HRC).