Multiple injuries sustained in a first turn crash at Wonthaggi’s second round of the Pirelli MX Nationals have damaged Brett Metcalfe’s 2019 campaign in just its early stages.

The talented Penrite Honda Racing rider suffered a broken finger in three places, separated AC joint as well as a hematoma on his thigh after colliding with a number of riders in turn one of moto two on Sunday.

The injuries add to challenging pre-season that saw the former international endure multiple fractured vertebrae in his lower back, which he remarkably bounced back from to make the season-opener at Appin, just six weeks after the incident.

While his chances of earning the crown this season have slimmed, he’s certainly not out of the race for the premier class championship with an upcoming eight rounds granting him an opportunity to claw back the 35-point deficit to current leader Hayden Mellross (Raceline KTM Thor).

“My sole goal is to line-up at Broadford, brave the pain and get as many points as we can to stay in the championship,” Metcalfe admitted. “The biggest concern right now is the spiral fracture I have in my finger. I will head back to the clinic next Monday and we will make a decision following the second round of results.

“I felt fast but it was hard to pass, I lost a lot of time throughout the race being stuck behind riders as the track was very one-lined. In the end, I settled for fifth and I was able to make up 18 seconds on the winner so we certainly had great pace.”

Metcalfe’s fifth in race one at Wonthaggi credited him 17th overall, pushing him back to 13th in the series rankings after previously holding down fourth. The MX Nationals heads to Broadford in Victoria on 14 April.