Kawasaki Racing Team MX2's Mathis Valin is now well on the road to recovery from the injury he sustained in Portugal, just a few weeks after racing to his maiden GP victory at the German round of the FIM MX2 Motocross World Championship.

The French youngster, who turned twenty years of age on Tuesday, crashed heavily whilst leading the Qualifying race in Portugal seven weeks ago but is now recovering well, even though he is not yet ready to resume bike training on his Kawasaki KX250-SR. Following the crash he returned initially to his family home in Vendee for several weeks to allow his back to recover in a calm environment. The most recent medical examinations have indicated a significant recovery and he is now able to rebuild his physical training programme.

“During the first weeks after my injury I could continue to do a little light physical training, but it’s only during the last few days that I can go cycling and work more intensely. Day-after-day and week-after-week I can feel some improvement, and in two weeks’ time I will undergo more medical checks in order to get the green light from the medical staff,” explained Mathis.

In full agreement with the team Mathis will not return to racing during the final rounds of this year's world series, instead, come back strong, maybe for the Monster Energy Motocross of Nations.

“Of course I hope to get the green light from the doctors in early September but, before lining up at a GP, you must be in the very best physical shape and with the last three GPs so far away that would not be easy. My goal is to recover as soon as possible of course, and, if I am selected by the French Federation, to be back racing in the MX of Nations at Ernée on October 4th. Last year I enjoyed this event so much so I hope to be part of the team again, but first of all we must wait for the next examinations to be sure that I can get back on a bike,” continued the young French hopeful, who has maintained a strong mentality despite the injury and has not missed any of the racing action.

“Of course I watched all the GPs on television, and also the races in America. I’m impatient to get back to training and racing but when you suffer a back injury you must be patient,” he concluded.