Rockwell is currently recovering from back and neck injuries

Manx rider Alex Rockwell is hoping to recover from injury for the first round of the British Enduro Championships in Norfolk this weekend.

The 21-year-old hurt his back in a crash during training in January.

"I've been struggling, my neck and back are still really sore but I'm trying to get as much bike time as possible," said Rockwell.

The series begins on 27 February with 237 riders competing at the first round at Thetford Forest.

The Midwest Husaberg rider will be hoping to improve on last year's ranking when he finished ninth overall after missing two rounds with an injury.

"It's an occupational hazard in the sport. It's not a case of if you get hurt, it's when you get hurt," he added.

One of his main competitors in the under-23 class this year will be fellow Manx rider Daniel McCanney .

"We're both really competitive with each other," McCanney added.

"My goal this season is to progress to being in the top-five at Championship level and win the under-23 championships."

Another Isle of Man rider, David Knight, who is the reigning World and British Enduro champion, will be starting at Thetford as number one after winning the event for the last two years.

Much of the 2011 course is new, with competitors set to be riding between 80 and 120 miles off road, depending on their class.

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