Morse targets Townsville comeback after surgery

Zane Morse is eyeing a Dunlop Series comeback in Townsville after recovery from surgery ruled him out of the second round in Perth.

The 24-year-old underwent surgery late in March following a fall, which left the rising star nursing a broken scaphoid. The injury was sustained eight weeks out from the Perth event, but Morse was unable to recover in time.

A scaphoid fracture typically takes three months to heal. First practice in Townsville will be 101 days post-surgery for Morse, who was wearing a plastic guard on his wrist and thumb in Perth.

With Morse unable to race in Perth, AIM Motorsport called up Novocastrian Ryan Gilroy, who steered the pink #11 Mustang to 17th and 12th in the two races.

Morse, however, travelled with the team to Perth and supported Gilroy, who himself returned to racing after recovering from concussion sustained in a Bathurst crash last year.

"I'm a little disappointed that I wasn't able to make the Perth round, but I'm here as well just to support everyone all the same," Morse recently told Supercars.com.

"I'm very grateful for everyone at Enhance Healthcare, who have have been helping me out as much as they can."

A Townsville return would be fitting for Morse, who claimed his first Super2 round podium at last year's event at Reid Park.

"Obviously we can't really do much until the doctors give me the all clear. So, just waiting for that day to come," Morse added.

"These sorts of injuries, they're finicky, aren't they? You can definitely feel it when you move the thumb around.

"But, I'm feeling good, and I can't wait to get back in the car again."