Glenn Kearney will be making a return to the U.S. Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Championship series next week in a busy fortnight for the Husqvarna Racing rider.

Kearney will fill in for injured regular Andrew Delong on the FAR Husqvarna team in the XC2 class at the Westgate River Ranch GNCC opener in Florida, which will be held on Tuesday, 13 March.

With the opening Australian Off Road Championship on this weekend in Dungog, NSW, Kearney will be on a tight schedule, flying out to the U.S. on Monday before racing the day after he arrives in Orlando.

“I am looking forward to riding in the GNCC series again, it’s only been a couple of years since I competed there and I really enjoy the format and nature of the racing,” Kearney said.

“I am fit and I’ve been riding well so I am quietly confident we can get a good result.”

He will stay for The General GNCC round in Georgia on 17-18 March, before flying back to Australia for round three and four of the AORC series at Wonthaggi, VIC, on 31 March-1 April.

After taking the round win last weekend in the first round of the Husqvarna Sprint Series held at Kyogle, he’s confident for the 2012 season.

“I am very pleased with the 2012 TE 310 and it worked really well as a race package,” said Kearney. “The development and setup done in the off season has paid off and I am looking forward to the AORC opening round.”

Stay tuned for updates on Kearney’s progress in the U.S. next week.