Husqvarna Australia has confirmed that Queensland up and comer Nathan Crawford will lead an all-new factory support team during the 2014 national season.

Crawford will ride a TC 250 in his Monster Energy MX Nationals MXD debut, as well as piloting an FC 450 in state-level competition. He’ll be partnered by Junior pairing, Tasmanian Wade Kirkland and Victoria’s Bailey Malkiewicz.

“It’s a real good opportunity for myself to be with a European company like Husqvarna, that is prepared to support people to go places to further their career, so I’m keen to get it up the front and on the box,” Crawford said.

“I’m really enjoying the new bikes, I’ll be racing my Husqvarna TC 250 in MXD this year, and my FC 450 in state racing with Full Throttle Motorcycles as our go-to shop.

“I’m really looking forward to MXD this year, I’ve never ridden most of the tracks before but I’m confident I can get a lot of top five finishes and I believe I can be top three at the end of the year.”

Aussie junior champion Kirkland will ride both the Husqvarna TC 125 and FC 250 in Junior Lites racing, while Malkiewicz, who represented Australia at last year’s world junior championships in the Czech Republic, will ride a TC 85.

“Husqvarna Australia is really excited to introduce these top level riders as we relaunch the brand and it’s great to be able to foster new talent while increasing our presence on the national scene,” explained Tam Paul, national brand manager, HQVA.

“Nathan has a good technique and a great work ethic and he’s a big strong lad who is big enough to race the FC 450 already. He finished second in his last year of junior nationals in 2013 and I think he’ll make an immediate impact on the national scene.

“Both Bailey and Wade are proven junior aces. Bailey has world championship level experience and Wade is the current 12 to 14 years Australian champion.”