HQVA press release:

It’s a long way from being one of the big factory teams, but at yesterday’s MX Nationals opener at Horsham, Husqvarna’s squad of Factory Support racers proved that the phrase ‘punching above your weight’ is not just a tired cliche.

The riders with the famous crowned ‘H’ on their bikes were either on the pace or making the pace across every class, and the result was the championship lead in two of four classes contested, another rider just one point from the lead in a third category.

Though he didn’t podium, SD3 Husqvarna’s Brett Metcalfe may well have been the story of the day; arriving in the country, switching brands, having just a couple of short, jetlagged rides on a stock Husqvarna FC 450, and then taking on the best riders Australia has to offer.

Metcalfe still finished 5-5 in the Premier MX1 class, which was won by Matt Moss ahead of Kirk Gibbs and Dean Ferris, despite a heavy crash in the first race and a lighter fall in the second, and the US-based South Australian is keenly looking forward to the next round at Appin.

In MX2 SD3’s Luke Arbon and his FC250 scored powerful holeshots and led more laps than anyone, but a tangle with a lapper in the second Moto forced him to accept a still-respectable sixth on the day.

It was fellow Husqvarna FC250 rider Nathan Crawford however, who went within a single point of winning the day after two third placings, and he will enter Round Two spectacularly well-placed.

It’s fair to say Husqvarna dominated the grassroots ranks, with all four Husqvarna Factory Support MXD riders landing in the top six of the championship points.

Western Australian Connor Tierney was untouchable on the day, powering to two brilliant wins on his Husqvarna FC250, while SD3-backed Kaleb Barham (2,5) launched to third on the day off a foundation of two powerful holeshots from his FC250.

Completing Husqvarna’s plunder of the MXD class, Zak Small and Justin Hart were fifth and sixth respectively.

Husqvarna’s successes weren’t confined to the big bikes on Sunday either, with Bailey Malkiewicz dominating the Yamaha 85cc Cup proceedings, his two wins giving him the championship lead over KTM’s John Bova and fellow Husqvarna rider Reid Taylor.

Jon Hafey, Husqvarna Brand Manager – “I was absolutely rapt with our presence today. Metty was extremely strong, given the very small amount of preparation time he’s had. Our 250s got four holeshots out of four, and they tended to be either 1-2, or 1-2-3 out of the first corner. Arbon would easily have led the most MX2 laps today, Crawford went within a point of winning it, and four of the top six MXD riders are Husqvarna factory support riders. In the 85s, Malkiewicz went 1-1 and Reid Taylor was third, which was just amazing considering he’s still a red plater.”

Steve McKinnon, SD3 Husqvarna Team Owner – “I think for the team overall we couldn’t ask for more. Metty had an incredible day on literally a bog-stock FC450 with nothing more than an exhaust on it, and was up there battling with the factory teams. It’s a credit to the FC450 and a credit to Metty. Luke and Kaleb between them had four starts for four holeshots – nobody can accuse the Huskys of not being quick out of the gate, that’s for sure. Luke’s pace was pretty scary, and he was very unfortunate to be taken out by a lapper while he was battling for third place in the second moto. Kaleb’s third overall was fantastic; the SD3 Husqvarna team was certainly in amongst it having a go. Another couple of weeks of Luke and Brett training together and Brett getting some time without the jet lag and it will be interesting.”

Brett Metcalfe – “I learnt a lot about where we need to improve, and coming in to this event with 0 to 1 day of testing behind me, I think the outcome was pretty damn good. I am disappointed with the results, but that’s just because I expect a lot out of myself. We just need to work on a few things to get them up to speed, but other than that, the SD3 Husqvarna team had a great day. I was close to running up in the lead pack, but unfortunately I crashed in both motos and if it wasn’t for those mistakes, the results would have been a bit better. I think Luke on the 250 did a great job and led laps in both motos, and I think we can both go home and learn a lot from this round one and then move forward onto round two and make some progress so we can come out a little stronger. Horsham was technical; very slippery and a lot of the down ramps were getting big square edged bumps and ruts. So the track was getting tricky for a high-speed place. Everybody had to be on their A game and really watch it.”

MX1 Championship Points after round 1: 1. M.Moss 65, 2. K.Gibbs 65, 3. D.Ferris 60, 4. K.Mosig 56, 5. T.Waters 54, 6. B.Metcalfe 52, 7. D.Reardon 50, 8. D.Long 48, 9. J.Dobson 44, 10. J.Wilson 43

Luke Arbon – “We have a lot more positives than negatives today. I just need to work on my race intensity and I suppose that will come as the races unfold. My bike is working awesome, and I can’t complain about two holeshots. The track didn’t suit me at all. It was so slippery and sketchy and even though I led pretty much half of both races, in both cases I started to ride a little bit …carefully and dropped back. So it was definitely good to get the first one out of the way and take some good points towards the championship. We’ll take that and move on.”

Nathan Crawford – “There’s only one point separating all three of us the championship, so that’s a pretty good way to start the season. I felt really good this morning even before practice, didn’t qualify too well but that doesn’t mean too much. First moto I think I made a few mistakes and went back to sixth, and then charged the whole way. So it was good that I could after only being back on the bike for a month and a half. In the second moto I just wanted to ride smart and I got third again, now I just can’t wait till the second round to build off what we’ve already done.”

MX2 Championship Points after round 1: 1. C.Ward 61, 2. N.Crawford 60, 3. J.Moss 60, 4. W.Todd 58, 5. J.Beaton 57, 6. L.Arbon 50, 7. J.Rykers 49, 8. K.Makeham 44, 9. H.Harwood 43, 10. K.Webster 41

Connor Tierney – “I’m pumped. I had three goals this year; go 1-1, get the red plate, and win the championship, so that’s two out of three done already! I’m happy. I’ve been working really hard and there’s a lot of things coincide to make today happen. I’ve got an awesome bike this year, I like the four-stroke a lot more and I think I ride a bit better. The track was rocked today, but the doing a lot of ruts in the off-season and obviously that’s paid off.”

Zak Small – “Fifth and a fourth today is a good start to the season, and we can build on that. I’m pretty happy with that, it’s a good base and something to work on. I got two really good starts and no crashes so I just rode my own races. I pumped up a little bit in the first race but that was to be expected I guess. Other than that I felt good, the bike was good and I’m looking forward to round two.”

Kaleb Barham – “I had to ride really smart today, it was probably one of the hardest rides I’ve ever done. With my injury, as soon as I push it feels like I’m going to go over the bars. So to get the third overall was good fun. In the first race I pulled a nice holeshot until Tierney went around me on the first lap. I hung it out the first few laps, but then I knew what I had to do, I had to ride smart, let him ride his race and I’d ride mine. I was second in that one, then the second moto was pretty brutal out there. I pulled another holeshot, did what I had to do and rode back to fifth and ended up third overall. Happy days.”

For more information on Husqvarna motorcycles visit www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com