News 7 Jul 2021

Returning Malkiewicz outlines overseas intentions for 2022

Teenager makes racing return at the Hattah Desert Race.

Image: Foremost Media.

Fresh from making his return to racing at the Hattah Desert Race last weekend, Bailey Malkiewicz has made his intentions clear of heading back to the world circuit in 2022.

The teenager contested the MXGP World Championship with Team Honda 114 Motorsports last year before returning home, where he initially signed a deal with WBR Yamaha in the premier class of ProMX.

However, his reunion with the WBR squad – with who he won the junior world motocross championship and Australian Under 19’s title in 2018 – was short-lived after undergoing knee surgery at the beginning of the year, essentially ruling him out of the season.

Malkiewicz, who made a surprise return to competition at Hattah that ultimately ended in a non-finish, is adamant about returning overseas next year to reignite his international career.

“The plan is to try to get back overseas,” Malkiewicz told MotoOnline.com.au. “Whether that happens or not, we don’t know. We’re always trying to work something out. The worst case is we spend another year at home, get healthy, have a solid year at home and try again the next year.”

The Victorian remained coy about making any appearances in the remaining rounds of the ProMX championship this year, insisting he’ll only line up if he’s ready to challenge for race wins.

“Racing [Hattah] hasn’t changed the plans I had previously,” he continued. “It was good to go racing and get some time on the bike and have some fun. Knowing I felt good on the bike and being back riding, it’s where I want to be.

“The plan is that if I’m ready and fit enough to do some racing here, I’ll do it, but I’m working hard to get back to where I was and improve on that. If I’m not up to scratch and ready to race, then I’m not going to go racing if I’m not confident that I’ll be up the front and battling for wins.”

Malkiewicz’s rookie season in the MX2 category of the world championship last year saw him ranked 14th in the standings with a number of top 10 moto finishes to his name.

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