Completing the Penrite ProMX Championship inside the top three for a third-straight year in MX2 is the immediate target for Rhys Budd, the Serco Yamaha racer currently fourth in the standings and within striking distance of achieving that goal.

Riding for the Yamalube Yamaha Racing team in past seasons, Budd was third in the condensed 2021 season and went one better last year to finish runner-up to Terrafirma Honda Racing’s Wilson Todd.

Budd made the switch to Serco Yamaha for 2023, with his highlight of the season so far coming at Maitland, where he scored the overall victory with a 3-2 scorecard. With two rounds remaining, the number 22 looks to deliver strong results in the remaining motos to help keep his national podium streak going.

“That’s the plan – obviously there’s no bonus money in fourth place,” Budd told MotoOnline. “I want to be back up on the box and making money, things like that – that’s the ultimate goal. As I said, we’ve been working on those little one-percenters throughout the week to make that possible and I feel pretty good and everything is clicking with me right now.

“I’m 12 points off third place, so it’s not super-close, but it is definitely right there up for grabs, and I am going to do everything I can to get back up on the box for the championship… I definitely want that bonus money and want to keep that streak going, so I am looking forward to the challenge.”

Currently 12 points separate Budd from third-placed Brodie Connolly (Polyflor Honda Racing) in the MX2 standings, with the seventh round of the season to take place this Sunday at Queensland Moto Park (QMP) before the finals take place at Coolum the following weekend.

“It doesn’t really matter the situation, I want to go out and I still want to go win races and stuff like that,” Budd added. “Whatever is on the line, obviously, it’s going to make that job a bit easier if I am out winning races and stuff like that, I will be able to bridge that gap a little bit quicker.

“I do want to get that third place in the championship, but I still want to clock off even just some round podiums and a race win or two would be awesome. There’s a lot of little goals that I want to knock off by the end of the season and I’ve got two rounds to do that.

“Like I said, the challenge is there and I am ready to go for it and give it everything I have got for the final two, because I want to be back up on the box real bad. I have been working hard for it, and I am ready to try and chase it.”