Husqvarna’s young Billy Van Eerde adds two more NSW Dirt Track Titles to his ledger
Young Dirt Track star also getting a taste for road racing
Husqvarna Factory Support rider Billy Van Eerde added two NSW Dirt Track titles to his and Husqvarna’s season tally at the weekend’s state titles at Kurri Kurri Junior Motorcycle Club.
The highly rated 14-year-old won two of the three classes he contested, bringing his personal total to six New South Wales titles, to go with the seven Australian championships he has already won during his short career.
Billy Van Eerde was unstoppable in the 250cc 13-16 yrs crown, winning from Mackenzie Childs and Kye Andrews aboard his Husqvarna FC250.
He backed up aboard the same machine to win the combined 125cc / 250cc title, again leading home Childs and Andrews.
Only the 125cc crown evaded the rampaging Husqvarna rider, who, despite a last corner passing attempt was forced to accept second behind Mackenzie Childs, and ahead of Isaac Hawes.
He wasn’t the only Husqvarna pilot to win a New South Wales title at the event, with Victorian Max Berry braking through to win the small-wheel 11-13 class 85cc class, on a Husqvarna TC85.
Billy Van Eerde has also had a few cracks on the tarmac, at Broadford along with Lismore and Tamworth go-kart tracks on a two-stroke, 85cc, Moriwaki based machine. He plans to extend that tarmac experience and possibly join the road racing ranks, just as Troy Bayliss’ son Oli Bayliss will this weekend make his graduation from Dirt Track to the tarmac.
Husqvarna Dirt Track Team Manager Paul Caslick
“If you have a look at the footage and how dominant he was in winning the championships that he’s won, the kid being so humble I don’t think that he realises the significance of his win, particularly with the talent of the kids he was riding against. He didn’t just win, he absolutely dominated. That’s impressive, Kurri is a difficult track to ride, and it did get a little bit bumpy. Some of the kids there I rate highly; Isaac Hawes, McKenzie Childs, young Callan Davies from Queensland as well, and the kid just dominated. Particularly on a technical track like Kurri that I think lends itself to stronger riders that are taller. That kid is all talent. It’s so pleasing to watch him do his stuff.”
Billy Van Eerde
“It takes a little bit to sink in; you don’t really realise you’re a state champion until you get home. I was disappointed to get second in the 125, I was pretty close, and like North Brisbane I tried to pass him on the last corner. It was fun but.
“It was very technical, but I kind of like the technical stuff so that was okay. Most tracks have a dogleg right-hander that isn’t that sharp, but on this one the right-hander is nearly a 180. It gets pretty slippery, so it’s tricky to control the bike there. There were some really fun battles between Mack Childs and Ky Andrews and all that, and in one race I came from last to first, which was fun.
“The bikes were really good this weekend. We put a few different front tyres on the 250 and 125, and the bikes just handled really well through the slick conditions. The 125 is pretty good, the 250 is still stock! Just with the FMF pipe, and it can still pull holeshots, so that’s pretty good.”
Pics Brian Thompson
