Husqvarna Australia is pleased to announce a three-rider factory support team which will take part in this year’s Australian motocross and Supercross calendar, in both senior and junior ranks.
Queensland Under-19 competitor Nathan Crawford and the junior pairing of Tasmanian Wade Kirkland and Victoria’s Bailey Malkiewicz will expand the presence of the famous brand, which has been relaunched in both motocross and enduro racing circles worldwide.
Crawford, the current Junior Lites Queensland champion and national number two, is a highly rated future prospect who is rapidly making a name for himself. He’ll step up to the under 19 class aboard the new Husqvarna TC 250 in 2013.
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.
Tam Paul, National Brand Manager, HQVA – “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.
“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.”
Nathan Crawford TC 250, FC 450 – “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.
“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.”
Wade Kirkland – TC 125, FC 250 – “The bikes are running sick as and this support from Husqvarna will allow us to get around a bit more so I hope I can repay that and get them up the front.
“I’ve had the 250 for a few weeks now and it’s great to ride. I just love the power, down low, out of corners, up top, in the mid range – it’s perfect everywhere. And it looks sick as! This year I want to improve my fitness and my corner speed, and I’ll be going out trying to win all the Tasmanian and Victorian State stuff. I also really want to get the 250 on the podium at the nationals.
Bailey Malkiewicz “I’m just happy to have this chance. I reckon I can go well if I believe in myself. I’ve had the bike about three weeks now and it’s really good. It’s been getting the good starts, and it feels lighter so I can move around more on it if I need to change line suddenly for a pass.
“My most important events of this year will be the national junior titles and the Queensland titles, which I’m actually looking forward to the most because I’m pretty good in the sand.”
