Image: MXN.

South Australian export Brett Metcalfe will return home for a full season of Motul MX Nationals in 2017 after signing a deal with the factory SD3 Husqvarna team.

Metcalfe contested the opening four races of last season and scored two overall podiums, including a popular race win at Appin’s second round.

The 32-year-old will now return home for a full campaign in 2017, also due to line up in the Australian Supercross Championship at the end of the year.

“The decision was fairly simple for me and my family,” Metcalfe explained. “I’d done some brief stints in 2015 and 2016 with the SD3 team and we have a successful working relationship established with good sponsors. Our 2016 run was in some ways a trial run and we learnt what a standard Husqvarna FC 450 is capable of – we won races and had podiums.

“I know we have a product that can win, a team and company of people committed to work and most importantly, we want to make it fun and creative for the team. I wanted to be a part of this! A huge factor is bringing my family down for the season to experience the lifestyle Australia can offer.

“Last year the competition was intense [and] you need to go back many years to find that depth and talent. It was how Aussie motocross needs to be, so 2017 will be no different. I expect the same players, plus a few new entries to run up front. I may be the oldest in the field now, but I embrace that. I want to win more than ever and I believe in myself and my team.”

SD3 Husqvarna team owner Stephen McKinnon looks forward to reuniting with Metcalfe, this time for a full season after a handful of one-off appearances in recent years.

“We are over the moon to have acquired Brett’s services for next year,” McKinnon commented. “To have him come back last year for one supercross and four motocross rounds was just brilliant, so to have him for an entire Australian motocross and supercross championship season is mind-blowing for what I consider to be our still-little race team.

“We love having Brett and his family around us, we’re a family team and Brett fits in beautifully to that with Sheena and the kids. To secure his services is a real coup for our team and Husqvarna and I think we’ll have a fantastic 2017.

“What I like about him is that Brett is just a great pro. He is constantly about getting the best out of himself and, from my dealings, the only other person that I know of in Australia who is similar is Kirk Gibbs. Brett gets 110 percent out of himself day in and day out and I love dealing with him. Nothing is complicated and what he says, he does. He has great integrity.”

Husqvarna Australia national brand manager Jon Hafey also welcomed Metcalfe home once again: “I’m so pleased that we are heading into our fourth season now in partnership with SD3, Stephen and Dimity McKinnon. I’m over the moon that we have once again been able to grow that partnership and build on what we had last year.

“This will be our fourth season with Luke [Arbon] and our second with Kaleb [Barham] and Brett and that’s great. SD3 is going in-house this year with a work-bay based out of our new headquarters in Sydney alongside the enduro team, so it’s an exciting development that will make life easier for everyone.”

Metcalfe will join returning duo Luke Arbon, who was announced yesterday to be returning to MX2 for another year, and Kaleb Barham for the upcoming season.