He was one of the hottest prospects coming out of the MX2 category in 2016 and he’s landed one of the most sought after seats in the MX1 class for 2017. Now part of Troy Carroll’s factory Kawasaki effort for the upcoming season, Nathan Crawford is deep into his pre-season preparations and putting in the work to ensure he comes out swinging as a rookie in the stacked premier class. In this latest edition of Catching Up, presented by Maxima, we checked in with the 19-year-old rising star to hear how the transition is coming along and what he expects from his rookie season.

Image: Dunlop Media.

It’s well known news that you’re now part of the factory Kawasaki squad for 2017, but many people may be surprised that this is actually your first factory seat as a professional racer. How does it feel to be part of this team as you move into the premier class?

It’s really good. It’s been really helpful for me to having the team really close up here in Brisbane too, it’s only about half-an-hour from my house, so that’s really good. We can get in a lot of testing and we got that in really early, which obviously helps having them so close. We can go out to all of our local tracks that I know quite well, and I think I can set a bike up quite well around these types of tracks too, just knowing how they form up and stuff like that. To answer your question on how it feels, it maybe hasn’t quite sunk in yet until we get to the first round and my bike is there with the truck and everything. But the support and help I’m getting from the team and the testing we’ve been doing has been really, really good.

We’ve seen a lot of content on your social media and you look great on the 450 already and the transition looks to be going well. You’re also known as a very fit and strong rider, do you think that has helped you make the move to the 450?

Yeah, like you said, I train my ass off all the time, I barely even had an off-season during Christmas and stuff like that. I was basically straight on the bike after supercross once my Husqvarna contract was over. I was just clicking off laps and getting as comfortable as I could, and I actually bumped my training up a bit more, just to try and fit the 450. I also changed my riding style a bit to suit the 450, so yeah, it’s been a really good transition so far.

Image: MXN.

You’re quite young still and stepping up to the 450 class already, was that something you had always planned to do?

I guess I’ve always thrown myself in the deep-end a little with moving up to classes and things like that. If you had of asked me at the start of 2016 if I was going to racing a 450 in 2017, I probably would have said no. But after my year I had and the offers that started coming up, it just suited me and it was the best option to take for 2017 – not just for me as a racer, but for my whole family. It was just the best way to go for this year.

You’ve always had Ken Wheeler from Factory Spec in your corner as your suspension technician, and he had been involved with the factory Kawasaki team during 2016 to an extent, is that a portion of your program that you’re glad to carry into 2017?

Yeah, Troy was happy enough to let me carry Kenny with me into the team for 2017, which I was really happy with. Myself and Kenny have spent the last four years together, so he knows exactly what I like and don’t like. Not only do we have a professional relationship, but we’re actually really good friends too, which keeps the vibe really good around the pits and I’m sure it’ll keep the vibe really good around the truck too. So you know, there are a lot of changes, but having a few familiar faces around is going to help a lot too.

You’ve probably been asked this plenty of times, but finally, where do you see yourself sitting amongst the stacked 450 field in 2017?

Yeah, like you said, the field is really stacked and heaps of people have said to me, what a year to step up. A lot of people have come back and a lot of people are also stepping up too. Obviously I have a good team behind me and they’re going to be backing me 100 percent, I’ll just go in with an open mind and make sure I’ve ticked all of the boxes in the pre-season. Like you said, I definitely don’t want to be some guy out there making up the numbers and filling in a spot on a team, I’m not one of those people who just wants to get my ass handed to me. If I rock up at the first round, and let’s just say I get fifth, I’ll be trying to get better every round. But I’m not making up the numbers, I’m going there to improve every weekend and show that I have the speed and hopefully the heart, desire and will to go forward every round.