HQVA press release:

Husqvarna support racer Jy Roberts has used the sandy loam of South Australia’s Murray Bridge circuit to take a second consecutive MXD overall win, and move into the lead of the championship at the fifth round of the MX Nationals.

The Robertson’s Motorcycles rider was in no mood to hang around on the day and sped his Husqvarna FC250 to 2-1 results to claim the win ahead of SD3 Husqvarna’s Kaleb Barham, and Morgan Fogarty.

The result gives Roberts a six-point championship lead over Cody Dyce to take into the mid-season break, while Barham leap-frogged from seventh to fourth in a spectacular return to form.

The SD3 Husqvarna rider from Toowoomba had earlier qualified fastest for the round, and blasted to race one victory off a powerful holeshot from his Husqvarna FC250. He added a third to the equation in moto two, to lock in the second podium spot.

Adding even more might to Husqvarna’s claim at the head of the U19 field, Riley Dukes made a highly respectable fist of his return from injury on the R&D Husqvarna FC250, qualifying seventh and posting two sixth places for fourth overall.

The Husqvarna resurgence continued across the classes as, in the MX2 category, Husqvarna KSF Racing’s Dylan Wills pushed to his highest finish of the series so far – a fourth overall on the back of 2-7 moto finishes.

In the MX1 category, 19-year-old Zak Small also made it a PB in what is his first year in the premier class – a well-deserved maiden top-ten finish on the Mega Motorcycles Husqvarna FC350.

Small highlighted the unique performance advantages of the ‘little’ big bike, nailing a top-five start against the full factory weapons, and utilising the FC350’s lighter feel to make light work of heavy conditions.

In 125cc Junior Cup racing, Husqvarna Junior Motocross Team member Bailey Malkiewicz rounded out a fantastic day for the famous ‘Crowned H’ brand, salvaging an incredible second overall behind Regan Duffy, and ahead of Mason Semmens.

Malkiewicz had earlier qualified fastest for the round on his TC125, but got rear-ended after holeshotting the first moto, and charged spectacularly from last to fifth place, on his way to 5, 2 finishes for the day.

Jy Roberts (FC250): “I’m pretty happy with the day. The track was tough and the lines kept changing every lap, but I’ve got a really good setup with my bike at the moment that I’m super happy with and I didn’t change a clicker. We swapped some tyres and that was it. In the first race Cody had a pretty bad race and I got the championship lead, and after the second moto I think I’m six points in front now. Being in the lead is better. I’ve just got to keep being consistent, keep trying to put solid motos down and stay up there for the rest of the season. That’s where it counts.”

Kaleb Barham (FC250): “We started the morning off solid with Pole, and then I got one of my signature starts – it’s about time, it’s been a while between drinks there – picked up the cheque and rode my own race. Lappers started making it a little bit interesting on the last lap and allowed Jy to get a little bit closer to me. But I just rode my own race and felt really comfortable on the bike. I tried to make it a perfect day and got off to another good start in the second. But I didn’t flow with the track for the first couple of laps and I dropped back to fourth. Once I got going again I got back to third but that was all I could get. But still, we definitely hit it out of the park today and got the ball rolling again, so, happy days for all of us.”

Dylan Wills (FC250): “Nearly got her on the box! I got a podium in the first one, so that’s good. I led the first race a little bit, but then there was a slump and they got me – but that was probably a good thing. I learned a few lines they were using, and cottoned on to that, then made a couple of passes back. I ended up third in the first one, but Mastin got docked which put me into second – no complaints here! Race two I was sitting in fourth and then unfortunately had a little goggle malfunction that was completely my fault. I couldn’t see properly then jarred my wrist a little bit, so I was pushing it uphill at the end, and just had to get it home. I ended up seventh. Other than that, I’m really happy with how I rode and I think I deserved to be on the podium today. I had the speed today, maybe not to win races, but definitely to podium. It’s a good feeling to be getting towards where I want to be.”

Zak Small (FC350): “I’m absolutely stoked with this! It was a good day and I was really close to getting a pair of tens, but I kind of got a bit stitched up with this blue flag on the last lap of the second moto, so I basically handed a position to Joel Green. I was spewing about that, but 10-11 is still my best result this year, and definitely a massive step forward from last week. I actually had a crash in the second moto last week and hurt my shoulder, so I’ve spent the last week taking it pretty easy, and luckily it came good for this weekend. The 350 continues to amaze me; the track today was fast and I didn’t feel like I was at any power disadvantage – I got a top-five start in the second moto! I think the lighter bike definitely helped me out with the ruts and the bumps too, by enabling me to move and basically put the bike where I want to. My fitness is pretty good, but the 350 is definitely helping me to make it go even further, too.

Bailey Malkiewicz (TC125): “The track was good here. I was second-fastest qualifier, but I got bumped to first gate pick. I holeshot, but in the second corner some of the boys behind me hit and Mason came into me and we both fell over. I dropped to dead last but I made my way back to fifth. In the second I pulled the holeshot and led most of the moto and finished second for second overall, which was pretty good considering my start to the day! I have one round to go now so I’ll try to go 1-1 at Coolum and see what that will do for us.”

For more information on Husqvarna motorcycles visit www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com