HQVA press release:

Queensland rising star Braden Plath has clinched the 65cc World Cup in an exceptional effort at Horsham’s 2018 FIM Junior Motocross World Championship.

After lodging the second-quickest lap-time in qualifying the day prior, Plath delivered masterful 5-2 finishes in Sunday’s motos, taking full advantage of patience and consistency beyond his years to be crowned at home aboard his Husqvarna TC 65.

Supported by Townsville-based JR’s Motorcycles Husqvarna, it is a truly special result for 11-year-old Cairns talent Plath and his family against the best young racers in the world. His result also played a major part in Team Australia clinching the Nations trophy at home.

Fellow North Queenslander Thomas Wood also lined up in Horsham and, after qualifying in 18th position on Saturday afternoon, he progressively improved to score 19-12 results in the pair of hard-
fought races for an encouraging 14th overall.

Also competing with Husqvarna Motorcycles Australia support through Redline Motorsports, Ty Jones was a wildcard in the 125cc World Championship across the weekend in Victoria. The teenage Mackay racer qualified in 20th place, then claimed 29th and 22nd in the motos to score 24th in the final standings riding his Husqvarna TC 125.

Focus of the Husqvarna Motorcycles Australia riders now turns to the upcoming KTM Australian Junior Motocross Championship at the Coastal Motocross Club in Penguin, Tasmania, to be held between 29 September-6 October.

Nathan Crawford – Junior Team Coordinator, Husqvarna Motorcycles Australia: “We’re really excited to see Braden win this championship, a really nice and placid North Queensland kid who is a serious over-achiever. It was really good to see and we congratulate him. Thomas had a big crash in the first moto, but managed to come back strongly in the second race to finish 12th and that was a good ride. Unfortunately Ty was suffering from some injuries coming in, but it was good to see him out there and competing this weekend. These types of results show that with the support of our Husqvarna Motorcycles Australia dealerships you can essentially take on the world and we’re proud of that. It was a great event and the talent on track was evident throughout the weekend.”

Braden Plath – Husqvarna TC 65: “We are really happy and excited with the result, because it was so cool seeing everybody from across the world and racing against them! After the first moto, where I crashed and finished fifth, I didn’t really think I could get the overall. The second moto was a lot better but, I was able to take second and a few minutes later I learned that I was the champion! I am really happy and thank everybody for their support, especially my mum and dad, Parramatta Racing, Ray White Cairns South, FXR Ride Tribe, MXRP Suspension, Duncan Powersports and Husqvarna Motorcycles Australia.”

Thomas Wood – Husqvarna TC 65: “It was an amazing feeling to represent Australia and thank you to Husqvarna Motorcycles Australia for supporting me and all the help. I felt like I didn’t do too bad in qualifying and then in the races I thought I rode well, even though I did put the bike down a few times. To almost take the hole-shot in moto two was good and I learned a lot, it was such a good experience!”

Ty Jones – Husqvarna TC 125: “I’d injured my arm in the lead-up to Horsham, so that made things difficult for me after a fair few weeks off the bike. I did learn a lot, even though the track was hard to get to grips with and that was disappointing, but I’m happy I kept going through the whole weekend and trying as hard as I was able to. It was a massive experience though and it was good to see what those longer races are like, now I will keep working and use it all for the better in the future. Thank you to everybody who was involved in getting me into the world championship.”