Image: Foremost Media.

Husqvarna Racing Team’s Callum Norton overcame a disastrous Prologue to storm his way to third position outright at the 2021 Hattah Desert Race, salvaging a result to complete a KTM Group sweep of the podium.

The 20-year-old missed the Top 10 Shootout on Saturday and had to settle for starting 22nd after being caught out in traffic during his qualifying run.

Sunday provided a change of fortunes for Norton and, while he battled an early issue with his water supply, a gutsy ride saw the Victorian claw his way onto the rostrum on-board the factory Husqvarna FE 501.

“It was a tough race because I didn’t put in the best of laps yesterday, so we started 22nd and just had to go to work today,” Norton reflected. “Everything went pretty smooth from the beginning, we were up to fifth by the end of lap one and I was able to get into a rhythm, keep ticking away from there.

“I was still confident that we would be strong today, the Husqvarna Racing Team has put in a huge effort for this race and the FE 501 is as good as it gets, so it was good to rebound for a strong result when it counted. The podium was the aim and that’s where we ended up.”

The podium finish at Hattah boasts an end to a successful 2021 desert campaign for Norton, after scoring a fifth-place finish at last month’s shortened Finke Desert Race in the Northern Territory.