Image: Foremost Media.

A newfound domestic focus has been outlined by Honda Racing for national MX2 champion Wilson Todd, with initial plans of an international supercross program being shelved and resulting in his absence from the 2023 World Supercross Championship (WSX).

Todd was originally slated to contest 250SX West in Monster Energy Supercross and then the SX2 category of WSX with Fire Power Honda in 2023, prior to returning home for the Australian Supercross Championship with the Yarrive Konsky-led organisation.

That supercross-only structure would have been similar to that of Max Anstie, as New Zealander Brodie Connolly had been brought in to replace Todd in the Australian ProMX team, until injury and ongoing health complications struck Todd while in the US at the beginning of this season.

After a couple of bruising appearances at Anaheim 1 and San Diego, in which he did display promise at that level, saw him then instead return home to defend his MX2 championship. Currently holding a 35-point advantage with two rounds remaining and on target for a fourth-career MX2 crown, Todd’s place in the WSX SX2 program that he held last year has been filled by young American Gage Linville.

As a result, Todd’s immediate future rests in the Australian championships, with Honda Racing team owner Yarrive Konsky confirming that the intention is to also have Todd remain here in 2024. It’s yet to be determined if he will remain a 250 rider or if he will go on to step up to the premier MX1 class, where the team currently fields Jed Beaton and Kyle Webster.

“The original plan for Wilson was AMA SX, WSX and AUSX,” Konsky told MotoOnline. “The decision to bring him home to focus on Australian motocross was made easy as we didn’t have a confirmed WSX or AUSX calendar, and Wilson’s results in the US weren’t yielding any return for reasons out of his control – the two big crashes were no fault of his own.

“He is also dealing with some serious stomach issues and we can work closer with our specialists here to help him get on top of it. I am not ruling out any overseas racing, but for now and next year, Wilson and I are focused on the Australian championships.”

Todd notably rode a CRF450R in the final two rounds of ProMX one year ago with immense success after clinching the MX2 crown at Queensland Moto Park, winning Coolum’s championship finals overall after splitting the MX1 moto victories with Webster.