Image: Octopi Media.

Raceline Husqvarna TDub Racing Team’s Rhys Budd is ready to put a challenging opening Penrite ProMX round at Wonthaggi behind him, with the familiarity of Appin the perfect place for an early reset in his 2025 campaign.

Wonthaggi proved to be a difficult outing for both Budd and the team, who are a combination many tip as a championship-contenders, with the New South Welshman having stood atop the MX2 class podium before.

A string of technical dramas, however, hampered his result at round one, with 10-10 moto results seeing him placed 11th overall. Having rectified the gremlins that plagued him at the opener, Budd is prepared to use Appin as an early reset towards this year’s championship.

“It was a very tough way to kick off the season for me, definitely not the way I wanted it to go,” Budd told MotoOnline. “We had some mechanical dramas with my bike all weekend down at Wonthaggi, so that was a bit of a tough pill to swallow. Moving onto Appin though, I’m feeling good, we’ve worked out some stuff with the bike, and we’ve made some big bike changes ahead of this weekend.

“I’m feeling a lot more confident coming into Appin, obviously growing up pretty local, I feel confident with the track. We actually went down a few weeks ago for a race and had a blast there, so I’m looking forward to it. Like I said, the last few weeks have been good, and I feel great on the bike.”

A podium finish has been targeted by the 23-year-old, who believes that he is in the right frame of mind to challenge at the front of the MX2 field.

“I’m looking forward to heading down, catching up with the family and trying to put this bike on the box,” he added. “I feel like I’m in the right headspace mentally, I just have to put it all together when the time comes – and I feel like I can do that.”