Image: Jeff Crow.

Following the shock announcement earlier this week that Jacob Wright and the factory-supported SD3 Husqvarna team had parted ways, the top MX1 contender has confirmed with MotoOnline.com.au that he will contest the upcoming season with his own privateer KTM effort.

With both Wright and the Husqvarna outfit not seeing eye to eye during their short partnership, the two parties opted to call it quits and remain on good terms according to the 20-year-old.

“Between myself and the team there were some disagreements along the way,” Wright told MotoOnline.com.au. “We just both decided that it was best for both parties to go our separate ways and still be mates at the end of it.”

When the two made their split, Wright’s mechanic, Dan Kersnovske from MX Race Prep (MXRP), used his contacts at Pro Motorcyles Sunshine Coast to contact KTM Australia where national brand manager, Tam Paul, played a large role in organising two KTM 450 SX-F’s for the 2016 season.

“When we decided to part ways, my mechanic Dan was the first person to stick behind me, he’s going to be with me the whole year as my fulltime mechanic. He went straight to Paul from Pro Motorycles Sunshine Coast and he then went to KTM and they ended up giving me two bikes thanks to Tam Paul.

“I’ve got my own gear sponsors on board still with Shift MX and FOX for the year, a friend of mine will drive Dan’s service truck to the races and Dan and myself will fly to the rounds. Dan will look after me as much as he can and we’re just going to work together as a little team.”

Making the last-minute switch from the Husqvarna to the almost identical KTM machine will not be an issue according to Wright, having already locked in an engine and suspension combination.

“We’ve pretty much got everything sorted from engines to suspension already,” said Wright. “So it’s just about getting it to all come together in these last couple of weeks before the season starts.

“I don’t think it’s a disadvantage at all, I’ve still got my right hand man Dan, he’s probably the most important guy at the moment, he’s behind all of the engine and suspension work and I’m still wearing the same gear as I was before.

“Obviously it’s going to be difficult financially, it will be more of a struggle, but in saying that the bike will be the way I want it and things will be ran the way we want it – we won’t have to answer to anyone.”

After a year riddled with injury that saw Wright miss an entire season of racing, the former MX1 winner is in the best shape of his life and looking forward to running his own program in the premier class.

“I think I was ready to go last year and I just had an unfortunate injury with the knee and the year kind of went in a downwards spiral from there,” he added. “This year the work has been put in and I’ve really taken care of my off-bike training, I’ve employed a triathlete trainer four days a week and finally my body is 100 percent healthy and in the best condition it’s ever been in.

“Obviously with the bike scenario it’s going to be a little bit of a struggle money wise, but riding for our own team we can have the bike exactly the way I like it, there’s nobody who can decide what I run on the bike – it’s us who makes that call.”

Wright will debut his new KTM-supported effort at round one of the 2016 Motul MX Nationals series on 3 April in Victoria.