HQVA press release:

Resurgent pioneer dirt bike brand Husqvarna Motorcycles has increased its commitment to junior racing in Australia for 2016, with an expanded and more diverse junior presence which is already kicking goals.

The brand is backing eight potential champions of the future, overseen by Husqvarna Australia’s National Parts Interpreter Roland Ward, who will take on the role of Coordinator of the exciting, new-look outfit.

All team riders will link to a home dealer, and incumbent Husqvarna team riders Callum Norton (Road & River Motorcycles), Riley Dukes (R&D Husqvarna) and Bailey Malkiewicz (Moto GC) all returning with the famous off-road pioneer in 2016.

For Norton and Dukes it will be their final year as juniors before making the important step up to the MXD ranks.

Current Australian Supercross Champion Jy Roberts has moved across to Husqvarna with support from Powersport Central for his own junior swansong.

Talented youngsters Reid Taylor (Rock Motorcycles) and Dominic Walker (Alessi Motorcycles) will specialise on the team’s TC85s, while Tanesha Harnett (R&D Motorcycles) will look to continue the scintillating form she showed in the recent Go Girls series in Queensland.

The team’s final member is much more at home drifting into a flat, fifth gear corner than soaring over a jump – 13-year-old rising dirt track star and Casey Stoner Cup winner Billy Van Eerde (Chris Watson Motorcycles), who rides under the tutelage and close guidance of Aussie dirt track legend and veteran Husqvarna racer Paul Caslick.

The weekend’s racing seems to suggest the brand should be prepared for plenty of success in 2016, with the team’s 15-year-olds and their Husqvarnas dominating the 125-250cc 15 years class at the NSW Motocross Championship – with Norton winning ahead of Dukes and Roberts.

Malkiewicz won his 125 class while Taylor podiumed in his, and Tanesha Harnett won on both her Husqvarnas – the TC85 and TC125cc.

Across the border in Queensland, thirteen-year-old Husqvarna Factory Support racer Billy Van Eerde confirmed why he is considered one of Australia’s hottest junior prospects, winning two Australian Dirt Track Championships at the weekend’s Aussie titles in Brisbane.

Husqvarna makes super competitive motocross models from 85cc and 85 Big Wheel right through to 125, 250, 250F and 450 so it’s possible for junior racers to follow Husqvarna right through their careers.