HQVA press release:

Husqvarna Factory Support racer Nathan Crawford used the occasion of a return to sunny Queensland to make a statement when he reclaimed sole ownership of the MX2 red plate at Toowoomba’s Echo Valley circuit.

Crawford qualified fastest on his Husqvarna FC250, then, with the red clay track extra tacky, left his championship rivals in his wake as he powered to a massive opening moto victory of over 10 seconds.

Second place in the final moto gave Crawford overall victory ahead of Caleb Ward and Jed Beaton, and sees the Queenslander take a handy 11-point lead into the series finale at his favourite track of Coolum, on the Sunshine Coast.

In the MXD category, Connor Tierney (4-3) took a useful podium behind winner Mitchell Evans and Jordan Hill to remain in contention for the U19 championship, going into the final round 15 points away from the championship lead.

Next best of the Husky MXD riders in Toowoomba was Bundaberg’s Zak Small, who, hot on the heels of his victory in the Queensland MX1 Championship opener a week earlier, took his Husqvarna FC250 to 5-5 scores for fifth on the day.

Earlier, SD3 Husqvarna team rider and Toowoomba local Kaleb Barham had gotten his day off to a flying start when, after qualifying second-fastest, he holeshot the opening moto and set what would turn out to be the fastest lap of the race.

But his charge took a turn for the bizarre as, while leading comfortably, he got stuck in a rut for more than half a minute and was sent tumbling down the order.

He recovered to salvage tenth, but suffered a shock absorber issue in the second moto and could achieve no better than eighth, and was forced to accept eighth overall from a home race where his prospects had been much higher.

Nathan Crawford – “It was almost the perfect day for us, qualified first, won the first moto and then got second in the last one. I’m fairly happy to be taking a little bit of a points gap of 11 into the last round. It’s not heaps, but it’s enough that I can try and control it. So I’m pretty happy. It’s not great, and it would be nice if it was like 25 points, but it’s reasonable. The track crew did a really good job in preparation here today so it was great. The first moto was tacky as, and then the second was a little more slick, so, a few tyre changes here and there. It was good to be racing back up here in Queensland in really good weather.”

Connor Tierney – “I’m not happy with today, but I can’t complain. I still got on the podium, I’m healthy, and I’m riding the next round, so I’ve just got to take the positives out of it. It was still better than the round before, so we’ll just keep moving forward.

Zak Small – “I had a pretty good day, I went 5-5 for fifth overall, so I’m really happy with that. The track was pretty dusty and a bit average in that second moto, the sun was in a bad spot heading up the hill with the dust, so I was just following the helmet in front of me at times! But I got in two solid Moto’s and did what I said I wanted to, and I’ve moved a little bit closer to where I want to be in the championship, so I’m happy. I’ll be a little bit more in my element in the sand at Coolum, so hopefully I’ll have a good day there as well.”

Kaleb Barham – “Being my home track, I had a good bunch of people that came out to support me. I qualified P2 and then pulled the holeshot and was just riding my own race, when I got unlucky and got stuck in a rut and that was it! I got stuck for about 30 or 40 seconds, so by the time I got going again, they were half a lap in front of me so I just had to charge through the pack and do what I could. I got up to tenth, and then regrouped for the second one. I got another good start in the second but I had a bit of a problem with my shock and faded back so it wasn’t that I was looking for, to say the least. Could’ve been a much better, but there is no point living down in what it was. I’ll move on and get ready for the last round next weekend.”

For more information on Husqvarna motorcycles visit www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com