HQVA press release:

The Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team today achieved the biggest victory of its short existence, when Mathias Bellino gave Husqvarna its first Australian Four-Day Enduro outright victory since Stefan Merriman won aboard the marque in 2001.

Bellino overcame determined opposition from former winner Chris Hollis and defending champion Daniel Milner, to win the Aussie title on a Husqvarna FE 450, with a margin of a little over 12 seconds at the end of four days of racing and more than two hours of special tests.

In doing so, Bellino also gave Husqvarna the Australian E2 championship win, ahead of Hollis and Milner, while fellow Husqvarna FE 450 rider Broc Grabham trailed home World Champion Matt Phillips to finish fifth in class.

In fact Husqvarna men took four podiums across the three major classes, with FE 501-mounted Lachy Stanford desperately unlucky to miss out on the E3 gold by less than 15 seconds, after a simple front-end tuck while leading the final moto and the class earlier today. He remounted quickly, but in the blinding dust could make no penetration into the lead held by eventual winner Daniel Sanders, and was forced to be content with the runner-up position, where he led home Husqvarna factory support racer Lyndon Snodgrass on a Husqvarna TE 300. Stanford, however, again proved his career path is certainly on the upward curve, leading E3 and holding fifth overall for the majority of the event, before slipping to 2nd / 6th .

Team boss Glenn Kearney proved his competitiveness right to the last day of his professional off-road racing career, finishing second in the E1 category on his Husqvarna FE 250, behind Josh Green and ahead of Jack Simpson. Kearney was given an emotional guard of honour by some of the sport’s most significant figures as he left the track after the final motocross.

Just three places further back in the E1 class, Brisbane teenager Fraser Higlett rode with a smoothness and consistency beyond his years as he completed his first four-day in sixth place, and with the top 20 outright finish (18th).

In the Veterans category, Multiple Australian champ Damian Smith rode a Husqvarna FX 350 two seconds in class behind Dillon Rees and ahead of long-time sparring partner Kirk Hutton.

Husqvarna racing teams are quickly earning a reputation for punching well above their weight and the four-day was no exception, with the Husqvarna men filling five of the outright top 12 places.

The team rounded off a spectacular week in enduro racing with the team of Bellino, Stanford and Kearney wresting the coveted Trade Team award away from heavy hitters KTM and Yamaha, to add to its outright victory.

Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team Manager Glenn Kearney (FE 250): “My last moto was a bit emotional. All the main people around were there to come up and form a bit of a guard of honour for the final send off, so that was pretty good, it was cool. In the final moto I got a reasonable start and then just tucked in behind Josh Green and rode it out and managed to hold Jack Simpson behind me because it was quite dusty. I used the dust to my advantage …dragged my feet a little (laughs)! From the team point of view it was exceptional, the Husqvarna Trade Team won the Trade Team award with Mathias, Lachy and myself. Mathias taking out the overall was also huge, he rode unbelievably well and consistently the whole time. We had a huge contingent of people involved to fuel and feed four guys and it went perfectly so I thank everybody. It was a little bittersweet to finish second in E1 but I’m happy to still be competitive. Lachy rode awesome all event and unfortunately just got pipped at the post – he’s got more raw ability than anybody else on the track so hopefully he uses this loss as fuel for the fire through the off-season and comes back stronger. The other boys had an excellent week, Broc had a slow start being sick the night before the race, but he came on strong until he got hurt on the trail yesterday – just unlucky to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Snodgrass was strong the whole event and Fraser did really well – it was his first four-day. Damo was there in the vets the whole time too, it was a really good representation for Husky across the board.”

Lachy Stanford (FE 501): “On the one hand I’m happy with how I went here, but on the other hand absolutely gutted not to get the E3 title. All four days were good, I had a couple of mistakes but I was top five most tests riding against guys like Milner, Sanders, Matty Phillips, Hollis, and Mathias. There was huge competition here so it was good to finally mix it up at the front boys, get really close to the times and even win a test. An awesome feeling during the week. In the race today everything I had planned at the start went to plan, I got the holeshot, but I went to cover my line and pulled a little tighter and lost the front. I picked it up, but with the dust there was no chance. But to be second to Chucky with the year he’s had… My FE 501 was incredible; I rode the 250 in the six days, but with the 501 I just fell in love again. I used the traction control all week – whether you’re a trail rider or a professional racer, they are the bike, straight off the floor.”

Mathias Bellino (FE 450): “I wasn’t sure what to expect, there were not that many tests but they were awesome to ride, especially the fourth one. So, it was enjoyable. It was a great event, I’m glad I came this year, because it was fun to ride it also when you win that helps! Everything went well for us and the bike was working perfectly like it did all season. I had to work with a completely new crew and some things that were different to Europe. Here you have to have your own bumbag and Camelbak at every test and it was actually a tough race; Day Two especially, was more tough than any six-day or anything else I’ve done. Nine tests and uphill and down hill, it was quite tough. It’s really good to win here especially in front of the fast guys like Milner, Sanders, Chris Hollis, so it was good to fight against them, especially Chris, he’s a good guy. I’m really happy to get this victory, for myself and for the team. So it is great to finish like that.”

Broc Grabham (FE 450): “I’m pretty happy – E2 this year around was really something. Well, the top three outright, to start with, with Matt Phillips in there as well. My outright position I was a little unhappy with. I got really crook the night before the event, only slept about an hour and spewed up all night. So going into the first day I wasn’t feeling that energised. I finished 16th then, but I got a bit better as I went and knew I could go quick. But it’s hard to make up the time you’ve lost. Then yesterday I was riding along with Daniel Sanders and a lob bounced up after he went over it and I had a decent crash and tweaked my wrist. The times were pretty close this morning between me and Kearney and Jack Simpson and Riley Graham, but I got a crap start and was 13th on the first lap. I just could not see the track at all; I might as well have had my eyes closed for the majority of the time. Coming from 16th up to as high as seven is a positive for me, but it’s a shame we couldn’t stay there and finish inside the top 10. We’ll be back next year.”

Lyndon Snodgrass (TE 300): “I ended up 12th outright and 3rd in class – my four-day was a tough one but I definitely had a lot of fun out there in conditions that got very dry and dusty. Crossing the finish line in that horrid final moto today was my highlight of the event, I couldn’t see anything after big Lachy got by me! After the DNF last year, the goal was to finish this one and try to do the best we can so I’m pretty happy. I’m a little disappointed on my outright position after being inside the top 10 for two days, but I’m stoked to get third in class!”

Fraser Higlett (FE 250): “This was an interesting four-day from me, I tried to slow things down and take better lines instead of trying to go so fast, which is something I don’t usually do, I just usually try to full hang it out and get loose. But I slowed down a bit and I only fell off once. I was probably going slower than what I usually do, but it turned out to be faster.
The 4-day is a pretty cool format, it’s actually one of my favourite types of racing now because you don’t get cold, you just keep riding and racing. It’s pretty cruisy on the trail, drifting around corners and having fun sending the thing over the big jumps and doing some no footers and stuff! I got a couple of good test times and topped my best results yet, so there were a few positives to finish the year off.”

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