Image: Simon Makker.

Australian motocross veteran Daniel McCoy has made a shock switch to the Husqvarna Motocross Racing Team for the final five rounds of the Monster Energy MX Nationals aboard a TC 250 in the MX2 category.

McCoy, 30, started the season as part of the TM Racing Australia outfit, but it’s understood he split with the team mid-season after sustaining a broken back in a training incident prior to round three of the 2014 season.

It was initially expected that McCoy would campaign a privateer Suzuki RM250 in selected rounds of the second half, however a knee injury suffered by Husqvarna regular Nick Sutherland opened the door for McCoy to be drafted in alongside Brock Winston and MXD red plate holder Egan Mastin.

“It’s great to be able to ride the Husky, because I have quite liked the KTM in the past and they’re obviously similar bikes,” McCoy told MotoOnline.com.au. “I wasn’t sure what the future held, didn’t know if I was going to race the rest of the year with this injury.

“The budget as well; I didn’t know if I would have the money paying for everything to keep going racing on the TM. I had to make a decision, which was pretty much not race the rest of the year, or with the Husqvarna opportunity I couldn’t say no.

“The bike is really good. There’s not one thing I don’t like about it – there’s so much power, it’s really smooth and it’s a really modern bike. I like steel frames, so it’s been really positive.”

This weekend’s Swan Hill round of the MX Nationals will mark McCoy’s return to racing after his back injury, despite minimal seat time before clinching the Husqvarna deal this week.

“The injury is good and I’m fully healed,” McCoy added. “Today was my fourth time riding, but my off-bike fitness has been okay. I always keep fit, so hopefully it’s not too bad. I have no expectations. I just want to ride the best I can for as long as I can, then we’ll see what the end result is.”

McCoy’s addition to the Husqvarna factory team is yet another chapter in a storied career, which has seen him stand in at CDR Yamaha, Carlton Dry Honda and Motorex KTM during the past three seasons.

While TM has lost McCoy in its broad national support program, it’s been confirmed Joel Milesevic will step up to MX1 aboard a MX 300 two-stroke with the Emu Racing effort.