Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team rider Mike Brown has built the platform, now it’s time for the team’s American guest rider to try and build the framework of a maiden championship win in the InsureMyRide Enduro-X Nationals, which continue tomorrow evening at the Sydney Dragway venue at Eastern Creek.

The full-time enduro-cross specialist was by far the dominant rider in the series’ first round three weeks ago at Brisbane’s Archerfield Speedway, setting the fastest qualifying time and winning the first two finals before settling for a safe second in the last.

The popular Enduro-X format pits off-road racers against each other and the clock around a specially constructed course of natural and man-made obstacles, and the Californian will look to build on the 12-point lead he takes into this round, ahead of Josh Green and Toby Price.

Brown’s Husqvarna teammate Lachy Stanford was unable to convert his early evening speed into good series points after struggling all night with starts, but is confident his recent training efforts will stand him in better stead next time round.

Team manager Glenn Kearney has received his medical clearance to begin riding after off-season ankle surgery, and though he will take no part in the enduro-cross series, has already begun training for this year’s Australian Off-Road Championships.

Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team Manager Glenn Kearney: “We’re all in Sydney this morning and just gearing up to go for a ride for a bit of fun. Browny flew in a little earlier this time so jetlag won’t be a problem. Lachy’s done a bit more motocross racing and stuff in between, so hopefully he’ll get some better starts under his belt and be more aggressive. That’s our plan. The bikes are really solid so that’s the first thing, Brownie really proved that he is ready to go, and there were just a few little things to tweak with Lachy. Hopefully we can come out with another good result – another win.

I’m a lot happier than I was last time, I got my clearance from the specialist and I’m back on the bike, so I’ve got a heavy four weeks of riding and prep ahead of me before the first AORC round. But I’m in a much better mood, I’m very happy to be back on the bike after what has nearly been six months. It makes a big difference!”

Mike Brown (FE350): “It’s good to be here early. Everything is good, I’ve been riding a lot at home, training hard for this and our own races at home that start next weekend, but we’re good to go. I’m looking forward to Sydney, they always build good tracks so I’m sure that will be great, but rider-wise, I’m sure everyone will have stepped up a little bit and will be more prepared than they were for the first one so yeah, it should be good. If I can get another race like I had at the first one it will be good, so I’ll push hard in this race and see where I am at the end of the day.”

Lachy Stanford (FE350): “I just want to have a much better run this time round. I didn’t have much fun in Brisbane, but you have bad days and bad nights. The bike was really good in the first round, like the two practice sessions we had the bike was working really well and I was running around fifth in the times and feeling really good. It’s just when it came race time I didn’t put it together like I wanted to. So I’ve gone back and worked on a few things over the break and I think I’m ready to go. My biggest problem in Brisbane was that I couldn’t get off the start, so I’ve worked on that, and now I’m excited again and looking forward to just having another race.”

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