Australian Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team unveiled

Australia’s brand new Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team has been unveiled in time for this weekend’s second round of the 2014 KTM Australian Enduro-X Nationals, to be held at Parramatta Raceway.

Led by multiple Australian enduro champ and current AORC number three, Glenn Kearney, the team will include three official entries and one Husqvarna support rider, spanning the brand’s all new range of four-stroke enduro models.

Hailing from Picton, NSW, Kearney will step onto the new Husqvarna FE501 – a move the vastly experienced 32-year-old is excited to make after four years on small-bore machinery.

“I’m really excited,” said Kearney. “I’ll be wearing two hats this year as rider and team manager. It’s definitely a lot more work so I need to be much more efficient with my time. We’ve got a real strong team with Lachy and Keegan around and hopefully we’ll turn some heads. These are definitely two young guys with bright futures and I want to work with them and help bring them along. My new bike I love, I’ve been on smaller bikes for the last four years so the big girl is exciting and a real game changer for me. It’s a new point of focus and a source of motivation for me. With the short time frame we’re up against it a bit, but we’ve got a good base package and hopefully we’ll soon be battling the likes of KTM and Yamaha in the AORC.”

“At this weekend’s Enduro-X round we’ll be turning up looking to be on the podium for sure,” added Kearney. “We’ll have Mike Brown spearheading for us since it’s his specialty and I’m sure we can expect big things.”

Kearney will be joined by two of the most exciting young chargers on the circuit, the first being Byron Bay ace, Lachlan Stanford (22) on the FE450.

“The FE450 is great straight out of the box,” said Stanford. “It has a completely different feel to the bike I raced last year but I’m feeling comfortable already and I haven’t changed settings much at all. It’s pretty impressive. I’m more of a big bore rider and the FE450 has plenty of power – I like having more!”

“My goal for the season is to get through injury free, put in 110% and stay amongst the top three,” Stanford continued. “I really want to step up this year and with this bike I think it’s possible, and with Glenn managing it, it should all roll along pretty easily. I’m looking forward to this weekend’s Enduro-X. I haven’t competed in Enduro-X before but I’ve ridden on that style of track before and I don’t go too bad. I don’t know what to expect but I think I’ll be up there for sure.”

Also joining the all-new squad will be FE250-mounted Scott Keegan (22).

“I’m really happy that Jeff (Leisk) gave me the opportunity to be on the team,” said Keegan. “It’s an easier transition for me compared to the other guys because the bike is fairly similar to my ‘Berg. I’m just getting used to the Husky linkage and I’m really liking the feel. I’m loving being on a 250 – the bike is super light to ride but still has fairly hard power. A 250F in enduro these days is pretty quick most of the time. It’s great to be in a new team so I want to win and do the best I can for the brand in its first year. I’ve known Glenn for a few years and he’s always really open with the knowledge he’s gained over a long career so I’m looking forward to working closely with him.”

“I’m looking forward to Saturday’s Enduro-X,” added Keegan. “I enjoy racing against other people on track so you can see how everyone’s going at once, and it will be my first race back since I broke my leg at the ISDE.”

The trio will be joined at selected events by Husqvarna support rider and reigning off-road Vets champ, Damian Smith, who will ride the FE350.

“I’m happy to get help from Husqvarna as a support rider,” said Smith. “I’ve ridden Husqvarnas for three years and had a heap of success so I want to bring my experience to the team’s younger guys and I hope I can help. I’m real excited to get on the new bikes – they’re an awesome bit of gear.”

“The 350 I’ve chosen is something I’ve really wanted to ride for a few years now – it’s a great size particularly for Vets racing,” continued Smith. “Last year I won my class in both the AORC and the 4-day and I hope to carry that on. I still get a lot of joy out of the sport even after 20 years and I hope to represent the brand really well and help the guys in the team, especially the younger guys, and have fun doing it. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be involved I hope I can do them proud.”

Stay tuned for a video we’ve put together with the all-new team, that includes an interview with Kearney and riding footage of the boys testing out their new machinery.