Former MX2 World Champion signs on as the iconic motorcycle brand unleashes a new effort in the FIM Motocross World Championship with strong ties to Formula 1 car racing as well as its own past glory in World Championship motocross
Recently purchased by KTM CEO Stephan Pierer, Husqvarna is on a quest to return the marque to glory in the FIM World Motocross Championship series, and it will field a full factory team in 2014 to chase World titles in both the MX1 (450cc) and MX2 (250cc) classes. The MX1 team, which will be known as the Red Bull Ice1 Racing Husqvarna team, is owned by former F1 World Champion and current contender Kimi Räikkönen. The MX2 team will be known as the Wilvo Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing Team and will be run by former World MX Champion Jacky Martens.
Former MX2 World Champion South Africa’s Tyla Rattray, 28, will be one of the main riders aboard the new MX1 team, returning to Europe after a disappointing 2013 season with the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki team that saw him finish 12th in the Lucas Oil 450cc Pro Motocross Championship in America. Rattray should rebound nicely in Europe.
Australian Todd Waters will join Rattray on the factory Husqvarna MX1 squad. Waters currently raced for the Motorex KTM Racing Team in Australia during the 2013 season, has five Australian Junior National titles and recently posted back-to-back MX1 runner-up finishes in the Australian National MX Championship during 2012 and 2013.
Finnish Motocross legend Antti Pyrhönen, presently of Raikkonen’s Ice1 Racing has been retained to manage the Red Bull Ice1 Husqvarna team. According to a release by the team, Pyrhönen brings with him a wealth of firsthand experience in motocross and a personal association with the Husqvarna brand.
“Ice1 Racing is pleased to welcome our new riders Tyla Rattray and Todd Waters, both from outside Europe, to the World Championship series,” team owner Räikkönen said. “The new Red Bull Ice1 Husqvarna factory team is aiming for the top. We believe it can be reached by our dedication to the sport and by the commitment of our riders and their determined will to win.”
For MX2, the Husqvarna Factory Racing Team has acquired the services of two promising young riders, Romain Febvre of France and Alexandr Tonkov of Russia. Despite both riders missing rounds in the current season through injury, Febvre and Tonkov have been standout young competitors who have posted strong finishes in individual rounds of the 2013 series. Febvre took scored two podiums in the season’s early overseas GPs, and Tonkov finished third in Loket, Czech Republic.
The MX2 team will both be guided by Martens of Belgium, who as a rider landed Husqvarna its final 500cc World Championship in 1993. Febvre has already been under Martens’ wing in the 2013 season with Martens’ Wilvo Nestaan JM Racing KTM team.
“With Aleksandr Tonkov and Romain Febvre we have two talented riders who are able to fight for podium positions,” Martens said. “Both riders have shown great things this season but due injury they have lost a lot of points. The team will give them a better structure so they are able to grow in the right way. We are looking forward to working with Alexandr and Romain next year and we hope to see a lot of nice things from them in the 2014 season. As the factory Husqvarna Team I am confident that we will score good results next year, and in the years to come.”
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