The two Americans will fly the Husqvarna flag this weekend at the enduro-x event, which runs in conjunction with the V8 Supercar curtain-raiser, the Clipsal 500.
After casting a dominating shadow over last year’s event, Victoria’s defending Clipsal 500 Super Enduro-X Champion Mitcham Harper is sadly benched with a leg infection, and will take no part.
However, the Husqvarna Off-Road Racing Team has a strong relationship with Tennessee enduro-x specialist Mike Brown, who has represented the team on three prior occasions including the 2014 A4DE where he finished on the E1 podium, and in 2015, when he gave the team an Aussie Enduro-X championship.
This time round, the respected 44-year-old who won the 2001 AMA motocross championship, will be joined by 28-year-old Kyle Redmond, who won the Perth Enduro-cross in late 2015, and both will be mounted on Husqvarna FC350 machines.
Husqvarna-mounted desert racing specialist Ivan Long won’t be letting the opportunity to fight on home turf go by, and will dust off his supercross skills at Clipsal in the hope of staging an upset over one or two of the established names of the sport.
Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team Manager Christian Horwood: “This weekend we’ve got two Americans riders – Mike Brown and Kyle Redmond – both riding FC350 Husqvarnas. Both had just a few laps then for media day and both are comfortable and happy with the track. It’s going to be much better for spectators this year with two extra lanes, and two lanes of supercross-type obstacles. Tomorrow’s the main practice day but they both look comfortable out there already, so three, 25-minute sessions will give them more time to get dialled a bit better. The FC350 is the perfect bike for this tight track; the power is more aggressive than the FE and the suspension is firmer.”
Mike Brown (FC350): “It’s a fast enduro-cross track, but it’s not much different to the ones we had here, like the last one in Melbourne. It’ll be fun, especially if they’re having the motocross guys here, they’ll be good at the jumps. It’s going to be a good race because the enduro-cross part’s not super technical. I’ve been doing some arenacrosses at home and last week I was in Argentina doing a big beach race down there. It’s nice to be back, heck yeah, I’m super excited. I was telling Toby a while back I’d like to live here. The culture is not a big change and everybody seems nice and friendly, a lot better than America for sure, for me.”
Kyle Redmond (FC350): “It’s good fun, it’s a little bit more of a supercrossy-style than what we do back home. A lot faster but a lot of fun and the wood pile turn is super hard – it’s going to make it exciting, a lot of crashing there! It’s a pretty big event going on here, so it’s going to be pretty cool to stay here for the week and check out all the other racing. I’ve always enjoyed Australia when I’ve been here in the past, so I’m sure the fun is just beginning. I’m feeling good and ready to go battle. I haven’t been on my Husky very long, but honestly, I feel comfortable on it right away. So, all good.”
