Summarize

A new-look Husqvarna Motorcycles South Africa Motocross Team heads to KwaZulu Natal for Pietermaritzburg's fifth round of the South African Motocross Championship this 22 July weekend, with Richie van der Westhuizen now leading the team and Caleb Tenant drafted in as substitute to the injured Maddy Malan.

Van der Westhuizen moves onto the team’s leading MX2 machine alongside his lead role in MX1 and he will work closely with race engineers Morne Visser and Willie Schoeman, while Tenant shifts into the Husqvarna SA team to race in MX2 alongside van der Westhuizen. 

“Caleb has shown awesome pace on a 2016 Husqvarna FC 450 so far this year and we think he will do very well on a more competitive machine,” Husqvarna South Africa brand manager Fred Fensham explained. “He will also be able to assist Richie in his race for the championship from ‘Maritzburg onward, while Maddy Malan will support his teammates as a Husqvarna team ambassador while he recovers.”

Richie van der Westhuizen meanwhile heads to Pietermartizburg on a roll, having won the last MX1 race at Dirt Broncos to move to within 20 points of the championship leader, while he is just 13 points adrift in the MX2 title chase. “Dirt Broncos was an awesome weekend for me,” Richie admitted. “It was a blast to win and I quite liked the feeling so I want some more! “I’ve trained hard since then, both on and off my Husqvarnas and I’m ready for the double responsibility for the rest of the season starting in Pietermaritzburg — bring it on!”

Tenant meanwhile can’t wait for his step up to the Husqvarna SA Motocross Team. “It is an honour and a privilege to be called up to take care of Maddy’s Husqvarna while he sits a few races out to recover from his injuries,” Caleb explained. “I will give it my all and I hope to score the best possible results — that’s the best way to thank the team for this special opportunity. "See you in ‘Maritzburg!”

 

“Richie and Maddy have been absolutely fantastic this season — they have put Husqvarna on the podium more times than we could ever have wished for and Richie sits in a strong position in both the MX1 and MX2 championships,” Fred Fensham concluded. “Caleb has shown awesome pace on an older machine and we look forward to what he can deliver — let’s race!”