Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/319200
IN THE WIND P28 the team with machinery, and the new Rockstar Energy Rac- ing Husqvarna Factory Team has signed its first official rider - Ja- son Anderson. Anderson, the recently crowned AMA 250 West Super- cross Championship, will move up to the 450 class next year rid- ing Husky's FC 450 motocrosser. He will compete in both the Su- percross (450) and 450 outdoor classes in 2015, with his team's first official race being the Mon- ster Energy Cup in Las Vegas in October. It was also announced that the team will bring on two other rid- ers that will split duties between the 250 and 450 classes in both Supercross and motocross. The last time Husqvarna was officially represented in Super- cross was in 2001, when Travis Preston gave Husky its first-ever Supercross win in the 125cc class at Houston. "With racing as one of the core values of Husqvarna, of course we need to be in the top echelon of our sport," said President Jon- Erik Burleson. "This has been one of our major goals from the start, and an important step in elevating Husqvarna back to the leadership technology it once stood for." "This is definitely a very excit- ing moment and a milestone in the Husqvarna history books," said Husqvarna Motorcycles Mo- torsport Director Robert Jonas. "Re-entering Supercross with an outstanding team such as Rock- star Energy Racing Husqvarna and reigning Supercross Cham- pion Jason Anderson are the per- fect circumstances for success." With the 2014 AMA 250 West Supercross Championship now under his belt, Anderson says he is looking forward to facing the 450 class aboard a Husqvarna. "It's definitely cool to be a part of bringing the Husqvarna brand back to Supercross," Anderson said. "I rode the bike before I signed and I really like it so that made my decision pretty easy. I'm excited to be racing it and making my debut in the 450 class on a Husky. We have a good program in place and we know we have the capability to win champion- ships, so I think it's going to be good!" Dave Gowland will continue in his role as Rockstar Energy Rac- ing's team manager as the team transitions to Husqvarna motor- cycles. "With the commitment that is coming from the Factory, there is no doubt Husqvarna will get to the next level, and choosing us to be that flagship is really pretty special for us," Gowland said. "It goes back a long way, to some of the fore-founders who brought Husky to America, and we're now going to be a part of that lineage. We're putting together a cast of riders to compete on the bikes, and that can win championships. We've already ridden the bikes and we're really happy with them. I think people will be surprised!" GARDNER BETTING ON MILLER A ustralia's first 500cc World Champion Wayne Gardner is betting on Moto3 sensation Jack Miller to go all the way and win the 2014 world title and become Australia's first ultra-lightweight Grand Prix champion since Tom Phillis in 1961. "Right now, if I was a betting man, I'd put my money on Jack," says Gardner of Miller, who has scored victories in the Qatar, Texas and Le Mans to lead the Moto3 World Championship. Barcelona-based Gardner says Miller has the speed, toughness and racecraft to carry his hot start early all the way through to the final round at Valencia in No- vember, after adapting so well to his new Red Bull KTM Ajo after switching from Honda. "Jack has told me that the KTM handles better than the Honda, which is on a bit of a knife edge although it has a horsepower ad- vantage this year," says Gardner. "Jack's got a lot of confidence in the KTM chassis, and he's used that confidence to claim these early victories, but he has been smart by settling for the points when he wasn't in a position to win. He's also shown you need to