IN
THE
WIND
P52
HUSKY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
C
ahuilla Creek MX was host to the inaugural Husky World
Championship on March 4-5, the first-ever Husqvarna-
only race in the U.S. The event was created by Cycle News
alum and former Motorcyclist editor Brian Catterson, who
received backing from Husqvarna Motorcycles in the ven-
ture. Much like the CZ World Championship, Catterson en-
visioned an event that would cater exclusively to Husqvarna
motorcycles, and in Husky's case, not only vintage iron, but
modern bikes as well. The event turned into a unique meld-
ing of old and new, with a 50-year span of machinery taking
to the track. Husqvarna legends such as Gunnar Lindstrom
and Mark Blackwell were in attendance, as well as some of
the current staff of Husqvarna's North American contingent.
The two-day event began with open practice and a
bike show on Saturday, followed by a Supercross viewing
party on Saturday night (where, appropriately enough, Zach Osborne won on a
Husqvarna). The racing took place Sunday, with a pointed mix of vintage motor-
cycles all the way up to the brand new '17s taking to the track.
"I set a goal; I said if we got 100 entries, it will be good," Catterson said. "We
got nearly 100, so I was happy. For an all-Husqvarna race, the first time doing
this, I think it was great."
The Inaugural
Husky World
Championship
marked the first
Husky-only event
in the U.S.
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
JEAN
TURNER
Event organizer Brian
Catterson (right)
presented Mark
Blackwell with the
inaugural Husky World
Championship Lifetime
Achievement Award.
