A change in rider in the Serco Yamaha team for ProMX and the personnel behind the scenes has the team refreshed and reinvigorated for the new season and expectations are high as the off season has gone smoothly for the team.
Rhys Budd, second in the 2022 MX2 championship, will join Jesse Dobson on the Serco Yamaha team and make for a strong combination as the opening round of the 2023 championship draws closer. While Budd has moved to a new team, he still remains on Yamaha and the YZ250F, so the transition has been an easy one for him.
Budd has landed on the MX2 championship podium for the past two seasons and has been on the YZ250F for three years and feels he is primed and ready to make the next step in his riding and go after that elusive number 1 plate in the MX2 division.
“Each year I have improved my result in the championship and also improved my speed and fitness, so the next goal is to take it to the top step and get that number 1 plate for both myself and Serco Yamaha.
“The transition to the Serco Yamaha team has been smooth and working with Paul Teasedale has been good. He has been super supportive and encouraging and already we have a great relationship. The bike feels super strong, we have done plenty of testing to ensure its right for me and now is the time to get after it on the track and notch up some race and round wins.
“Its less than 10 days to round one at Wonthaggi and we are ready to go. The track there is always tough but I think I have improved my riding in sand and have set my goals high to get the season started on the right foot,” Budd said.
Back for his third year on the team is Jesse Dobson. Coming to the team in 2020 to fill in for an injured rider, Dobson cashed in on that opportunity and remains with the Serco Yamaha team three seasons on.
Finishing second in the 2021 championship, his 2022 campaigned was dogged with injury and ended in him getting shoulder surgery in the weeks after the final round at Coolum last season. Dobson has been back on the bike for a couple of months now and working his way back to his best form with no pain in his troublesome shoulder.
“My shoulder was pretty beat up at the end of last years’ ProMX championship and I realistically didn’t have any other option but to have surgery on it and get it sorted. A shoulder construction takes in a four-month recovery process and as I had time, I was extra cautious with it to make sure I am 100% when the season starts.
“My riding and fitness is coming along and I feel improvements each week. I would like to have got in a couple of local races prior to round one just to get behind the gate and get used to race intensity but I just needed to keep preparing and think my experience will take over once I’m on the start line at Wonthaggi.
“I like the Wonthaggi track as it has a lot of similarities to my home track at Coolum with the dirt and the surface, so my plan is to get off to a good, solid start, log a good result and continue to build into the championship as the rounds progress,” Dobson ends.
With over 20 years in the game, team manager Gavin Eales, is excited to go racing in 2023 and looks forward to a great season from his troops.
“We have new mechanic on board this year with Matt coming in to replace Ben who took up an offer to world for a team on the MXGP tour. It is a great opportunity for Ben, and we wish him well. Matt has blended in well and his knowledge has already shown benefit within the team.
“Rhys has come through the Yamaha program and already had a good friendship with Jesse and the team. Both riders have a huge work ethic and are determined to make 2023 their best season yet and with a strong preseason behind us, we head to round one in good shape and ready to go racing.”
The opening round of the ProMX Championship takes place at the Wonthaggi circuit in Victoria on March 5.
