17 December 2023 / Text Size
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Raceline Husqvarna Berry Sweet Racing welcomes new-comer Rhys Budd alongside veteran Husky rider Todd Waters and his protégé Jack Mather for the 2024 ProMX season.
Raceline Husqvarna Berry Sweet Racing has elevated its position entering the 2024 season, with
team owner and manager Todd Waters continuing to lead the program in MX1, alongside incoming MX2 recruit Rhys Budd and the returning Jack Mather as he steps up to the professional ranks.
The
2024 Australian ProMX Championship and
Australian Supercross Championship (AUSX) will mark Raceline Husqvarna Berry Sweet Racing’s second full season in operating the official motocross team of Husqvarna Motorcycles in Australia, due to build upon experience gained this year and with firm intentions to perform at the highest of standards on-track.
At 33, former national MX1 champion Waters is a mainstay in Australian motocross and has a rich history with the Husqvarna Motorcycles brand, preparing to extend his racing career onboard the Husqvarna FC 450 while also guiding both Budd and Mather to help further their careers.
Budd is a welcome new addition to Raceline Husqvarna Berry Sweet Racing, the 22-year-old consistently factoring towards the front of the MX2 pack in recent seasons and claiming fourth in the 2023 standings. He’s swiftly adapted to the Husqvarna FC 250 and will be targeting a first-career championship when the new ProMX season commences in March.
Another new addition to Raceline Husqvarna Berry Sweet Racing’s MX2 roster is Mather, who after finishing runner-up in the MX3 championship this past season, has the opportunity to transition into the pro class on his Husqvarna FC 250. The 18-year-old is eager to learn from the likes of Waters and Budd in what will be his second term as part of the Raceline Performance-operated effort.
Todd Waters: “We’re stepping things up next year with Rhys Budd as our lead MX2 rider and we have Jack Mather stepping up from MX3 after getting second in the ProMX championship this year. I’ve also moved back to the Gold Coast so I can manage the team easier, but I’m also riding with the boys down here twice a week now too. We’ve got our testing underway already, which has been positive so far. I’ve had a lot better pre-season this year than I did last year when I was only on the bike for two weeks before the first round coming off my shoulder injury, so I’ve finally had a chance to do some testing and to try different things. I just didn’t have the time at the beginning of 2023, so that’s good to be doing that now. I’m going to mentor the two boys and try to help them develop into being 450 riders in the future – I want them to eventually take my position. I feel like it’s a good role for me to be a team manager because as a rider I’ve always loved helping out the younger guys and helping them develop. Our infrastructure is growing, we’ve put a few extra mechanics on this year, so we’re excited to go racing in 2024. I’m feeling comfortable, I’m back in the groove of living down on the Gold Coast and riding with some of the top guys, so I have a good gauge of where I’m at and I know what I need to work on. We’re leaps and bounds ahead of where we were at this time last year as a team, so 2024 is going to be exciting for us.”
Rhys Budd: “I’m super-stoked to sign with the Raceline Berry Sweet Husqvarna Racing Team for 2024 and the transition has been really easy for me. I’ve been on the FC 250 a few times now and I feel like I’m gelling with it good, so I’m pumped! Getting to work with Todd has been great, he’s got so much knowledge and experience in our sport, so I’m looking forward to soaking that all up and learning as much as I can. It’s going to be a really fun year, the vibes around the team are high, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Jack Mather: “I’m really happy to be stepping up to the MX2 class for 2024 and to be doing it with Raceline Berry Sweet Husqvarna Racing. I’ve got a really good relationship with everyone in the team and I know that they’ve got my back 100 percent, so it’s a great feeling to be taking that next step into the pro ranks with people that I know and am really familiar with as a team.”
Kyle Blunden (KTM Group Australia Motorsport Manager): “Firstly, we are thrilled to enter the second year of our partnership with the Raceline Husqvarna Berry Sweet Racing team, which did a fantastic job in 2023 and raised the bar on many levels throughout the season. Team owner Todd Waters will again lead the charge in the MX1 category aboard the FC 450. Todd’s experience and passion for the sport make him a force to be reckoned with, and the perfect guide and mentor for the younger guys he is bringing into the team in 2024. The team welcomes Rhys Budd as their new MX2 rider. We’re excited to see Rhys in action on his FC 250 and believe talent and determination will add a new dimension to the team. Jack Mather will also be stepping up to the MX2 class after an impressive season in MX3. I couldn’t be more enthusiastic about the Raceline Husqvarna Berry Sweet Racing prospects for 2024. After a very impressive year one, the team will no doubt be heading into their second year with a refined approach and a lot of wind in their sails. We look forward to seeing them in action at the ProMX come March next year.”
