KTM Australia has announced that rising star Jesse Dobson has been signed to take the place of injured MX1 racer Luke Styke on the factory team for this weekend's MX Nationals opener at Horsham, and for the rest of season 2016 including the Australian Supercross Championship.
The just-turned-19 Queenslander is one of the hottest rising prospects in the premier class in Australia, and when Styke‰Ûªs Achilles tendon re-ruptured upon his return to riding a little over a week ago, the team moved quickly to explore options for Dobson's release from his sponsorship arrangements.
Upon receiving the offer from KTM's Race Teams Manager Rob Twyerould, Dobson forewent the pleasantries of a planned 19th birthday party, opting instead for a day spent in the van, hot-footing it down to Sydney to immediately begin testing of his KTM 450 SX-F.
Dobson has filled in once before for the KTM motocross team with tremendous success, when he contested the 2014 Australian Supercross championships (his first senior supercross championship) and exceeded all expectations by finishing fifth overall.
‰ÛÏI‰Ûªm super pumped, I can't thank the team enough for giving me the opportunity to come back." Dobson said. "The last time I raced for the team was in Supercross and I was only 17, and every round we progressed and we had good success.
"To me that feels like a lifetime ago and I feel that I've grown so much and matured since then as a rider. I‰Ûªm in a lot better place coming in this year with these guys behind me. It's kind of a last-minute thing, but I think we've got a good base setting to work off and we are in a good place. For me the job hasn't changed, I'm still going there to win.
"It's good because I fallen right back into the place where I was in the supercross in 2014, and last year even though I was with Husky I were still involved with the boys a little bit in testing at the tracks and I'm good friends with Kirk and with Caleb as well.
"It's a bit of a last-minute rush but it was so good to get the call because it just makes it a lot easier on my behalf, I can now rock up at the rounds with only the clothes I need to wear, and just do my job. Instead of having to pack my stuff in and drive to the round of the week before, I think it‰Ûªll make a big difference. I‰Ûªd like to thank Husky for making this opportunity possible. We were in a really good place with them four days ago, but this just makes it easier.‰Û
