Husqvarna Racing was gutted to make the announcement recently that star rider David Goosen had sustained a severe knee injury, which ultimately led to the difficult decision to call an early retirement on his racing career. This was set to be a massive blow to the team so early on in the season as Goosen had championed the team’s prospects in both the MX1 and MX2 classes.
A glimmer of hope for the Husqvarna Racing team, however, is an announcement has sent shivers down the spines of both fans and competitors ahead of the second round of the National Motocross Championship. Sensational motocross rider Michael Docherty will step in for the team this weekend as he fills the gap in the highly competitive MX1 Class.
Currently doing most of his racing in the UAE, the South African superstar Docherty was incidentally on a trip to South Africa for holiday when he took the call from Husqvarna Brand Manager Fred Fensham. Among his glittering resume, he is the only South African ever to have won three FIM/EMSO UAE National Motocross Championships.
Docherty enthused that he is chomping at the bit to get a chance to race in front of his home fans again after being away for so long. He says that the hard pack track at Thunder Valley, KwaZulu-Natal, is a surface he is comfortable with and is eager to throw his leg over the Husqvarna FC 450 alongside South Africa’s fastest motocross riders.
Fensham enthused, “Sometimes the cards just fall into place – with the disappointment of David’s injury and subsequent retirement from competitive racing, we were really scratching our heads as to how we could fill the MX1 spot for Husqvarna Racing at the next round of the National series in Pietermaritzburg. Suddenly, along comes Michael Docherty who just happens to be back in SA for his Mom’s birthday. It took us one second to make the call and there you have it – Docherty will be behind the gate and ready to ruffle some feathers alongside Davin Cocker in MX2 and Neil van der Vyver in Pro Mini. We are looking forward to a great weekend!”
Published by: Grant Frerichs