Globetrotting future for Matthew Phillips

Following on from the news that Tasmanian young gun Matthew Phillips was locked in to contest the 2013 FIM World Enduro Championship for the Husqvarna Enduro Team by CH Racing, comes word from Husqvarna Australia that the 19-year-old will also be competing on home soil this year.

A deal struck between Phillips, the Husqvarna Enduro Team by CH Racing and Husqvarna Australia will see the reigning E2 Australian Off-Road Champion and E2 A4DE Champion competing in selected rounds of the Australian Off-Road Championship that don’t clash with WEC fixtures. He’ll also be contesting the 2013 A4DE.

The collaboration between the European factory team and Husqvarna Australia means the youngster will be facing a hectic schedule over the coming season, but will gain invaluable experience as he faces some of the world’s best enduro riders in Europe.

Phillips was elated with his contract. “I’m very excited to be a part of the CH Racing team and Husqvarna family,” he said. “I believe this is my greatest and most exciting opportunity yet. I really love the bike and I can’t wait to race for Husqvarna in the WEC and to come home and race in Australia for Paul Feeney Group [the Australian Husqvarna distributor]. I feel like not many Australians get that chance to race in a factory team in Europe; this is an amazing opportunity for me,” he added.

Phillips was a member of the Australian Trophy team that placed second in the 2012 ISDE, where he notched up a fourth place in the E2 class and finished seventh outright. He also dominated the 2012 Wildwood Rock Extreme Enduro, held to Melbourne’s north last November.