Rhys Budd will be the new face on the Serco Yamaha team for next season and race alongside Jesse Dobson in the ProMX and Australian Supercross Championship on board the race winning YZ250F. Budd moves across from the Yamalube Yamaha Team after two years, finishing 2022 with second place in the ProMX championship and fourth in the Australian Supercross Championship. While Dobson, 2023 will mark his third year with the team after making the most of a fill in ride with the team in 2020.
Dobson, based on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, is out to make it to the top step of the MX2/ SX2 podium for 2023. His 2022 season saw him show flashes of brilliance during the ProMX championship with plenty of speed and endurance, but crashes and injury slowed his progress. Despite missing some races, Dobson still managed fourth in the championship but then elected to get his battered body repaired and missed the Australian Supercross Series.
Now back to full health, Dobson has already started the pre-season grind and is determined to park his Serco Yamaha in the winners circle in 2023.
“Last season had its challenges and it felt like just when I was starting to get some momentum, I would fall or pick up an injury and had to tread water while I recovered. But I feel like I’m in the best shape I have been for some time, have the right people around me and a great bike under me so my aim is to win races and compete for both the motocross and supercross championships this year.
“I think all the experiences I have had will be of benefit to me this year as I have been around for a while now and can call on those experiences I have had to make the right decisions. Serco Yamaha have again put a great package together for me so now the ball is in my court to make it all happen,” Dobson signs off.
Rhys Budd joins his training partner under the Serco Yamaha awning for 2023 and looks forward to working with the team and his close mate, Dobson. Budd has been a steady and consistent performer over the past two seasons as he has made his way up the MX2 leader board. Finishing third in 2021 and second in 2022, the next step is championship success if the trend continues.
“I’m excited to be joining Serco for 2023 and continuing my relationship with Yamaha. The pathway Yamaha Australia has in place allows riders like me to move through their system and I am one of many riders who have been able to do this.
“Teaming up with Serco Yamaha and Jesse is good as Jesse and I are already good friends and training partners up here in Queensland. We get along great and work together well, so the vibe in the team truck will be good but we both know we are there to do a job and that’s win races,” Budd said.
Serco owner, Gavin Eales, is delighted with his rider pairing for the year and expects to be right in the middle of the action later in the season.
“We are happy to have Jesse and Rhys on board for next season. Both are Queensland based and close to the team base which is important these days as it makes putting support around them much easier. They are both good friends as well as hard workers and I think that will only elevate them as the year progresses.”
The 2023 ProMX Championship roars to life on March 5 at Wonthaggi.