BCP Pro Circuit Honda Junior Development Team rider Rhys Budd competed over the weekend at Horsham, Victoria for Round 2 of the ‘Rookies’ MX Nationals in what was one of the muddiest events seen in a long time here in Australia.
The young NSW rider toughed out a hard day at the office to score himself a third place in moto one, while backing it up in moto two with an impressive charge through the pack to eventually finish fourth in the moto, making a pass with just three corners to go that would secure him third place overall for the day.

When the podium presentation was just about to get underway a penalty was handed out to both Rhys Budd and Regan Duffy for allegedly jumping under a yellow flag. This penalty dropped Budd off the podium and back to fourth place on the day.

Despite the setback Budd still sits in a solid third place overall in the title chase.

“I’m really impressed with Rhys gritting his teeth through this tough period,” said Team Manager Lee Hogan.

“Three weeks ago at the Colac round of the Vic titles Rhys was involved in a freak accident when a rider that was being put a lap down by the leaders made a huge mistake and jumped into Rhys. I’ve never seen anything like this before, but the riders rear wheel landed on Rhys’s left foot and the rear brake rotor has sliced straight through Rhys’s boot and foot. He somehow still finished the race before having to be taken off to hospital for surgery. He’s one tough kid that’s for sure.”

With just two days back on the bike prior to Horsham Rhys Budd managed to score respectable points on the day and sits comfortable in third place in the championship hunt with one round to go at Toowoomba in Queensland.

“It’s definitely been a testing time for me lately with these two injuries that I’ve had,” said Budd.

“In a way I’m lucky because I’ve been able to return just in time for these two rounds of the MX Nationals rather than have to sit them out due to injury. But in another I just want to have some time to get comfortable and get back to where I was earlier in the year. I’m so excited to be heading to America with Lee in a few weeks for Mammoth Mountain MX and I can’t wait to get my rhythm back again and ride the way I know I can.”

Budd’s team mate Royce Anell competed also in the ‘Rookies’ 250cc class and Horsham and after a solid lead-up to the event managed to improve on his round one effort and came away with plenty of positives.

“These two tracks that we’ve had to race on at Appin and now here at Horsham have been two of the toughest tracks I’ve ever seen let alone ridden,” said Royce Anell.
“I’m really comfortable in the deep sand but I need to work on these ruts and we know what we need to do to keep improving.”

Round 3 of the 250cc Junior ‘Rookies’ will be held in conjunction with the Toowoomba round of the MX Nationals and will be held on the 13th August.