Following a successful British nationals and motocross world championship campaign in Europe in 2019, Canterbury’s Dylan Walsh has found himself a base in the United States.
His European experience, followed by his stellar Motocross of Nations debut at Assen, in The Netherlands, in late September, has given the 22-year-old New Zealand MX2 No.3 a boost onto the American scene.
Without a spot available for the Kiwi on a GP team in Europe for 2020, Walsh decided that, rather than sit around and dwell on the negatives, he would pack up his Seven riding gear and book a flight to California.
Somehow he made it into the country amidst the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.
Since then, he has been living the California dream while throwing everything he has into securing a fill-in ride and racing in the US.
Walsh is no stranger to the American scene …
The then 19-year-old embarked on a journey of self-discovery when he left home in 2014 to travel to the US and see where his racing ability could take him.
He was based at the renowned Millsaps Training Facility (MTF), near the Florida state capital of Tallahasse, and there he went back to school, learning as much as he could about the business of racing motocross.
He could not break into the pro ranks in the US but eventually took his American experience with him to Belgium in 2019.
He was based at Lommel and raced for the British-based Revo Husqvarna UK Race Team.
Walsh embarked upon his rookie full season of Grand Prix racing in 2019, while he also frequently flitted back across the English Channel to contest the 2019 Maxxis ACU British Motocross Championships series.
He then stunned the established stars when he won the British national MX2 title in his debut year in the UK.
Walsh signed off his British champs campaign by finishing 1-1 at the final round, ending the series ahead of his Swedish team-mate Alvin Ostland, with Honda’s Josh Gilbert claiming third overall.
And, as a newbie at GP level in 2019, he also finished this season ranked 22nd overall in the MX2 world championships.
His best result was an eighth overall at the Swedish GP in August last year.
He had raced the 11-round European 250cc Championships (EMX250) in both the 2017 and 2018 seasons, finishing 27th overall in a mixed bag 2017 season and sixth overall in 2018, and he also raced the MX2 class at the German GP in May 2018, finishing 20th overall that weekend.
He has certainly shown himself to be a quick learner.
Watch and listen here as he explains his current situation.
© Words and photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
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