Crawford returns to Australia and bags Serco Yamaha seat

Nathan Crawford has returned to his native Australia after a year in MXGP and landed a spot in the Serco Yamaha squad.

The 23 year-old Brisbane resident is already back in the saddle of a YZ250F as preparations begin for the 2021 Australian motocross and supercross championships.

After a season in MX2, injury and homesickness were the reasons for his return but Crawford is still grateful for the international experience and racing at the highest levels.

“Racing the world championships for a manufacturer supported team has always been a dream of mine and I’m glad I got to experience racing the best riders in the world firsthand. It was an amazing experience, and despite COVID, a year I will never forget,” said Crawford.

“Travelling from country to country and racing on tracks that I had only ever seen on video or YouTube was awesome and I’m so glad I got to do it. I would love to have stayed longer, but a few things didn’t work out and I began looking at my options racing back here in Australia.

“Joining back up with the Serco Yamaha team is cool as we have a good working relationship from my time there in 2018 and 2019. The same mechanics are still there and not a lot has changed so it was nice to walk back into familiar surroundings and feel welcomed.

“It was much the same way stepping back onto the YZ250F. The bike feels so good and as a production bike, it is the best in the class.

“It’s great to be back. I feel motivated and determined to get my career back on track and I have unfinished business in the MX2 class, so I’m really looking forward to getting things started in 2021.”

Racing for the newly restructured ProMX championship gets under way on April 11 and will run eight rounds to a double header conclusion at Coolum in August. The Australian Supercross Championship is pencilled in to start in September with five rounds to make up the series.

2021 Pro MX Calendar

Rd1 – 11 April – Wonthaggi, Vic
Rd2 – 2 May – Canberra, ACT
Rd3 – 30 May – Gillman, SA
Rd4 – 27 June – Maitland, NSW
Rd5 – 25 July – Wodonga, VIC
Rd6 – 9 August – TBC, QLD
Rd7-8 – 14/15 August – Coolum, QLD