Husqvarna Mobility is excited to announce the 2026 701 Enduro and 701 Supermoto models – innovative machines that have been meticulously upgraded with stronger engines, new bodywork, and advanced technology.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire raced to a solid top-five score at the opening 2025 SuperMotocross World Championship (SMX) Playoff event in Concord, North Carolina, on Saturday, with a hard-fought fifth position in the first 450SMX moto yielding P5 overall for the weekend. Equipped with the Husqvarna FC 450 Factory Edition, Hampshire set the seventh-fastest qualifying time on what was a high-speed layout at zMAX Dragway, before a rapid climb through the pack in the first race saw him take a convincing fifth-place result. Major storms then rolled into the Charlotte area directly after the conclusion of the opening premier class moto, which drew an early end to the day’s proceedings due to a lengthy lightning delay. Those Moto 1 results then determined for the overall in the first of three post-season events, with Hampshire elevating himself to P7 in the standings as a result. “Charlotte was pretty good, I just felt as though I kept growing every time I hit the track,” commented Hampshire. “We were just steadily building, and today was even better than yesterday. The moto was solid, too. I didn’t get a great start, but I stuck to my game plan and clicked off consistent laps to earn a top-five – I’m stoked! That was the goal coming in, so I’m happy to be leaving here with a fifth place and looking forward to St Louis next weekend.” Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing teammate Malcolm Stewart withdrew from racing at SMX Playoff 1 due to an incident on Friday that resulted in lower back pain, keeping him out of the remainder of the weekend. With a week in between rounds, the 32-year-old is aiming to lineup for Playoff 2 in St. Louis next weekend. Next Race: September 13 – St. Louis, Missouri Results 450SMX Class – SMX Playoff 1 1. Jett Lawrence (Honda) 2. Chase Sexton (KTM) 3. Eli Tomac (Yamaha) 5. RJ Hampshire (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) 10. Justin Barcia (GASGAS) Standings 450SMX Class 2025 after 1 of 3 rounds 1. Jett Lawrence, 47 points 2. Chase Sexton, 38 3. Justin Cooper, 36 7. RJ Hampshire, 29 9. Justin Barcia, 25 12. Malcolm Stewart, 20 13. Aaron Plessinger, 14
Kay de Wolf tightened the MX2 title race to just 12 points with a composed 2-2 at the MXGP of Turkey, while teammate Liam Everts fought to a pair of fifths for sixth overall at round eighteen.
By Kenneth Olausson On a murky autumn day in 1980, a Swedish photographer made a highly unusual discovery. Getting rid of his waste in a nearby recycling area, Ludde De Geer found a huge batch of photos in the form of old glass-negatives. It took him 25 years and some new technology to save his ‘catch of the year’. Among the shots was an epic Christmas show Husqvarna photograph from 1934…
By Kenneth Olausson He joined Husqvarna in the early 1930s having made a name in two-wheel sport. Gunnar Barthelsson had a special talent for broad-sliding and won some of his greatest victories on gravel. Previously, Gunnar had ridden for the Belgian FN brand, but in the beginning of the 1930s, he connected with Husqvarna where in 1931 he took an overwhelming second place after the triumphant Ivar Skeppstedt. They met in the final at the famous horserace track Solvalla in Stockholm. Gunnar was a mere five seconds behind the winner in the five-kilometre race on gravel. Both riders had an outstanding riding-style going around the long, high-speed corners with their machines sliding sideways to the great delight of the 15,000-spectator crowd. And in the 1932 Klevaliden hill climb, Gunnar set a record of 40.66 sec, breaking the old Klevaliden record of 52.4 seconds. This everlasting record equalled an average of 90 km/h!
