As the SCSporthomes Husqvarna Team returns to the AMA Motocross Series in the United States, Charlie Putnam and Tristan Purdon are joined by younger teammate Charlie Heyman who had to sit sidelined during their last tour to the States due to injury. We catch up with Heyman, see how he is feeling ahead of his AMA debut, and chat with Put and Purdon about their journeys so far.
Heyman is eager to hit the track, feeling back to health and ready to tackle the his first AMA Pro Motocross. His primary goal is to secure a top-20 finish and earn points in both races. He’s been working diligently with trainer Paul Cooper to adapt his preparation to the US conditions, particularly focusing on improving his performance in high humidity and intense racing environments. Despite the setback of a recent injury, Heyman is confident and focused on making a strong debut.
Heyman says: “The injury I had a couple of months ago definitely set me back in my preparation, but I feel like I’m in a good place again now. I’m ready to give it my all.”
Purdon has had an interesting season thus far, with notable podium finishes in the British and Scottish Championships, heading over the pond to the USA had him in the unknown once again and he had to learn to adapt quickly. Reflecting on the first three rounds, Purdon notes significant improvements in his sprint laps and qualifying performance, attributing these gains to focused training and strategic adjustments. He remains enthusiastic about upcoming races, especially Ironman, and hopes to see himself up in the points on the scoreboard.
Purdon on the team setup: “The team really knows what they’re doing, and I have a lot of faith in them, especially in Neil. It’s a good setup, and it lets us focus on the racing without worrying about anything else.”
Like Purdon, Charlie Putnam also voices his excitment to be back and be heading to Ironman. Putnam says he has shifted his goals this season, now focusing on qualifying for mains as the competition intensifies. He has been honing his one-lap speed, which is crucial for competitive qualifying sessions. Putnam highlights the strong team dynamic for this years USA tour, noting that the camaraderie and spirits high, which ease the pressure slightly.
Putnam adds: “My expectations have definitely changed a lot this year. The competition has been incredibly strong, and the times are so much tighter with riders from all over the world coming to race. Just qualifying into the mains is a huge achievement in itself this year.”
We look forward to seeing Heyman debut in the States and see how Putnam and Purdon progress over these last 3 rounds, before returning for the penultimate round of the British Championship at School House on September 1st.
