Reigning two-time Australian MX2 champion Brodie Connolly has transferred to the US for 2026, signing with Quad Lock Honda in the 250 division as he commences his American career this season. The 22-year-old New Zealander has also recently overcome a wrist injury sustained during the latter stages of last year, with this Check In feature getting an update on his current status and plans for the new year.

Image: Foremost Media.

Brodie, we haven’t heard from you in some time – really since the wrist injury took you out of the AUSX Supercross Championship last year. Where have you been, and what’s news?

So yeah, I’m currently in America down at MTF [Millsaps Training Facility], where the Quad Lock Honda team is based. I’ve been in the United States for quite a few weeks now, just trying to get all my stuff set up over here and finding a place to live and a vehicle and things like that. I came over here, I think it was the start of December, and I’ve been back on the bike for a couple of weeks now. I think it was 10 weeks I had off after surgery, so it’s good to be back riding.

So are we all in on American racing now? I’m assuming 250SX East and then Pro Motocross?

Yep! The plan is to race here for the year. I had my first ride back on a Supercross track today actually, so we’re not too sure yet about the [East] opener – we’ll have more of an idea, I guess, in the next few weeks, once I start getting a few more Supercross laps under the belt, whether we try to make the first round or maybe I just do a few of them, you know, maybe the last five or something like that. It’s sort of just something we’ll figure out as we go and, yeah, depending on how I’m feeling riding Supercross, I guess.

You’ve been pushing for a US transfer for a while now. What’s the feeling like to be finally over there and the dream starting to come to fruition?

It’s awesome, for sure. I mean, after riding Supercross today for the first time, you drive back home, and you realise [that] I really, really, really want to make this work. It’s a cool place to be. I think I’m ready to be here now. You know, the last time I tried to come over in ’23, I reckon getting injured was almost sort of a blessing in disguise. I think it would have been a bit too early. I’ve matured a lot more now and really know what I want. It’s definitely cool to be here, and it’s where I want to be for sure.

With the injury, what was the process there, and how has the recovery been? Are you close to full strength again? The scaphoids can be a bit of a weird one…

Yeah, I think it is all good. I had surgery on my wrist at the start of October, and then, everyone you talk to who has done one says don’t mess around with it because it is a really niggly injury that can, you know, cause you trouble later on. But I started riding at 10 weeks. The X-rays and stuff looked pretty good. It had sort of healed up, and it felt pretty good moving it and stuff like that. I spent like six or seven days riding on the amateur track, which is pretty flat and smooth, just figuring out how to ride and stuff again, but [I] had a little bit of pain at the start, which I was a little bit worried about, but it’s sort of, it hasn’t been sore afterwards. And then riding today was the first day in a couple of weeks with no pain. That’s a good sign. So yeah, I think we’re, I think we’re ready to get it going now.

Image: Foremost Media.

Did you do any riding at all in Australia, or was it directly to America at the end of last year?

Just America. I came over here at the start of December and spent a few weeks… I sort of wanted to get all my stuff organized and that before I got on the bike. I had quite a few things to arrange – insurances and things like that, and accommodation, and just getting bank accounts and stuff opened over here because everything is just a mission to sort out when you’re not from here, so I’m glad I came over a bit earlier, before I was ready to ride. So I ended up getting a little apartment in a town called Thomasville. It’s 15 minutes away from MTF, so [its a] perfect location really. But yeah, I’m pretty stoked with my little set-up, it’s quite good.

And so what is the deal? Have you signed in America for only this year? Is there anything beyond that?

I have signed here for Quad Lock Honda for a couple of years. But obviously, it’s… I don’t know, if things turn to shit here or if I have a shit year and I’m useless, let’s say, then I’ll probably come back to Australia. I don’t know, sometimes you just have to be realistic. But no, I want to… I’ll be here for a couple of years. You know, I believe in myself and my capabilities, and yeah, I want to make something work here. It’s a dream to be here. But yeah, it’s going to be a massive step in my career. I’ve got the opportunity now, and I guess it’s all up to me.

Have you set any expectations – together with the team – for this season at all?

It’s hard to say. I know where I want to be. The goal is to race for a factory team here. That’s the end goal, and I’ve sort of built myself quite a little pathway with, you know, Yarrive [Konsky] has been a massive help and all the team and stuff. And, yeah, I mean, if I can have a good year here, a good couple of years here, and get offered a factory deal, that’s really the dream come true. But, yeah, as far as expectation and stuff for this year, I just want to ride like how I know I can. Other times I’ve come over, it’s just rushed and stuff and it’s so hard jumping off a plane and getting straight into racing. I’m excited to be based here and obviously try to get better every weekend. Get comfy on the bike. I’ve got a good group around me at the moment. Expectations are hard because I honestly have no idea. Realistically, I haven’t raced much Supercross, so I guess the first goal there is to make the main event, pretty much, and then obviously go from there. But I feel I’m definitely capable of that, and we’ll just see how it goes.

Talking about MTF, it looks like a solid program there, but I feel like that facility and everything they have there, and the tracks and trainers and stuff, it’s always looked pretty big.

Yeah, for sure. I’m going to miss Ross [Beaton] and the boys down there in Australia, though. Ross is, he’s a legend. And, yeah, man, the last few years with him, he’s taught me, honestly, everything. He’s probably taught me more than anyone ever has before in my life, you know, so much to do with riding and even just general life stuff off the bike. But yeah, coming over here is pretty cool. Today was my first day working with Martin [Davalos] and the MTF trainers, riding with a few other boys, so I’m sort of not really in the thick of it yet. I’ve just been cruising along. They want me to take it easy, which has been a little bit hard because I just want to get out there and twist the throttle and try to go fast. But I guess in the next couple of weeks, sort of start to work with them more. And yeah, it’ll be cool to build a relationship with a few different people.

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Do you anticipate riding and training alongside anyone on the team?

I think I’ll end up riding with Christian [Craig] because he rides here. Joey [Savatgy] and Shane [McElrath] are down at the Sandbox, so they’re a bit away. But, yeah, and then there are a few other kids that will be riding Supercross too, but today was my first day sort of riding with people, so I don’t have a massive idea of sort of the little group that’ll ride as of yet, but I know that Christian rides out here every day, so, yeah, he’ll be one of them.

That’s awesome. Stoked that you got over there… are you pumped? Surely you’ve got to be really, really thrilled.

Yeah, I am. I am definitely stoked. I think it’ll sink in when I’m sitting on the line for a Supercross race, that’s for sure, because it’s, yeah, it’s obviously tough coming from such a little place like New Zealand. Just thinking about it, dreaming about it, thinking about it as a kid. Wanting to race, watching on TV – it’s big for sure. So hopefully we can make that dream a reality very soon. But yeah, at the moment I’m stoked to be here. It’s pretty cool.