First Look at the "Husqvarna" Moto3 Race Bike

In case you didn’t hear the news, Husqvarna will enter the Moto3 Championship this year; and like the 2014 Husqvarna dirt bike line, the Swedish brand’s name will basically be painted onto the Austrian company’s machinery.

The move is an interesting one for the Husqvarna brand, as the company is about to start a new chapter in its already interesting story. The acquisition of Husky by KTM’s Stefan Pierer essentially consolidated the premium dirt bike segment into one company, and his efforts also brought about the reunification of Husaberg and Husqvarna.

How KTM and Husqvarna will operate going forward is unclear. For 2014, the differences are only paint deep, as is Husky’s Moto3 program, which is being run by Aki Ajo — the same highly regarded squad that ran KTM Racing’s factory bikes in the 2013 season.

While we can drool over another beautiful race bike, especially one of some peculiarity, what really intrigues us though is what this signals for the Husqvarna brand in the long term. Is this just a marketing effort to promote a struggling marque? Or does does Pierer have eyes for Husqvarna on the street? Only time will tell.