Along with fellow American’s Jimmy Albertson and Zach Osborne the rider from California went about fighting some of the toughest conditions in his racing career.

The Grand Prix circuits are known as the most difficult in the World and while Leib was used to high speeds and adrenaline burning American scene he couldn’t have expected such a tough transition. Not only was he holed up by himself in a small village in France, but he wasn’t meshing with the team as he had hoped. Bike problems and a lot of DNF’s meant that he was never going to reach his potential, despite showing good speed at some races.

MXlarge: Michael, can you tell me how you came about testing for the Husqvarna factory?

Leib: It came about in the last round of the Championship in Fermo, Italy when I spoke to Mr. Ricci and they didn’t know I didn’t have anything planned for next year. Really after that and they were interested in me. I learnt a lot in Europe this year and staying on will teach me even more. I want to be able to do what I couldn’t do last year. They sent me an e-mail and they wanted me to come out and test the bike and look at the contract and that is pretty much what happened.

MXlarge: So what is the next step?

Right now I am in Italy and I have been here since last Sunday. I have ridden the bike twice this week and I’ve been to the Husqvarna factory. I really like the bike, it is surprising how much fun and easy the bike is to ride. I can’t say for sure because we haven’t signed yet, but the final agreement will be sent to my home and if everything is what I want then this (Husqvarna) will be my home for next year.

MXlarge: How difficult was your first season in Europe?

Leib: This was tough, I don’t want to say the wrong thing, it was a tough year with the bike, and we had a lot of mechanical issues. Being with this Italian team (Ricci) it feels more like a family. I think the bike is going to be very competitive. At the start when Husqvarna came about I was a little hesitant because Husqvarna haven’t been doing the Grand Prix’s for a few years. I am now very happy to be part of all this.

MXlarge: How does the Husqvarna feel compared to the bike you had this year?

Leib: This last season there was a lot of stuff I had to work through, just mentally. We had like 13 mechanical failures and I didn’t get to ride that much.  I wasn’t 100% and I was riding a standard bike. Being a factory rider is great. I went and had a look at the Husqvarna factory last week. I don’t know what a factory team like KTM or Kawasaki is like, but I am so impressed and so happy to be on this team. It’s a good group of people around. I didn’t expect to be in a team like this.

MXlarge: What about the next few months, how will you prepare for the 2011 season? Do you take holidays now and start in January?

Leib: I took two weeks off after Fermo with my family and girlfriend, and that is all the time off I wanted, I want to work and do everything I have to do to make it work. I want to use this opportunity to get the maximum from it. I am here until November 6 and I will hopefully have some Husqvarna’s at my home in California. I will train now up until I come back here in February and I will then do some Italian Championships, just get up for the Grand Prix’s.

MXlarge: What was the toughest thing about the 2010 season?

Leib: Living in France by myself for the first time and not being able to ride and do the performances I know I can do was tough. I mean I was alone a lot and not a set plan or anything. I lived in a nice village, but that was about it. The people I have met in Italy are really helpful, very easy going, everyone is just so friendly, and it’s a totally different atmosphere. I think living alone in France and not being able to accomplish what I wanted to do was the toughest thing to do.

MXlarge: Did you catch up much with your countrymen Zach (Osborne) and Jimmy (Albertson) at all in 2010?

Leib: I did, but only contact at the Grand Prix’s. Zach and Jimmy and I grew up racing each other, but Saturday and Sunday at the Grand Prix is a busy time for everyone, other than that I lived on my own. My girlfriend did fly out with two months to go and that was fun for me, it took a lot of the stress out of it. Having somebody there made it a lot better.

MXlarge: How did you find the difference in circuits here compared to racing in America?

Leib: I haven’t run the Nationals, but I’ve ridden most of the track they do those on. I feel as though the European tracks are much more challenging and technical. Everything in the states is pretty much wide open. The circuits like Lommel and Lierop I am pretty sure we don’t have anything like that in America. Riding back at home after Fermo everything came more easily for me, riding here is more challenging for me at least.

MXlarge: What is your goal as far as results go in 2011?

Leib: I mean my main mind-set is to be the best I can and leave nothing on the table. I know if I go out there and ride to my ability I can be top five. I don’t want to say podium, I don’t want to speak too high. In Fermo I got two top sevens and that was without fitness. My goal is to finish overall as close to the top five as possible at the end of the Grand Prix season, it might even be better than that.

MXlarge: Any final words?

Leib: I want to sincerely thank Bud Racing and especially Jacky and Manola for their hard work and belief in me. Because of them I have an incredible opportunity in 2011 to pursue my goals in racing.