The CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team have laid a good platform for their championship hopes after a positive start at the opening round of the 2019 Australian Supercross Championship, held at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Saturday night.
Mounted on the 2020 YZ450F for the first time, the team of Dan Reardon and Luke Clout finished second and third respectively in the premier SX1 (450cc) class and leave the opening round confident that a successful season lay ahead.
Reardon, a home town favourite, raced to second place in his first race back since injury at last years‰Ûª Auckland Supercross. Over-coming some pre races nerves, Reardon had to scramble in his heat race to qualifying directly to the main event after he fell early in the race and only had eight laps to get his way back into the top four and a direct transfer spot. He made a last lap pass and was safely into the 2 x 12 main events that lay ahead for the SX1 riders.
Once in the main event, Reardon was a model of consistency charging to 3-2 results in each of the 12 lap affairs and snaring second overall. The opening final saw a three way fight for podium positions. Justin Brayton had moved away out front and it was left to Reardon, Brett Metcalfe and fellow CDR Yamaha rider, Luke Clout to battle for the scraps. Metcalfe cross the finish line in second place, with Reardon and Clout flashing by within two seconds.
The second final saw Reardon settle into second place but come under fire from team mate Clout in the middle stages of the race. Clout was all over Reardon and was looking to make a move when he clipped Reardon‰Ûªs rear tyre and went down. Reardon held on for second while Clout was able to remount for third.
‰ÛÏIts good to be back and racing again and this was just what I needed to blow the cob webs out and get the blood pumping again,‰Û
