Luke Clout, has charged into the Pro MX championship lead in the MX1 division, after another scintillating performance at the Maitland round of the series, contested over the weekend.
Clout now holds a three-point lead in the championship, a feat even more remarkable given the fact that he was unable to finish one race in the six contested so far.
The CDR Yamaha Monster Energy rider entered the Maitland round confident of continuing his recent run of good form and knowing the circuit suited his riding style. He wasted no time in stamping his authority on the day taking a wire-to-wire victory in race one.
The afternoon races saw the MX1 field compete in two, fifteen-minute back-to-back races with points across both legs combining for an overall moto score. Clout again took control in race two and raced to victory and then finished a very close second place in the third and final leg. The combined 1-2 results in the back to back races, gave him the maximum 25 points and as a result, shot him to the top of the leader board.
“When I saw Maitland on the calendar this year, I pencilled it in as a must win round for me knowing that I ride the track well, so it was pleasing to achieve that goal,” Clout explained, “but to combine that with coming away with the championship lead makes it a great day for myself and the team.
“I was able to get great starts all day and put myself in good positions very early in the race. I grabbed the lead in race three, but Kirk was able to sneak by me, but I kept the pressure on and chased him all the way to the finish.
“The bike and team were again awesome today and a feel my riding is good at the moment. I have been able to work on things during the week and then see that work rewarded on weekends. It’s a month until the next round at Albury, but the plan is to continue doing what I have been doing and ride this momentum for as long as I can,” Clout concluded.
It was another consistent yet frustrating day for Hayden Mellross who finished the day in sixth place. He took a fifth-place finish in race one, then a combined 7-5 results in the back-to-back races to end the day on 30 points.
He now sits in fifth place in the championship, just 19 points from the series lead and with plenty of rounds still to come, Mellross has the time to charge up the leader board.
“Starts and track position on the opening lap were my big issues today,” said a disappointed Mellross. “My track speed and lap times were good but starting outside the top five makes a good result difficult with the rider quality in MX1 this year.
“I was never right up the front and always in a battle on the track. I found some good flow at the back of the races but it’s the first few minutes that I need to address and get myself back to where I belong.
“The team and I will continue to work hard and ensure we get a better result in Albury at the next round.”
With the postponement of the Adelaide round, it’s now a month break between Pro MX rounds. Round five of the championship is slated down for July 24-25 and with the top six riders all within 24 points in the MX1 division, things are starting to heat up.
PRO MX RESULTS
Round Four Results – MX1
1st Luke Clout – 50 Points
2nd Kirk Gibbs – 44 Points
3rd Todd waters – 38 Points
4th Regan Duffy – 34 Points
5th Aaron Tanti – 33 Points
6th Hayden Mellross – 30 Points
7th Maximus Purvis – 29 Points
8th Brett Metcalfe – 28 Points
9th Connor Tierney – 20 Points
10th Lochie Latimer – 19 Points
Championship Standings – MX1
1st Luke Clout – 122 Points
2nd Regan Duffy – 119 Points
3rd Todd Waters – 116 Points
4th Kirk Gibbs – 114 Points
5th Hayden Mellross – 103 Points
6th Brett Metcalfe – 98 Points
7th Maximus Purvis – 71 Points
8th Aaron Tanti – 57 Points
10th Jai Walker – 55 Points
