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Luke Clout and Empire Kawasaki secure Third in the Australian Supercross Championship
Luke Clout and the Empire Kawasaki Team powered through an intense Triple Crown format at the AUSX Open and Round 5 of the Australian Supercross Championship (AUSX) on Saturday night. Securing 3rd in the SX1 Standings at the conclusion of the Championship, it was a highly successful run for Clout as the lead Australian rider behind the international imports in AUSX in 2024.
The Triple Crown race format was combined with an all-star international line-up of riders for the AUSX Open, meaning the pressure was on for Clout who mathematically still had a chance to compete for 1st and 2nd in the AUSX SX1 Championship coming into Melbourne.
Starting the night with an incredible showing in Superpole, Clout would set the 3rd fastest time against the world’s best in the one lap showdown, giving him a solid gate pick and track position heading into the finals.
Ultimately early lap chaos, crashes and incidents with other riders would hinder Clout’s progress throughout the night, logging 9,5,5 Race scores to come home in 5th Overall for Round 5 and 3rd in the SX1 Championship.
“Tonight was frustrating as we didn’t get to show the speed I knew could have seen me run up front with the international riders. It was a case of what could have been, as I’m extremely proud and happy with the Team and my own efforts to claim 3rd in the Championship But we left something on the table tonight as far as results,” commented Clout.
“I want to thank Empire Kawasaki for their efforts this season. We took the All-New KX450 to the podium multiple times this year across ProMX and AUSX and it’s been a very rewarding year for me professionally and personally.”
Brett Metcalfe concluded what has been a staller international and domestic career with his “24 in 24” tour coming to an end at Marvel Stadium on the KX450.
With a duo of 8th places in the opening SX1 Races, “Metty” would unfortunately come together with another rider on the opening lap of the final race, causing a crash that ended his night early due to a concussion.
“It’s not the way I wanted my final race to go, but I was extremely happy with the 8th place I achieved before the final moto, racing the world’s best at this stage of my career. I am ok, just a little sore and cleared medically. Thanks to Kawasaki Australia for all their support and I look forward to catching up with everyone at some events in 2025,” concluded Metcalfe.
Across the AUSX Open event, Kawasaki sponsorship and Team Green support riders saw a huge presence for the brand, as the largest Supercross event of the annual calendar wrapped up the 2025 season.
Images: ID Media Group
Results: 2024 AUSX Open Melbourne
Check out all the results from the 2024 AUSX Open in Melbourne.
SX1 Title Standings
SX2 Title Standings
SX1 Overall
SX1 Final 3
SX1 Final 2
SX1 Final 1
SX2 Overall
SX2 Final 3
SX2 Final 2
SX2 Race 1
SX3 Final
Superpole
SX1 Qualifying
SX2 Qualifying
SX1 Warm Up / Qualifying 1
SX2 Warm Up / Qualifying 1
Image: ID Media Group
00 Elite Rider Training Aim to Finish Strong at AUSX Open
Marvel Stadium and the season finale of the Australian Supercross Championship (AUSX) is on the horizon for the 00 Elite Rider Training program, with the AUSX Open taking place on Saturday 30th November. Head Coach Nathan Crawford and the dedicated riders, families and sponsors that make up the 00 Elite program, will collectively make one last push to realise their potential for the season on Saturday night.
With the largest schedule of Supercross racing seen in Australia for many years across AUSX and the World Supercross Championship (WSX), the Professional riders on the 00 Elite program enter Melbourne with the laps under their belts needed to make the Final Round of AUSX a highlight for the 2024 season.
Head Coach Nathan Crawford commented on the 00 Elite Rider Training progress coming into Marvel Stadium: “Unfortunately the weather in Queensland has not been kind to us in between Adelaide and Melbourne with extremely heavy rain, with most of the riders taking this week off. The pro riders enjoyed that time to recover after racing at WSX in Perth and unfortunately Kaleb suffered a broken wrist which ended his 2024 Supercross season prematurely.
“Kayden Minear is coming into Melbourne on fine form following his hometown race in Perth last weekend, whilst Aaron Tanti has been working hard to be ready to mix it up with the international riders.”
Away from the Factory riders on the program, Liam Atkinson enters Melbourne as Top Privateer from Adelaide with 8th position in SX2 and looks to carry that form into Melbourne after two weeks on the Road training in Melbourne on a remote program with Coach Crawford heading into the Final Round.
Jack Byrne has been an emerging talent in the SX3 class and sits only 10 points back from the SX3 Championship podium, currently in 5th overall in SX3, as the likes of Downie, Freiberg, Wolfe, Allen and Kruik will also push to end the Championship on a positive note when the chequered flag flies at Marvel.
Round 5 of the 2024 Australian Supercross Championship takes place at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne on Saturday 30th November. The event will be broadcast across free-to-air coverage on KAYO Streaming in Australia and MAVTV for international audiences.
Images: ID Media Group
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