MotoOnline goes beneath the helmet of one of Australia’s fastest teenagers and finds out what really makes Serco Yamaha’s Luke Clout tick…

Luke Clout forms part of Serco Yamaha’s MX2 program in 2013. Image: Greg Smith/iKapture.

My Way

Greatest moment of your career?
Probably finishing second in 250B Stock and third in 250B Mod classes at the 2012 Loretta Lynn’s Amateur championship. Signing with Serco for 2013 is also right up there; they’re one of the best MX2 teams in Australia and all of their riders are high-calibre guys.

Toughest race ever?
The Toowoomba round of the 2012 Terex Australian Supercross Championship. The conditions were shocking and we had to roll every jump. It was the longest 15 laps of my life!

Long-term goal?
I definitely want to win a MX2 championship then head back to the USA as a pro rider.

Favourite track?
Red Bud in the States. Larocco’s Leap is nuts. I hit it fourth gear on a 450 and carried as much speed as could out of the bottom corner, and still only just made it. I was pretty scared the first time I hit it.

If you weren’t a racer, you would be?
Probably flipping burgers at Maccas or something.

Arch-rival?
I’d say Jay Wilson and Dylan Long from our junior days. We were the top guys and at every Australian Titles it was the three of us up the front battling hard.

Greatest inspiration?
Chad Reed. He’s an Australian and has shown us that we can go over to the USA and be successful. I want to follow in his footsteps.

Superstitions?
I put everything on the right side first, be it a knee-brace, boot, glove, whatever. It started at MTF when I put my left knee-brace on first and I crashed hard. After that I started putting everything on the right side first.Started doing it since MTF.

Training methods?
I do a lot of cycling, running and a lot of on-the-bike training and fitness.

Goal for 2013?
I want to be up the front at every round and get some round and race wins. I want to be in a good position at the end of the MX Nationals championship and I’m aiming to win the supercross championship later in the year after getting my feet wet in 2012.

Off The Wall

Best all-time moto DVD/video?
Moto 4 – The riding is insane and Barcia’s segment is awesome. He’s my favourite rider.

Non-bike related hobbies?
Hanging with my mates and riding a bit of BMX at the skatepark. I used to be able to backflip a BMX, but Dad wasn’t too keen on it and told me to settle down! Now I just chill.

Do you read your pit board?
Yep definitely. The only time I don’t is if I’m in a battle with someone.

What do you drive?
2009 Toyota Hiace. It’s practical and you can use it to transport bikes, sleep, or anything really.

Favourite magazine?
Zoo Weekly.

What’s on the iPod?
A lot of dance music like Calvin Harris, David Guetter. I’m a bit of a dance music fan.

Best thing about the MX Nationals?
Lining up and racing the best racers in Australia in the country’s best series. It’s been around for so long and there’s a lot of prestige and heritage in it.

Who will win AMA MX 2013?
It’s hard to go past Villopoto on the 450s and Blake Baggett on the 250s. I think Baggett will come out swinging and back it up from last year.

Tell us something we don’t know about you?
I’m a really good soccer player and I used to play as a centre-forward for NSW when I was 14-15. I only gave it up because it came to the point where I had to choose between racing and soccer. Racing won out.

Clout will be one to watch during the MX Nationals season. Image: Greg Smith/iKapture.

One or the Other

Traditional motos or mixed formats?
Traditional motos – I like longer motos to see who’s the most prepared and the fittest.

Chad Reed or Jeff Leisk?
Chad Reed

Monster, Red Bull, Rockstar?
Red Bull. I just like the taste of it.

PC or Mac?
Mac

McDonald’s or KFC?
McDonald’s

Europe or USA?
USA

Two-stroke or four-stroke?
Four-stroke

MX Nationals or Supercross?
Can I choose both? It’s a tough one but I’ll go MX Nationals because I get a bit bored of supercross. I like the variety of tracks and conditions that the outdoors brings.

Print or Digital (iPad) magazines?
Print

Blonde or brunette?
I don’t care [laughs]! Brunettes.