Luke Arbon has been selected by Serco Yamaha to ride the YZ250F left vacant by the injured Luke Clout. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

Standout 250 class outfit Serco Yamaha has secured the services of South Australian Luke Arbon to pilot its second entry in the 2013 Australian Supercross Championship.

Arbon will substitute for regular Serco Yamaha pilot Luke Clout, whose 2013 campaign came to an abrupt end when he broke his left femur in a practice crash in early July.

For Arbon, the opportunity to climb aboard the machine leading the 2013 Monster Energy MX Nationals MX2 class is an invaluable one.

“I was pretty excited to get the phone call from Serco boss Gavin Eales and get the chance to race their bikes,” said Arbon. “The team has proven to be the best in the MX2 class and I look forward to working with the team and getting the results they need.

Arbon achieved a podium finish at Maitland in the 2011 Supercross campaign, but was a non-starter in 2012 following his own injury woes.

“I had a great series in 2011 and I raced a YZ250F then with the GYTR Yamaha team,” he continued. “It’s great to be back on the same bike and I can’t thank Yamaha and the Serco Yamaha team enough for their continued support.”

Serco Yamaha team owner Gavin Eales insisted upon drafting an Australian talent into the team and said Arbon’s results, and familiarity with the YZ250F, made him a clear choice.

“We looked through the results over the past few seasons in Australian championships and also at some overseas riders but we decided to continue to invest in Australian talent and Luke’s Supercross ability as well as previous results impressed us,” said Eales.

“He already knows the bike extremely well, is within the Yamaha program and I’m sure he will be a great fit for the Serco Yamaha team and post some great results for us this year.”

The 2013 Australian Supercross Championship season opens at Hidden Valley in the Northern Territory on 14-15 September.