Zero Seven Motorsports’ Cody Mackie in action at Hervey Bay a fortnight ago. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

Zero Seven Motorsports has been forced out of the remaining rounds of the Monster Energy MX Nationals, Australian Motocross Championship, now facing a race against time against time to prepare for an Australian Supercross return.

Team owner Mark Haughton’s company RPM Transport Group went into administration on Friday, causing the team to pull out of the Swan Hill round at the 11th hour and leaving MX1 regular Cody Mackie without a seat for the series remainder.

Queenslander Dylan Peterson, who was scheduled to replace injured MX2 standout Kade Mosig after a promising number of appearances earlier in the season, was also ruled out of the event.

It’s an unfortunate turn of events for the Victorian-based operation, which has set a benchmark standard for private teams since it was revamped last year under the direction of commercial partner AME Management and technical specialist SPMX.

Haughton’s personal business had been a primary backer of the squad, alongside fellow major supporters Troy Lee Designs, Maxima, Morris Finance, InsureMyRide, Jetpilot and Kawasaki.

“Essentially we’re just trying to pick up the pieces and work through it now, so that we can continue to compete through the year,” AME managing director Adam Bailey explained when contacted by MotoOnline.com.au this afternoon.

“The ultimate plan is to deliver what we promised to our sponsors and great supporters, plus also to keep the boys on the track. Myself and Steve Powell are working through it, seeing how we can make it work. We’ve put too much effort into it at this point to just walk away.”

Bailey confirmed the team will unlikely appear at the final two MX Nationals rounds to be held over consecutive weekends later this month, instead now focusing on a Supercross campaign in which Mosig is expected to be 100 percent healthy for.

The Australian Supercross Championship commences with a highly anticipated double header event in Darwin, Northern Territory, on 16-17 September.