Image: Jeff Crow.

Serco Yamaha’s Luke Clout has won the Appin round of the Monster Energy MX Nationals to seize the MX2 championship lead with a sizeable 14-point buffer just two rounds into the season.

The opening MX2 moto of the round was comfortably won by Clout, fending off the two-stroke assault of Kale Makeham (Tunetech Racing KTM)– who put in his best ride of the season for second – and Ryan Marmont (Raceline Pirelli Suzuki).

It was a race where the four-strokes shone in technical, rutty conditions, as Jay Wilson (Serco Yamaha) followed home Marmont for fourth, while Luke Arbon (Husqvarna) surged to a convincing fifth after an additional two weeks aboard the TC 250.

The rejuvenated Errol Wills (Yamaha) rode his YZ250 to sixth in another typically strong effort, followed by pole position holder Brenden Harrison (Instant Security KTM) after he put on a late charge to climb to seventh.

Notable non-finisher was Kiwi series red plate holder Kayne Lamont (Red Bull WIL Sport Husqvarna), crashing out of the moto on lap five in a bitter blow to his early title chances.

Moto two was one of the most exciting duels of the season between Wilson and Makeham in a four-stroke versus two-stroke affair. Makeham led from the start until he made a mistake, which saw Wilson assume the lead. From there he held station under pressure from Makeham, able to hold on for his first MX2 race win.

Clout was third after fighting through the pack from the back half of the top 10, which was enough to secure him his first overall of the season by a single point over Makeham.

“This feels good,” Clout commented. “I did what I had to do. I actually wasn’t feeling that good or overly happy with that second moto, so I have some homework to do. I got out of the gate good in one moto, but not the other so good. We are happy though, to have the red plate now is positive and we’ll keep working forward from here.”

Finishing fourth in moto two was Harwood from Wade Hunter (KTM), who in turn was narrowly ahead of Lamont and Harrison. Victorian rising star Joel Milesevic (TM) worked his way into the top 10 for eighth, with Marmont ninth. Nick Sutherland (Husqvarna Motocross Racing Team) was 10th for the second time of the round.

Tough luck story of moto two was Willis, who went down on the opening lap only to work his way back for 13 points in 18th. Arbon was also well down the order in moto two, finishing directly behind Willis.

Overall it was Clout who raced to the second overall win of his MX2 career, by just one point from Makeham, while Wilson completed the podium with third overall. Marmont was a credible fourth, with Harwood again showing consistency in fifth.

In the championship standings it is Clout the new red plate holder by 14 points from Harwood, who is two points ahead of Harrison. Former series leader Lamont is now fourth despite his moto one DNF at Appin, with Makeham climbing to fifth.

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2014 Monster Energy MX Nationals, Australian Motocross Championship
Round two – Appin, NSW

MX2 overall results:
1. Luke Clout 65
2. Kale Makeham 64
3. Jay Wilson 63
4. Ryan Marmont 52
5. Hamish Harwood 51
6. Brenden Harrison 48
7. Wade Hunter 45
8. Nick Sutherland 42
9. Daniel McCoy 41
10. Hamish Dobbyn 40
11. Joel Milesevic 39
12. Errol Willis 38
13. Luke Arbon 38
14. Caleb Ward 35
15. Riley Graham 31
16. Jake Emanuelli 31
17. Kayne Lamont 25
18. Nick Scott 25
19. Joel Evans 25
20. Dakota Court 21

MX2 championship standings:
1. Luke Clout 146
2. Hamish Harwood 132
3. Brenden Harrison 130
4. Kayne Lamont 127
5. Kale Makeham 121
6. Ryan Marmont 115
7. Wade Hunter 114
8. Jay Wilson 104
9. Nick Scott 97
10. Daniel McCoy 91
11. Caleb Ward 90
12. Errol Willis 89
13. Hamish Dobbyn 89
14. Luke Arbon 86
15. Nick Sutherland 79
16. Joel Milesevic 71
17. Daniel Banks 64
18. Dylan Long 62
19. Jake Emanuelli 54
20. Matt van Slooten 48

Click here for detailed results