Image: Jeff Crow.

Serco Yamaha’s MX2 MX Nationals series leader Luke Clout will travel to the United States on Tuesday in a bid to secure a full time seat for the 2015 season.

The 19-year-old will use the five-week mid-season break of Australian motocross to assess options in America, scheduled to attend this weekend’s second round of Lucas Oil Pro Motocross as a spectator at Hangtown.

Clout will be accompanied by his mother Raelene on the three-week international excursion, eager to return to the US after spending almost two years as an amateur based out of the Millsaps Training Facility (MTF) before signing for Serco Yamaha in 2013.

“I fly out tomorrow and am going to watch Hangtown, and see if we can organise something for next year,” Clout told MotoOnline.com.au this afternoon. “I’ll be over there for three weeks, but I’m not 100 percent sure about what riding I’ll be doing there.

“I would definitely rather go straight to America than through GPs. My name is already kind of recognised there and I think everyone’s ambition is to go to America, so for me I don’t want to use GPs as a path – I want to go straight to where the best are.”

Clout currently holds a 10-point advantage at the halfway point of the MX Nationals after finishing eighth at Wanneroo on Sunday aboard his factory-supported YZ250F, followed by a stacked wave of two-strokes that will continue to apply pressure in the season’s second half.

“To be going into the break with the points lead is a big confidence boost,” he added. “I need to get more consistent and keep chipping away, doing what I am doing, and keep this red plate all the way through Coolum.

“I’ve shown I’m basically the top 250F guy up there and my teammate Jay Wilson has also been at times, but it’s been hard. We’re working hard and they’re keeping us on our toes, so the plan is to use this break to my advantage and really knuckle down. I really want to make a statement when we start back up and show the 250F can still dominate the last five rounds.”

Clout initially came back to Australia in 2012 at the Moree round of the MX Nationals, sweeping to all three MXD moto victories on debut – that performance attracting the attention of Serco Yamaha for 2013 as he stepped straight up to MX2.

The trip for Clout comes just days following Star Yamaha rider Jeremy Martin’s breakthrough win on Saturday, marking the first overall 250 Class Pro Motocross victory for the YZ250F in 10 seasons.