Image: Dunlop Media.

Queenslander Luke Reardon will contest the 2016 MX Nationals MX2 Championship with the newly-formed Top Gun Motorcycles Racing team aboard a Yamaha YZ250F.

Following a two-year US stint riddled with injuries, Reardon returned to Australia and took over a year and a half away from the sport before older brother Dan Reardon’s impressive return to racing sparked his interest in getting back on track.

“I raced in America for two years for Orange Brigade KTM and had some good results, but I also had a lot of injuries,” said Reardon. “I ended up having my second knee reconstruction, which put me out for 12 months, and I also just got a bit sick of racing, so I had a year and a half off without even touching a bike.

“My brother Daniel got back into racing and that kind of got me back into it. I ended up buying a new KTM 350 SX-F and decided I wanted to race again. I started training and then I met Jordan Rice, the team manager of Top Gun Motorcycles Racing, out at Queensland Moto Park and he approached me with a deal.

“We spoke about it and he offered a much better deal than I was on from KTM. Racing the privateer life is hard and you’ve got to pay for everything yourself. I couldn’t turn down the Top Gun deal with a race plan for bikes, gear, oils, chains, sprockets, tyres and transport to the races. I really can’t thank Jordan and the whole crew at Top Gun Motorcycles Racing enough for giving me this opportunity.”

Reardon is kicking off his 2016 campaign much later than some of his competitors, but feels he has enough time to get his program in place and the right people behind him to make it happen.

“Obviously you have to do a lot of testing and I haven’t had the time, but I still have a couple of months until the first national and some Sunshine State races, local races and club days to get that race feeling back,” he explained.

“I’ve got Michael Marty on board with my engines and suspension. He knows those things inside out, so my bikes will be sent to him and within a week I’ll have everything set up. Obviously we’ll have to test the suspension, but he’ll definitely have it in the ball park to get me going as soon as possible.

“I feel we’ll be ready for the first national as long as my fitness can get to where it needs to be. It may take the first two rounds to get into it again, but I think I’ll be in for a good year. I’m not injured for once and I feel better now than I ever have really.”

Being on a Yamaha-supported team for 2016, Reardon will take advantage of practice sessions with his older brother, using his knowledge and raw speed to lift his level ahead of the opening MX Nationals round in April.

“Being on a Yamaha team I can practice with him now and whatever he’s involved in with Yamaha, I can follow along with him,” he added. “Every time he goes out to practice and I can get a day off work, that will obviously help me pick my speed up to where I’ve got to be for the nationals.”

Team manager Rice looks forward to working with Reardon as their sole rider for the 2016 motocross and supercross season: “It’s really exciting for Top Gun Motorcycles Racing to be working with Luke. We can’t wait to not only see what 2016 has in store for us, but the future also if everything goes to plan.”

Reardon will make his MX Nationals debut with the Top Gun Motorcycles Racing team on 3 April in Horsham, Victoria.