Image: Simon Cudby.

MAD Racing Dirt Candy Suzuki powered by Yoshimura has signed Australia’s Luke Clout to a surprise two-year deal following his first appearance with the team at Anaheim 2 last weekend.

Clout was drafted into the Monster Energy AMA Supercross squad when Daniel Baker was injured as a replacement, departing his local Serco Yamaha team for the opportunity.

It’s now been confirmed the 21-year-old will be on board the RM-Z250 for the 2016-2017 seasons, contesting 250SX and the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship. He was 14th on debut last Saturday.

“We are excited about having Luke join the team,” a statement said. “With his first week results we look forward to the rest of the West Coast 250SX and are working to get him completely comfortable on the RM-Z250.”

The US has been a longtime goal of 2014 MX Nationals MX2 title winner Clout, who spent time training at the Millsaps Training Facility as an amateur prior to returning home at the end of 2012.