Image: Jeremy Hammer (Foremost Media).

Nick Sutherland has been called into replace injured athlete Kyle Webster at Penrite CRF Honda Racing for the remaining round of the Australian Supercross Championship, making his debut last weekend with the outfit last Saturday night in Virginia, South Australia.

The Gold Coast based rider, who raced the first two rounds as a privateer, finished sixth in his heat before charging to 11th in the SX2 main event, a respectable result considering his limited time aboard the CRF250R.

“The whole deal came together really quick,” said Sutherland. “I’ve known Mick [Lillis] and Ian Wightman from the team for a long while, and they put the opportunity out there. Then once I was contacted by team owner Mark Luksich, it was an opportunity way too good to let pass.

“It’s been a hectic week after racing in Indonesia the weekend before, and I only got to ride the Penrite Honda for the first time on Saturday in Adelaide. But overall the event went well and I came away with a 11th place finish in the SX2 final, which is okay all things considered.

“Just my starts hampered me in Adelaide, and with the track being one-lined, it was tough trying to come through. If I had gotten a better start in the final, I could have run fifth to 10th, which is where I consider I belong.”

Sutherland is 12th in the SX2 championship standings as the series heads to Sydney for the prestigious Monster Energy AUS-X Open, which will host rounds four and five on 11-12 November.