Image: Supplied.

CDR Yamaha Monster Energy has officially announced a multi-year deal with Luke Clout that will see him return home to Australia alongside Hayden Mellross from the 2021 season.

Clout, 26, revealed last weekend that he had split from Penrite Honda Racing, effectively turning his back on a second season in Monster Energy Supercross to rejoin Craig Dack Racing (CDR) following a year’s hiatus.

“The uncertainty of racing in the US, especially for international riders, meant I had to reevaluate my career and what my goals were,” Clout commented. “Racing in the US has always been a goal and dream of mine, but the current climate makes that extremely difficult, so I looked back to Australia and wanted to be on the best team.

“That team is CDR Yamaha and it’s great to be back with the guys and on a bike that I really enjoy riding. The bike hasn’t changed a lot and I’m able to start from an already high base with all my data from the 2019 season.

“It has been a seamless move back into CDR Yamaha and one that was essential for me to help me achieve the new goals I have set for myself. I want to win and even better is the team wants to win just as bad as I do, so there’s no shortcuts taken to championship success. It’s great to be back.”

For Mellross, after signing with CDR Yamaha Monster Energy this year and having the Australian championships cancelled due to COVID-19, he too will make a strong combination alongside Clout and both will contest ProMX and the Australian Supercross Championship. It also confirms the departure of Kirk Gibbs, widely tipped to be joining Konsky Motorsport-run Honda Racing team.

“It’s great to continue on with the CDR Yamaha Monster Energy team and build on a solid base that we formed in 2020,” said Mellross. “While we did next to no racing in 2020, I was able to recover from a pre-season injury and then use the time to personalise the bike and settings for me and I feel right at home on the YZ450F.

“We have the rebranded Australian Motocross Championship in the ProMX, which we hope will lift the profile of motocross, while the Australian Supercross Championship gets better each year and it seems everyone is passionate to get things back up to full power after the interrupted season we have had in 2020.

“Craig [Dack] and the team have put everything in place and I’m at the stage of my career that I feel I can be at my best, so I’m looking forward to getting back on track with the CDR Yamaha Monster Energy team and chasing some championships with them.”

CDR Yamaha Monster Energy owner Craig Dack is excited at the prospect of having both Clout and Mellross lead the team into 2021: “We have been able to secure two mature, experienced and determined racers in the prime of their careers to represent the CDR Yamaha Monster Energy team in 2021.

“Equally exciting is both riders are equally skilled at motocross as well as supercross, so as a team we no longer have to juggle specialist riders throughout a season which gives us great continuity in our program. After the challenges we all faced in 2020, we are looking towards 2021 positively and get back to doing what we passionate about, racing motocross and supercross.”