Image: Supplied.

CDR Yamaha Monster Energy’s Luke Clout will be fit to line-up this weekend in Melbourne, confirming he is in for both the 2022 World Supercross Championship (WSX) final round and the Australian Supercross Championship (AUSX) opener.

After being sidelined back in April with a fractured tibia and fibula, Clout made a racing return for the WSX opener at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium and displayed front-running pace to qualify P5, but crashed heavily in the first final and didn’t return.

There were initial concerns that he had sustained a pelvis injury, which was ultimately soft tissue damage to his groin according to the CDR team. He returned to riding for the first time yesterday and has been declared okay to ride WSX and AUSX at Marvel Stadium.

“My speed was pretty good throughout the whole weekend, so to go out straightaway and be where I was, I was happy with that,” Clout told MotoOnline. “Obviously we didn’t finish how we wanted to, but to show that bit of promise was really good. First race in six months, so to be there was encouraging and I’m looking forward to this weekend, just getting another race under the belt.

“I rode today [Tuesday], which was my first ride back and it went better than I thought, which is good. There has obviously been a lot of recovery stuff going on, but got a ride in today and felt good. I’ll be there for WSX and the Australian round this weekend”

Friday at Marvel Stadium marks the opening round of the AUSX championship, with Clout also set to contest that series with CDR in SX1. It was today formally announced that four-time SX1 champion Justin Brayton will reunite with Honda Genuine Polyflor Honda Racing in search of a fifth-straight crown and Clout welcomes the challenge after taking the series down to the wire in 2019.

“It’s always good to have someone of his level to come and race the series, makes us elevate our game and all of the other guys as well,” Clout added. “I’m looking forward to battling with Justin… hopefully I can finish on top and take the number one plate off him. We were close last time and that is the goal this year.”