KTM Australia press release:

KTM Motocross Racing Team’s Luke Clout has earned a podium position in the final 2018 MX Nationals MX1 championship standings, capping off a successful season outdoors at Coolum’s 10th and final round in Queensland on Sunday.

The New South Welshman was once again the sole entry for the factory KTM squad, with regular team members Kirk Gibbs and Egan Mastin still sidelined with injuries.

Qualifying for Super Pole and setting a 1m53.066s lap-time, Clout was granted the fifth gate selection for the day’s racing. It proved to be beneficial as he shot out to an excellent start in the opening encounter, positioning himself in the lead group before ultimately settling into sixth position.

Returning to the demanding circuit for moto two, the number four once again placed his KTM 450 SX-F in front with a mega hole-shot, hanging onto P1 in the opening stages. He pushed through the enduring 30-minute plus one lap race for seventh, crediting him sixth overall for the round.

Completing the season with 547 points to his name, Clout was able to secure a well-earned third in the championship standings. Missing a number of rounds due to injury, Gibbs wound up 12th in MX1 as Mastin was awarded 13th in the MX2 division.

The KTM Motocross Racing Team will now commence full-time preparations for the upcoming Australian Supercross Championship, scheduled to start on 15 September at Jimboomba in Queensland.

Jay Marmont – KTM Motocross Racing Team Manager: “It was a challenging weekend, although Luke went fifth in Super Pole and that was really respectful. He didn’t quite find his flow in the races, but he pulled two good starts and grabbed the hole-shot in moto two. He was able to wrap up third in the championship and that’s a really good result, so we’re very pleased with him and we’ve always believed in him – he definitely stepped up to his role in the team.”

Luke Clout – KTM 450 SX-F: “It was good to get through the weekend and wrap-up third overall in the championship. I would’ve liked to have been able to fight with the front guys this weekend, but there are no excuses there – I was a little off today. I’m really looking forward to supercross now, I actually think I’m a stronger supercross rider and the team already has my supercross bike ready to go, so we’re going to get straight into it and give the championship a real good crack.”