Brett Metcalfe finished a fine fourth at New Orleans over the weekend. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

Yoshimura Suzuki’s Brett Metcalfe matched his best career Monster Energy AMA Supercross finish at New Orleans on Saturday, gaining momentum with confidence in the final stages of the season.

The South Australian finished third in his heat race and carried that form into the main, resulting in a positive performance for Suzuki’s lone factory Supercross Class contender.

“It was nice to have a weekend off and come back with a fresh start,” said Metcalfe. “I wanted to come and try to do some good today and I felt like we did. The Yoshimura Suzuki RM-Z450 was great in practice and I felt comfortable.

“We struggled in one segment, but I was really putting down good laps on the rest of the track and I was happy with the way I was riding.

“In the heat race we ripped the holeshot, but then I went back a couple of spots when I made a mistake in the sand. But I still got third and was able to get a good gate pick for the main.”

In the main event, Metcalfe turned smooth, consistent laps throughout all 20 of them to finish fourth.

“I got another great start in the main, but that first lap, I was like a ping pong ball,” he added. “I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and I got slammed around and dropped back a few places.

“But once I got going and into a rhythm, I was able to click off some good laps. Finally, about midway through the race, I finally found a better line in the segment I was struggling with and I was able to pick it up and I got back up to fourth.”

With just three races remaining, Metcalfe and the Yoshimura Suzuki squad want to finish the season strong.

“I’m looking forward to Seattle. We’ll be working hard this week and come out next weekend and keep this momentum going,” he concluded.

Metcalfe now sits sixth in the championship after 15 of 18 rounds.