Luke Arbon is yet to secure a deal for the 2013 season. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

South Australian Luke Arbon is facing 2013 on the sidelines after parting ways with Craig Anderson’s Berry Sweet/Lucas Oil Yamaha team, which will focus on the MX1 category with Tye Simmonds next year.

Arbon finished 12th in his rookie MX2 campaign in the Monster Energy MX Nationals this season, finishing up the season early with a leg injury sustained at Coolum’s season finale.

That forced the 20-year-old out of supercross, and more importantly, off the radar of the leading teams at a crucial time of the annual silly season. Previously, Arbon rode for the factory Kawasaki and GYTR Yamaha teams during his career in the Under 19s.

“My ride with Berry Sweet Yamaha has fallen through and right now I haven’t got a ride for next year,” Arbon told MotoOnline this week. “I’ve spoken to a few teams, but nothing’s come up and honestly, there’s no way I can afford to race the nationals without support.

“If nothing comes up I’m going to have to get a job and just look at racing the local races.”

Speaking out about the current trend of factory teams dropping or heavily reducing its MX2 efforts, Arbon believes it’s a move that will affect the sport’s talent on a domestic level over coming seasons.

“It’s a shitty situation and a lot of riders are facing the same problem,” Arbon added. “If we can’t get support in the 250s it’s going to make it harder to progress to the 450s and will seriously diminish the talent pool.

“I think it will restrict the sport to those who can afford to do it, not necessarily to those with the most talent. It’s not worth risking your life for no return or reward, and it’s making me question my future involvement in the sport.”

For more on the current MX2 saga in Australian motocross, check out this week’s edition of The Point by clicking here.