The Serco Yamaha team has dominated the MX2 championship to date. Image: Jeff Crow/Sport the Library.

Serco Yamaha has been the team to beat during the first half of the 2013 Monster Energy MX Nationals, taking each and every MX2 overall win to date.

The pairing of Luke Styke alongside rookie Luke Clout has been extremely successful and the duo continue to put their factory Yamaha supported YZ250F’s at the front of the pack.

Currently leading the MX2 overall standings, Styke is happy with his consistent results as he works towards securing his maiden MX2 Australian Motocross title.

“It’s been a good start to the year and the majority of races have gone according to plan,” said Styke.”I have won a race at each round and when I haven’t been able to win, I have always been in the top three which is really important for the championship.

“My goal for the last half of the year doesn’t change and I am treating it like a five round series and we are all starting from zero points. If I win the next half, then I win the championship.”

With aspirations to make the move to Europe in the near future, Styke knows there is work to be done in Australia and his dialled-in Serco Yamaha is making that job a lot easier.

“The bike this year has been awesome and even against the two strokes, we have been right near the front at the start,” he added.

“I would like to race in Europe next year but there is still a lot of work to be done here and I’m determined to get it done.”

Styke’s 18-year-old teammate Clout has exceeded his own expectations in his rookie season as he sits second overall in points with an overall win under his belt from Murray Bridge’s round two.

“To have won a round and be second in the points at the halfway point is awesome and a little bit above what I expected, so I’m really happy with how things have gone,” said Clout. “I have had the odd bad race but managed to rebound each time so that is good.

“Murray Bridge was obviously the highlight for me, while the first motos at Broadford, where I damaged a front wheel, and Conondale where I crashed a few times have been the worst.”

Clout is focusing on race wins and a podium finish in the overall championship when the series returns on 14 July at Appin in New South Wales.

“Each race I want to try and get closer to the front and battle for race wins so my goal for the last half of the series is to win some races and get another round win and finish the championship on the podium,” he added.

For team manager Michael Marty the 2013 season has been great so far with both riders finishing 1-2 on multiple occasions.

“The year so far has been great for Serco Yamaha,” Marty said. “As a team we always want our riders to finish 1-2 in races and rounds but that reality is that it doesn’t happen very often.

“Fortunately we have been able to do that a few times in 2013 and as a result, sit 1-2 in the championship at the halfway stage.”

“Styke has picked up where he left off last year and is really determined to get the job done and nail down the championship. He is fit, focused and enjoying his racing at the moment and it’s great to see his success.”

Marty is impressed with Clout’s performance during his rookie season and looks forward to watching him improve and iron out any bugs as the season continues.

“Clout has exceeded our expectations as a first year rider in the MX2 class,” he added. “We knew he had good speed but being young there is always bound to be a few mistakes along the way.

“To his credit, he has been able to shake things off pretty quick, focus on the next race and get himself back up the front. He has done extremely well so far this year and we are confident he will continue to grow as the season wears on.”