Image: Jeff Crow.

Australia’s newest Motocross of Nations representative Luke Clout said his selection is a dream come true after today being confirmed by Motorcycling Australia (MA).

Clout will fill the shoes of Team Australia’s 2013 star performer Dean Ferris on 27-28 September in Latvia. Ferris was ruled out of the running when he sustained a broken femur in Brazil’s MXGP round on Sunday.

“It’s definitely a dream come true to race in Europe with the world’s best,” Clout told MotoOnline. “To have my name alongside Chad Reed and Matt Moss in Team Australia is a childhood dream. I’m just going to give it my all, try do my country proud and hopefully get up there on the podium.

“It’s a sucks to see anybody get hurt, so I wish Dean the best in his recovery, and am just grateful for the opportunity. I’m looking forward to getting over there now.”

With Serco Yamaha not contesting the upcoming Australian Supercross Championship, Clout’s promotion from the reserve MX2 position has come as a major boost for the newly-crowned MX Nationals MX2 champion.

“Being able to race the des Nations is really important to me, because not racing supercross would have been an extended off-season for me,” he added. “This gives me something to train for, something to focus on and it’s a highlight of my career.”

The confirmation of Clout’s attendance completes Team Australia’s line-up, teaming with 2011 podium finishers, international Chad Reed (MX1) and current Australian MX1 champion Matt Moss (Open).

Clout has been a revelation in Australian motocross since returning from the US amateur scene to win the MXD round on debut at Moree in 2012, then signing for Serco Yamaha’s MX2 program in 2013 and winning round two at Murray Bridge before ironically breaking his femur and ending his season prematurely.

This year Clout bounced back with a vengeance, winning round two at Appin and managing to fend off a field of more powerful 250 two-strokes on his YZ250F to claim his first professional championship.