News 27 Jun 2013

Styke's mid-season European trip a positive experience

Serco Yamaha's Luke Styke is feeling positive about his mid-season trip to Europe checking out the FIM Motocross World Championship scene.

Luke Styke will return from a positive European trip to contest the remaining MXN rounds. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

Luke Styke will return from a positive European trip to contest the remaining MXN rounds. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

Serco Yamaha’s Luke Styke is feeling positive about his mid-season trip to Europe checking out the FIM Motocross World Championship scene.

With plans to break into the GP scene in the near future, Styke took the opportunity make the trip over as the Monster Energy MX Nationals Australia Motocross Championship takes a six-week break.

After spending time checking out the events and talking with various people within the industry, the current Australian MX2 series leader is certainly impressed with the overall GP scene.

“The whole trip was really to find out if I want to be here and to sort something out,” Styke told MX Large. “Just to see the experience and to find out how it really all runs, introduce myself to some people and have a look around.

“It’s awesome, it’s a totally different atmosphere over here. The crowd and the teams it’s just so much better, so it’s good.”

At this point in time Styke has no future deals set in place to make the move to Europe, with the FIM revamp underway he will sit back and wait for the teams to settle down and organise their programs according to the updated rules for 2014.

“I’m just having a look and I’ve been talking to a few people, I’ve just got to play it by ear,” Styke said. “They’re waiting for a decision with the rules changing and all of that kind of thing, so a few people are waiting on that stuff.

“I think everything will start to fall into place over the next month or two, I’ve just got to see what happens, keep in touch with everyone over here when I go back home and keep an open mind.”

Styke feels that he is currently at his peak and would like to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Chad Reed, Andrew McFarlane and Dean Ferris who is currently contesting the MX2 class with Monster Energy Yamaha.

“I feel like I’m riding the best I’ve ever ridden, Dean [Ferris] is over here and he’s going really well,” he added. “Hopefully it’s opening everyone else’s minds and gives us more opportunity from Australia.

“You look at the likes of Chad Reed, McFarlane and all those kind of guys. Dean’s also over here now and it’s just a learning experience. I think you find something when you compete in the GPs that you can’t get anywhere else in the world. I don’t know what it is, but hopefully next year I can find out and have a good experience.”

Although Styke has his sights set on Europe, expect the dominant MX2 contender to be focused solely on taking out the domestic championship over the upcoming five rounds kicking off on 14 July at Appin in New South Wales.

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