Penrite Honda Racing’s new technical alliance with Krooztune has proven to be a fruitful combination in its infant stages following Brett Metcalfe’s season-best performance at Conondale’s fourth round of the Pirelli MX Nationals on Sunday.

The outfit made the switch during the lengthy break of the championship and Metcalfe’s form appears to be on the up in the second half of the season.

Metcalfe was third in the opening outing, although he gambled on a set-up change for race two, which drastically improved his feeling with the CRF450R and ultimately resulted in one of his best performances since returning to Australia, rebounding from a fall to finish just 1.058s shy of eventual victor Dean Ferris (CDR Yamaha Monster Energy Team), crediting him second overall.

“We made did make a lot of ground in getting a consistent bike together during the break,” Metcalfe explained to MotoOnline.com.au. “We got the bike to where I thought it needed to be, but before the second moto is where made a massive change and it worked out. It was mainly just chassis stuff and the geometry.

“That second moto was a gamble – a calculated gamble – it could’ve gone either way, but that’s the best I’ve felt racing here in Australia in the last couple of seasons. It’s massive positive and relief to finally ride where my ability can take me.

“It was the first round with Krooztune – I was using Krooztune from when I was 10 years old through to 16. It’s honestly come full circle and it’s a good fit for the Penrite Honda Racing program. We definitely have some things ironed out now and, for me personally, it’s just a good feeling to be able to ride how I can and want to.”

While out of the picture for the title, the newly-found set-up could spark a reemergence of Metcalfe in the rankings, and more so a serious challenger for Ferris in the second half of the year. Penrite Honda Racing is also working within a newfound engine program through Phil Tainton Racing.