In another unpredictable twist in the 2019 Pirelli MX Nationals MX1 title chase, CDR Yamaha Monster Energy’s Luke Clout rose to the top of the leaderboard with a commanding overall victory at Maitland’s seventh round on Sunday.

Congratulations on the win, it must a nice feeling to have the red-plate back in your hands…

Yeah, I mean it’s always cool to have the red-plate and stuff like that, especially now that we’re winding down towards the end of the series. It’s cool, but as along as we’re holding it at round 10, that’s the main thing.

You were strong all day long at Maitland, what clicked for you on Sunday?

I think it’s a bit of everything – I obviously haven’t changed up my riding program or changed up my off-bike training or anything like that. I’ve just been working on things with the team on myself – I think it’s a bit of everything, and stuff that the team has given me over the weekend that’s definitely helped. We’re going to continue to work on the little things, and I think you’ll see more of what we did on the weekend. I’m looking forward to it.

You have quite a good success rate in the sprint races, and now with a few under your belt, would you say you’re a fan of the format?

Yes and no. Look, I’m more of a fan of the two longer races – I like the two half-hour races, it shows your fitness, and if you don’t get the best of starts, you can manage it a little bit better and come through the pack. I have had a good success rate with the sprints, but it is what it is – we all have to do it. I do enjoy it, but I do enjoy the 30-minute motos a bit more as well.

The championship is unpredictable and tight with just three rounds to go, what’s going to be key in putting yourself in the best position to wrap up the crown at Coolum?

Just focusing on me – not worrying about the championship, not worrying about what everyone else is doing, just focusing about what my job is and maximising as many points as I can and minimising my mistakes. I’ve won a championship before – that was a while ago – but I’m older and wiser now. I’ve got that experience, but I’m going to put it all behind me, go race by race, lap by lap. It all comes down to Coolum, but until then, I’m just going keep doing my own thing and go for race wins.

Being in the position you’re in, leading the championship in a tight title chase with a few rounds to go, is this where you call upon some advice or guidance from Craig Dack and the team in managing the situation?

Yeah it is. Like I said before, the team and I have been working on some stuff with myself, and that’s one of the things – they’ve won lots of championships, and they’ve won the last three years in a row, so the team has really been working with me. They actually sat me down on the weekend and helped me get through it – they gave me a lot of pointers. They’ll continue to do that throughout the next few rounds. Having that knowledge and experience really helps me – I listen to every word they say, and I try and do exactly what they say as well. Having Dacka and Gary with all that experience, it’s definitely beneficial.