Redcliffe’s Boost Mobile AUSX Supercross Championship double-header was a tale of two outcomes for SX1 challenger Luke Clout, who showed immense speed during Saturday’s first round, before a horror Sunday has left him in need of a ‘miracle’ to reclaim position in the title-chase.

As is usually the case, the Penrite Racing Empire Kawasaki rider came alive as the AUSX season arrived, highlighted by his chart-topping qualifying times in both rounds one and two. Domestically, there is no other rider who excels as much as he does when supercross begins, as is shown by his ability to consistently factor at the front.

From his standpoint, it was all systems go from the moment the wheels of his KX450 touched the Queensland dirt, with the discipline yielding immediate comfort after a strong pre-season with the team.

“I knew we were going to enter Redcliffe strong,” Clout told MotoOnline. “I felt really comfortable throughout the pre-season and felt comfortable on the bike, so yeah, I kind of knew that we’d be towards the front with our speed. It was good to prove that and, you know, feel quite good on the bike. It was definitely a positive way to start the season.

“It took me a little bit to get the track figured out on Saturday – just the transitions and things were a little bit different from what we’ve been used to. But for the most part, yeah, just to jump on the track and feel as good as I did and as fast as I did was good – it came pretty natural to me.”

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Come naturally, it did, as he achieved 3-2 results across the two-final format on Saturday, starting his AUSX campaign eight points from Quad Lock Honda’s Dean Wilson, who earned a 1-1 finish. Crafty French veteran Cedric Soubeyras (Boost Mobile Honda) recorded third with 2-4 results.

The night wasn’t entirely without its controversy, though, as Clout collided with Phil Nicoletti (Monster Energy CDR Yamaha) in his heat race, with the pair going down as a consequence. A clip of a heated post-race exchange was shared in the aftermath, but the New South Welshman ensured that all had been smoothed over between them.

“100 percent [we’re fine],” he added. “Look, people can read into it the way they want to read into it, but when I came together with Phil, you can clearly see me go to the inside, where the bottom of the berm was quite loose as they weren’t really as packed in.

“When I got to him, he was obviously up there, and then I tried to get on the brakes and square back down. But I unfortunately washed the front end out early in the turn. Phil was the one who took some of the brunt of the bike, and we went down. We spoke it all out [afterwards] and it’s all good.”

After finishing round one with a solid haul of points, the 30-year-old lined up the next day as the Australian favourite to contest the likes of Wilson and Soubeyras, which would be demonstrated with a blinding final qualifying lap, as he was the only rider to enter the 45s lap range to top the timesheets.

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Momentum seemed on the number four’s side entering the afternoon’s racing program, although a first turn collision with Dylan Wills in the opening final – who was being pin-balled around himself as riders squabbled for position – ultimately sent Clout to the ground, which brought an end to his race.

And from there… When it rains, it pours, so they say. Another first-turn incident in race two, combined with feeling the effects of Sunday’s first final, had him finish 11th and bleed further points to title-rival and round two victor Wilson.

“Sunday was going well too, and yeah, just one of those things, man,” continued Clout. “I put myself in a decent position – I probably would have come around the first turn [in the] top three, I’d say. But yeah, unfortunately, I got collected and went down in a big way, and that was pretty much the end of my night.

“My body was pretty done after that. I took a lot of skin off the side of my body, and yeah, I was pretty sore, that’s for sure. The second final was more of the same. Just the first turn again – I got tangled up and went down. It was just one of those nights, mate – really frustrating.

“Those first turn crashes are 100 percent racing incidents. The first turn, the start straight, that’s where people can tangle bars and things happen. And there’s definitely no intent in it from any rider when a first-turn crash happens, but when it’s out of your control, that’s a tough pill to swallow.”

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No championship is over until it is over, although 48 markers now separate Clout from the red plate, with three rounds – and at least six point-scoring races – left to contest in the 2025 season. But the fact that Wilson is himself a seasoned veteran and a multi-time champion in his own right, it’s hard to see the 2023 SX1 winner relinquishing that many points.

Some kind of miracle – as Clout explains – does appear needed for him to arrive back in title contention. As it stands now, he is targeting race wins, of which he is evidently capable, and to send a message that he is indeed the fastest Australian. Plus, despite lacking supercross seat time compared to most of the imports, he remains ready to contend indoors at all times.

“The pressure is off for me now in the championship – as it sits now we’re going to need a miracle, so for me it’s just to go out and win races, and the pressure’s off,” he stated. “We’ll go have some fun and show everyone what I really can do.

“I’m just going to be that guy who just wants to go out and win. So, I wouldn’t say I’m so much as riding pissed off, but I’m just riding to show everyone what I can do, and that I should have been there at the end. I mean, the championship’s not over, but it’s definitely going to be – it’s pretty far out of reach – so for me, it’s now just trying to win.”