Empire Kawasaki Return To The ProMX Podium At Toowoomba

The Empire Kawasaki Team returned to the ProMX Podium at Round 6 in Toowoomba, with both Reid Taylor in MX2 and Taylah McCutcheon in MXW, taking the 50th anniversary Kawasaki livery to 2nd Overall in their respective classes.

In the MX2 Class, the day would start on a high for Reid Taylor, who once again displayed his blistering speed to take pole position from the morning qualifying session. In Moto 1, Taylor would start well and battle in the top 3 placings across the opening laps before settling into a solid 4th position, where he would consistently circulate until the chequered flag.

Moto 2 saw a great start and showdown with Championship leader Brodie Connolly. The duo would battle hard for the opening 15 minutes of the race, with Taylor making several runs to challenge for the lead. Down the stretch, Taylor would settle into 2nd place, crossing the line with an eventual 2nd overall, his first career overall podium.

“We have been working so hard this season and this is great for myself and the team. After Murray Bridge we went to work testing and to finally be rewarded with what we know we are capable of, it’s a step in the right direction for the rest of the Championship,” commented Taylor.

Taylah McCutcheon made a triumphant return to ProMX racing in the MXW class. After an almost career ending injury in the pre-season, McCutcheon shook out nerves and arm pump in the opening Moto to cross the line in 4th position. With that out of the way, Taylah would rebound with her trademark speed in Moto 2, briefly challenging for the lead before settling into 2nd place for the Moto and 2nd overall for the Round.

“Today was an emotional day for me. Being back racing at this level after my injury was a huge accomplishment. I was happy to leave with a top 5 and something to build on, but when the gates dropped I found myself feeling comfortable especially in Moto 2 and to achieve 2nd overall for myself and the team is fantastic,” said McCutcheon.

Luke Clout continues to push through adversity in the 2024 ProMX Championship. After setting a blistering lap time in the MX1 Superpole Session, Clout went into Moto 1 with speed on his side. After a great start, Clout would crash heavily at the end of the opening laps whilst challenging for the lead positions. After remounting, he would charge from the back of the field to eventually finish in 11th position.

Moto 2 saw another great start, but an unlikely adversary in the form of track side banners would lodge into Clout’s KX450 rear wheel, causing a rear brake issue that would hinder his early race progress. Upon adjusting to the conditions, Clout would mount a charge to finish the moto in 5th position, with 8th overall on the day.

“Another frustrating day for the Team and I, but taking the positives we made massive progress with the bike set up and my speed to challenge for race wins is back. I’m looking forward to MX Farm in the coming weeks,” concluded Clout.

The Empire Kawasaki Team now shift their focus to Round 8 of the ProMX Championship at MX Farm, QLD, on Sunday 11th August.

Images: ID Media Group