Jay Marmont Interview

After a tumultuous 2009 marked by personal tragedy, you'd be forgiven for thinking CDR Rockstar Yamaha's Jay Marmont may have lost some of his enthusiasm for racing. If anything, 2010 has shown the opposite to be the case, with Jay's will to win being stronger than ever. The 27 year old from Wollongong needed all that determination and more to prevail in one of the hardest-fought outdoor motocross championships for many years. In a break from his rigorous testing schedule, the three time MX Nationals champion took time out to talk to JUST BIKES about this year's motocross season, the Motocross of Nations, upcoming Super X season and more.

JUST BIKES (JB): I think most people would agree you've had a great Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals season, but how do you rate your season so far?

JAY MARMONT (JM): For me, it's been up and down. We ended the [Super X] season last year in Brisbane quite well, then we had the launch of the 2010 YZ 450 Yamaha, which was an awesome bike. We started the motocross season and we thought we were on a good thing with our testing, but as the first few rounds went on, I started to get sick and from there I just couldn't find my feet in the series. I couldn't get to the lead early, which is my style - I like to get out there and dominate. I was training hard, doing everything right that I could, but I just couldn't find the right formula. I was looking for answers with the bike and not feeling 100% comfortable on the track. Then, towards the end of the motocross series, we got the bike a lot better, and once I got my confidence on, there was no stopping me. I felt I ended the series really well. Heading in Super X, and with the MX des Nations up ahead, I'm feeling really good about everything.

JB: On the new YZ, how hard was it to adapt to? Did it require any change or adjustment to your riding style?

JM: It hasn't been hard to adapt to. I've found the bike a really fun bike to ride, especially because the horsepower is there. With the [previous season's] bike, we were always looking for power. It felt like an old bike when you sat on it . . . almost like a farm bike compared to this thing. When you ride it, it's an awesome bike to scrub and it's got that power there. So, it hasn't been a hard bike to adapt to, but there's definitely been some things that, at the start of the year, that we thought we had right but we didn't. So, once we got around them, it's been perfect.

JB: Moving on the Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals, being the number 1 rider this year, did you feel a lot of pressure throughout the season?

JM: The only pressure I felt was the pressure I put on myself. I'm a very competitive person. All my friends, my wife, everyone around me know that about me, especially in the last few years since joining with Dacka (Craig Dack - CDR team boss), whose character is a lot like mine. We don't like to take second place to nobody, so together, it's a brutal combination! We want to go out there and win as many races as we can. When I don't do it, we both get really disappointed and down on ourselves, so we go back and look for answers. Sometimes, they weren't there this year, so we had to do the simple things to find them, and we got 'em.

JB: With that Stop-Go penalty you got during that final day at Coolum (refer to JUST BIKES's MX Nationals Rd 8 report), it made the championship race ultra-tight for the last couple of motos. Was there a point then where you thought you might actually lose the championship?

JM: Not really. I was really down on myself that day for doing what I'd done. I holeshotted that race, and in a perfect world, I wouldn't have jumped the jump and I would've gone on to win that race. With the way I was starting, getting a good result in that race and the next one, I could have almost wrapped up the championship before the day was over. But, by doing [the illegal jump] it definitely made me rethink my strategy. Billy [Mackenzie] was riding so strong, probably the strongest he's ridden all year. He was in front every single moto and I knew he wasn't going to lay down at all, so I had to think about what I was doing and try and finish top three from then on and wrap it up. It's not the way I'd like to finish off the championship. If I'm in that position next year, I hope to do it a lot different!

JB: Aside from winning the championship, what's been the highlight for you with the MX Nationals this year?

JM: For me, the highlight of the outdoors was being in a hole and digging myself out of it and coming out swinging at Moree. I felt so dominant at that round. Whatever anyone threw at me I had answers for. Going back, looking at lap times and race results, I was the standout that day and definitely dominated. That's what I practise for each day during the week and that's what myself and the team strive for. To dig myself out of Albury where I just finished on the podium, to going out and dominating at Moree was definitely the turning point for me. It showed we were the real deal and we weren't going to win this championship without winning a round and we were going to show them who's boss.

JB: OK, so what was the lowlight of this season?

JM: The low point was when I couldn't find answers [early in the season]. We really had to go back to the drawing board, because every time I'd go out there, I'd be in front, then I'd get arm pump, or someone would overtake me, I'd lose my fight when trying to fight back. It was definitely getting to me. I knew I had the fitness and the right bike and the right team. Everything around me was right, but it just wasn't clicking and it was very frustrating.

JB: I've heard that your wife, Abby, has been helping out with your training program. Can you tell us a bit about her role with you this season?

JM: She's been awesome. She's taking the steps to being a personal trainer and has found stuff with her studying and working with people that even my trainer and a lot of people around me didn't find. So, she's been helping me out as much as she can. With my knowledge and with what she's learning, we've definitely been a pretty good combination. She makes sure I don't slacken off. With your trainer, you might say 'I'm a bit tired today, I'm not going to train' and they'd say, 'OK, no worries. Go home and get a good rest'. But when it's your wife, she's kicking your butt and telling you to get out there and make sure you do it. . . .

JB: (laughs) She cracks the whip?

JM: (laughs) She definitely cracks the whip! She shows no mercy, she's a tough woman and definitely really good for me.

JB: You've just been called up to represent Australia at the Motocross of Nations (MXoN, aka MX des Nations) at the end of September. That must be exciting?

JM: Yeah, it is, but it's been hard to adjust to that whole program. Because each year we do (the) motocross (season), have a week or two off, then build our supercross tracks and get into supercross mode before it starts in the first week of October. So, this year, I wasn't quite sure what I'd be doing. I always thought I was going to go over [to the USA] and do the last few [AMA MX] Nationals, and hopefully get picked for the des Nations, but it wasn't to be. Then we decided not to go over and do the last Nationals, and then we got the call up to do the des Nations, so the team's been working hard and getting motocross bikes set up to do this. Yamaha's been very helpful in trying to get bikes in America, and as it's turned out, I've got to go to America a little bit early - because nobody's riding motocross over here - and get some time to adjust to the conditions. But it's going to be a really good experience. I'm looking forward to it. To wear the green and gold is going to be a very big honour.

JB: There's a lot of talent in the MXoN. Will there be any particular nation or riders that you reckon will be super-tough competition?

JM: Well, it's weird, because the past few years, I haven't really taken that much notice of the European [MX] circuit, but now, with the [Pay TV] EuroSport channel and the internet getting as big as it is, I know a lot of the European riders. I've been watching them a fair bit and keeping an eye on them, as well as the American riders that are doing it. I think we know the competition we're up against and I think it's going to be fun. I think the only riders in the pack I've raced against might be a couple of the kiwis. Everyone else is going to be totally new to me. Nobody knows how quick I can ride and I don't know how quick they can ride, so it's going to be a matter of just going out there and doing the best you can. And I'm looking forward to hearing those air horns and everybody screaming. It's going to be fun!

JB: Moving on to this year's Super X series back home, you've got guys like Windham, Millsaps, Alessi and Villopoto coming out from the USA. Whether Chad Reed makes it out or not, it should be great. Are you looking forward to that as well?

JM: Yeah, Super X is going to be a great experience this year, because all those good riders are coming out. If you're ever going to beat those guys, it's going to be here in Australia. As much as they pump up the Americans and pump them on the ads and everything, I think Aussies, deep down, would like to see an Aussie win. So, I'm looking forward to racing those guys and I think it's going to be a good experience to go out there and beat them. I beat Chad in a few races last year fair and square, so to beat those guys would be a huge honour.

JB: The US riders are obviously a good draw for Super X, but there has been a bit of criticism this year over international riders coming out for the MX Nationals, the argument being they're taking a ride away from an Aussie rider. How do you see that?

JM: Yeah, It's true. Australia's such a great country and everyone loves riding here, the Australian (motocross) titles are a really good thing now, and our Super X is the second biggest supercross championship outside the US, so you're going to get more and more riders coming out here. It makes it very hard, especially on (local) riders that are coming through and riders out there that are trying to keep a job, but what can you do? It raises the bar and makes our riders dig deeper.

JB: The counter argument, like you said, is that it forces our riders to lift, and it can potentially open doors overseas if the internationals who do come out here start talking about Aussie riders when they go home.

JM: Yeah, for sure. The riders that are getting upset that (internationals) are taking their rides forget that there have been plenty of Australians that have taken an American's ride over the years. There have been more internationals come out here in the past ten years in every sport, not just motocross, so it's something we have to get used to. We're in a series that's drawing good money now and the manufacturers and teams want to win races, so they're going to go out there and choose the best riders to try and do that.

JB: We've just heard that your younger brother, Ryan “Doggy” Marmont, will move up from Pro Lites to Pro Open for next year's MX Nationals. How do you think he'll go?

JM: I think he'll do good. If Ryan's ever going to get a chance to step up, it's going to be on the [KTM] 350. I think the most he's ever weighed is 67 kilos, so he's a lightweight and he's probably still the smallest in the Lites field. You could probably put a helmet on him and he'd still fit into the Under 19s quite well! He's pushing on to 26 next year and he's never raced a full year in the Open class, so it's probably the right time for him to step up and do it on the 350. I enjoy riding with him and it's going to be fun going out there to bang bars with him.

JB: Any had any interest in going road racing?

JM: Not really. I enjoy it, I love MotoGP and I love following all the Aussies in World Superbikes and all that, but I think I'm past that point. I had thought about it for a few years. Ryan got into the Moriwakis and we were riding them for a little bit. I think it's something that I'll always follow, but I'll probably never be a part of.

JB: You've just signed up with CDR Yamaha again for next year.

JM: Yep, I've signed up for 2011. It'll be my fourth year with the team and I'm very excited about it. We've got 'unfinished business' for the next few years coming up. CDR Yamaha have really got behind me. I've worked closely with Dacka over the last couple of years, we've formed a really good relationship and everything's working perfect.

JB: So is a 'four-peat' on the cards for next year?

JM: Yeah, I hope so. But with my new team mate coming out, he's a good rider. And there are other people like Billy Mackenzie who want to stay here. They're going to get pissed off with coming second all the time, so they're going to try and step up and go harder and harder. I think I'm probably in the hardest position of everyone. So next year, we'll be ready. We won't come in 'under the radar'. We'll show 'em all from the word go!

JB: Finally, where do you see yourself in five year's time?

JM: I'd like to still be involved with the sport. I really have a passion to give back to the sport because it's given me so much over the years. So whether it's tutoring kids or trying to run my own programs where we're bringing kids through to supercross. Maybe starting them at stadiumcross level and bring them into supercross, being a promoter or something like that. There are a few things on the cards for me, like being an eye for young talent and that sort of thing. If I could do with Yamaha something like what Stefan Everts is doing with KTM at the moment, I think it'd be a really good opportunity, bringing young riders through and helping them step up from juniors to Supercross and Motocross.

Source: JUST BIKES, October 2010, Issue #256