Jay Marmont defied the pain of a finger injury to take fourth in SA. Image: Alex Gobert.

CDR Rockstar Energy Yamaha’s Jay Marmont braved the pain of a severe finger injury to claim fourth at Murray Bridge’s round of the 2011 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals, keeping his title hopes alive for a record fourth straight crown.

The determined and defending triple series champion rode through the pain of a finger injury sustained while training for the series’ return to South Australia, claiming 6-6-5-3 results to keep his title hopes well and truly alive.

“I didn’t get to ride much during the week since I broke my little finger last Friday, so I got the worst arm-pump,” Wollongong resident Marmont explained. “The track was really fast so when my arms pumped up I lost all my strength.

“In the last race I started to loosen up a bit, battled for the lead right down to the wire, and I feel I rode better in that last race there this afternoon.

“I didn’t quite ride good enough to win a title, so I’m going to go home and work hard, try come out swinging at Toowoomba for an overall win.”

Marmont now sits 34 points out of first position in the series, which will continue at Toowoomba in Queensland with round five of nine on Sunday, 22 May.