Team Australia made history at the FIM Motocross of Nations earlier this month, with Matt Moss representing our country aboard the MX2 entry in the field.

Moss was struck with bad luck during the event after finishing 19th in moto one against the world’s best MX1 and MX2 contenders, a mechanical forcing him out of his second moto and robbing him of a chance to prove his talent on the world stage.

But his opening moto result was enough to reward Australia a podium alongside Chad Reed and Brett Metcalfe, a spectacular result that had the nation proud of all three’s race day performance.

MotoOnline.com.au gave Mossy a call this afternoon to speak about the event and also look ahead to the Monster Energy Super X, Australasian Supercross Championship, which commences in Melbourne on 22 October.

Team Australia - Gary Benn, Matt Moss, Brett Metcalfe and Chad Reed - scored out first ever MXoN podium in 2011. Image: TWMX.

You’re just back from France, so how was that experience? It was a great result for you guys to get on the podium with Team Australia!

Yeah, it was great. I didn’t really know what to expect. I turned up in France, went to the track and there were just so many people, it was unbelievable. Even compared to America, it exceeded everything, so I was a little bit nervous and a little bit timid on the bike. Obviously I wanted to do really well for my country though.

I didn’t get the best of starts, sort of had arm pump all weekend, but I felt really good after my first moto. Chad told me to get top 20 and I came home 19th, so he was pumped with that. Getting ready for the second moto I felt really fit and ready, but unfortunately a bike error meant I didn’t quite make it to the second race.

It was unfortunate, but Chad and Brett rode exceptionally well and got us on the podium.

You did have some bad luck like you mentioned, but did you get to ride and gauge yourself near any of the MX2 guys like Dean Wilson or Ken Roczen?

I did. I felt really good in practice after qualifying and all that, plus I felt good in the qualifying race when I came from 23rd to ninth. My speed was good, but I just made some little mistakes, which I sort of thought was going to happen. It sort of gets to you a little bit, but I did what I needed to do in the race.

Unfortunately I had arm pump, which any racer knows is really hard to ride to your full potential with. Otherwise though, I think Roczen is a little bit ahead of everyone in the Lites class – even ahead of [Blake] Baggett and the other American and Australian riders. He’s the number one guy in the world and then you have Baggett and all that.

I didn’t feel too far off the pace at all. Even in my heat race I had to pull off the track to get my bike fixed, but when I came back on I was really close in speed. I was pretty surprised with that and felt really good.

I know you spent some time in the U.S. preparing before the MXoN, so how was that for you?

The time was good. JDR’s team over there gave me a good bike to practice on and pretty much had a mechanic with me every ride to spanner for me and do the pit board.

It was extremely hot, but I think it did me wonders training in the heat because when we got to France it was nowhere near as hot. I loved my time in America, got to spend three weeks there before France and I enjoyed riding good tracks, getting some motos done.

Moss was happy with his form in the MX2 class against the world's best in France. Image: Vurb Moto.

Super X is right around the corner, so how’s preparation going for that? I guess the plan is to get your number one plate back after what happened last year…

Yeah, preparation off the bike has been great and I feel really good. I haven’t actually hopped on the supercross bike yet. After des Nations I still wanted to do some motocross, especially after watching all of those guys, and try to improve on some things that I felt will help me in my career.

I’ll get on the bike on Thursday and I’m excited for that. It gives me a good three weeks to prepare, but I feel like I only need a week to be ready for supercross. It should be fine.

You have guys like Dean Ferris dropping down to the Lites for Super X, plus some international guys coming over for Suzuki and Honda, so does that rejuvenate you going against new guys compared to outdoors?

No, not really. They do it every year, somebody brings them out, so I’ll just do the best that I can do. I have the speed to match anyone, especially in supercross because that’s what I feel like I’m better at.

Whether people are bringing whoever out, or Ferris stepping down, it doesn’t phase me – I just have to go out and do my job. I feel like I’ve won it every single year. Last year I lost it on a technicality from MA, so there’s no reason I shouldn’t win again.

Okay, sounds good mate. We look forward to round one!

Thanks mate.

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