Jay Marmont further cemented himself as one of Australia’s greatest ever dirt bike racers last weekend with a first career Pro Open title in the Monster Energy Super X, Australasian Supercross Championship.

MotoOnline.com.au sat down with him in the CDR Rockstar Energy Drink Yamaha semi just moments after he won the title last Saturday night and reflected on his year, as well as looked toward the future.

Jay Marmont won a fifth title for CDR Rockstar Yamaha in Queensland, this time in Super X. Image: Alex Gobert.

It’s been a dream year for you with championships in the MX Nationals and Super X, making for seven career pro titles in total. Congratulations, how’s it feel?

It’s unreal. Every championship is hard to earn in itself and this one was no different. I started behind where I wanted to be, but worked my way from seventh to first in the series and got the red plate with one round to go.

I rode how I wanted to ride in Ipswich, because I had put a huge effort in with my training and really developed my riding a lot.

I felt like when the track was dry and it was a decent track, I definitely felt like my speed was quickest during the year. Today I was able to dictate the terms again in the 20-lap final and bring the championship home.

You got the holeshot in the main event, so as much as you like the traditional 20-lap main, it must have seemed like a long race leading and waiting to clinch that championship.

Yeah, I’d been looking forward to the 20-lap final all year, so when I holeshotted, I was just counting them down. Man, I got to 10 and they put the halfway board out, then I was going one by one thinking ‘when is this going to end?’.

I started hearing noises in my bike, but I was telling myself that I was just imagining it. I actually got tangled up with a few lappers, some of them didn’t want to move out of the way and made me a little frustrated.

But I was still able to win by about 10 seconds and bring it home nice and easy by the end.

How do your MX Nationals and Super X championships compare in the same year?

It’s awesome to win a Super X championship. Motocross is just hard work because there are so many motos, so you can basically bridge a pretty good gap.

This year it came close with Josh [Coppins] and I, but usually it’s pretty settled before the last race. In supercross, one bad round and you’re pretty much out of the series. Being a really short series, it can really mess you up.

I had to work my way up this year, so to win a supercross series, I mean any championship is good. They still pay the same bonus and you still get that number one plate, so I’ll take any title I can get.

Marmont celebrates two championships for 2011 with victory in Ipswich. Image: Sport The Library.

We obviously have guys like Chad Reed, Brett Metcalfe and even Michael Byrne who represent Australia so well on an international level, but do you feel like it’s important for an identity like you to help boost the popularity of the sport on a domestic level? You’re already one of our best ever, so do you feel that responsibility in some ways?

Yeah, I do in some ways for sure. When I had ambitions to go to America I was only young at 20 years of age in my first season.

I was doing it all by myself and showed potential with fifth the first year in the West Coast Lites Supercross series, just ahead of Metcalfe. I look where he is now and he’s done awesome, so I think that injuries just really held me back and I do wish I was still over there racing.

I had to come back to Australia, but ever since I came onboard with the CDR boys they kind of took me to where I wanted to go. I feel like my riding has come a long way since back in those days, but in the last few years I have just really enjoyed my racing.

The Australian circuit is decent right now and it’s attracting riders like Ben Townley, Brad Anderson, Billy Mackenzie, Josh Coppins and even Tye Simmonds is back again now. They’re all great riders from around the world so it’s good to have them and when you win, you know that you’ve really earned it.

As far as your titles go on home soil, you are 28 now and have seven titles to your name. How long can we expect to see you go on in the form you are in? Is it a case of constantly resetting your goals or are you happy with how it’s all going?

I draw a lot of inspiration from Chad and I look at what he’s done with starting his own team, standing up against the best riders in the world like Ryan Villopoto, Ryan Dungey and James Stewart.

Chad’s a year older than me and I’ve looked up to him my whole life, grown up with him, so I know how he works. I try to play the same role in my racing.

At 28, while ever I can go out and keep pushing myself, I’ll just keep going. I may be changing up teams next year and have a few choices there. As long as I can keep happy, feel no pressure and enjoy my riding, then I’ll keep racing.

There are riders like Kevin Windham who are getting on in age but still have the best style out there. If the fans keep cheering for me and I keep winning championships, I’ll keep doing it!

You mentioned the future, as far as who you are going to ride for in 2012. Do you have any updates on that and when we can expect to find out?

Well I’m off contract now with Yamaha and Kawasaki has basically got a contract there. I’m going to go and ride the bike, make sure that I’m completely happy with the team and surroundings before I sign. Something will probably be out there fairly soon and I’ll keep you guys posted, for sure.

Earlier this year, Marmont clinched a fourth straight MX Nationals title. Image: Alex Gobert.

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