A real threat for the Pirelli Under 19s title in the 2012 Monster Energy MX Nationals, Australian Motocross Championship, will be Queenslander Jay Wilson.

MotoOnline.com.au had a chat to the talented 17-year-old about his new surroundings ahead of the first round, which takes place at Conondale in Queensland this weekend.

Jay Wilson's 2012 Raceline Pirelli Suzuki RM-Z250 that he'll race in the Under 19s MX Nationals.

You’ve signed with Raceline Pirelli Suzuki for 2012, so how’s that been so far?

Yeah, everything’s going good, testing is going good and I’m loving the bike. They’re great people there and Chris Woods knows what a rider wants… he has dealt with a lot of riders in his time. It’s all going pretty good and I’m enjoying it.

Where have you been spending the majority of your time preparing before the season starts?

I’ve been sort of all over the place. I spent a week in Coonabarabran riding and testing with Simmo, Errol, Kieran and the team down there. I went to Errol’s place for a couple of days and did a bit of riding, but most of mine has been done at home over the last couple of weeks. I’ve just been trying to get ready for Conondale on tracks that are similar to it.

Last year you had a positive first season as a rookie in the 19s, so is this season with the new team on team new bike your chance to try step up and battle for the championship?

Definitely. You know, last year was a hard year and a lot harder than a lot of people expected as a rookie. Last year I expected to go in and do well, which I did toward the end of the season, but it took me some time to get used to how the guys ride.

They’re so much more aggressive and stuff, so with the team this year, the good bike and the good people around me, I think that we definitely could be title contenders. I’m looking forward to it.

Wilson has a bright future ahead of him after a promising rookie campaign last year.

You were injured during Super X, which was a shame to finish the year like that, so are you all healthy now?

I’ve been back on the bike for four or five weeks now and everything is feeling pretty good. The wrist is okay, took a bit longer than expected, but everything is going pretty good with it now.

It was a long time off the bike, so I’m glad I’m back on it now and can actually start riding and training. I was just doing a lot of off-bike training, which was a bit boring without riding, so it’s been great now and I think it’s going to be a good year.

To wrap things up, the team you’re riding for won the Under 19s title with Errol Willis last year and he’s still in the team as your Pro Lites teammate, so do you feel any pressure on you to win the title for the team again? Or is it a matter of taking it as it comes on your own program?

There’s no pressure with the team or anything like that. I don’t seem to be putting too much pressure on myself for this championship or anything. With Errol winning the championship last year, I’ve been learning a lot off him and he’s got some great line selections, really knows what he’s doing.

I’m just trying to stick to my own program and worry about myself. The first couple of rounds will be a bit steady, not being on the bike for that long lately, but just getting used to the bike has been good.

I’ve gotten used to it pretty quick and I think that toward the middle of the season and end of the season, that’s when you’ll start seeing the best from the team, the bike and myself.