Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jay Marmont entered the 2012 Monster Energy MX Nationals series as an obvious title favourite, but a number of injuries and setbacks have hindered the defending champions performance to date.

MotoOnline.com.au caught up with the four-time Australian motocross champion today to talk about his season so far, his team dynamics, injury status and plan of attack for the second half of the season.

Jay Marmont admits that his 2012 Monster Energy MX Nationals campaign has suffered a few hiccups along the way, but will work hard towards finishing the season strong. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

You’ve raced five-rounds of the Monster Energy MX Nationals now on the Kawasaki, are you happy with where the bike is setup wise?

Yeah the bike has been awesome, but we’ve had to chop and change a little bit and I think that has just been because of my injury that I’ve had with my knee and a few other problems.

It’s been hard to overcome these injuries more than setting up the bike and everything else that comes along with it. Right now I’m really looking forward to the second half of the season where I can just knuckle down and concentrate more on my racing and I’m sure the results will become a lot better.

What is it like to have your good friend Troy Carroll as your team manager on the Monster Energy Kawasaki team?

Yeah Troy has been awesome this year, he has definitely been there for me as a mate and a team manager.

We’ve had a few hiccups as everyone knows, and I’ve just struggled to come to terms with my injuries and ride through them each weekend and its actually been a very tough year so far.

I know the results are going to turn around and once that happens it’s going to be a lot better and the whole atmosphere of the team will definitely pick up.

How did it feel to win that moto in Western Australia after a solid come from behind victory?

I spent a bit of time over in Western Australia, just preparing for the race. I knew that a race win wasn’t out of the question and at that point in the series I needed to go over there and get familiar with the bike in the sand.

The first two motos were good and then I fully depleted myself in that last moto and wasn’t able to make the podium which was disappointing, but it was unreal to get a race win for the team.

It’s kind of been the story of my life this year, I just haven’t been able to break that spot. But I’m in the right frame of mind at the moment and this break has been really good, I’m looking forward to getting back on the bike and getting amongst it for the second half of the motocross series.

Marmont plans to celebrate more moto wins before the season-end. Image: Adam Riemann.

You had some surgery done at the beginning of the current mid-season break, can you give us an update on how your recovery is coming along?

Yeah I had some corrective surgery done in the break and I think it’s what I needed, I needed time off. I’m actually on my way to the doctor right now to see if I can get a clearance to get back on the bike.

It’s been about three weeks now, so lets see how we go and fingers cross I can get back on it and get back riding.

Finally, you’re known to come on strong in the last half of the series, what is the plan for the season remainder when racing returns at Hervey Bay?

Yeah I need to finished off solid, there are no two ways about it. I’ve got a bit of a plan, I’ve made my own track better and some people are lending us machinery and I’m actually building my new motocross and supercross tracks next week.

I’m just going to spend time doing motos and preparing for Hervey Bay and that way my supercross track will be built and I can head straight into the supercross series which starts very shortly after the motocross wraps up.

I need to get some round wins for the team and myself, the championship is pretty much out of the question at the moment. So I just need to go out there and win some races and get that big Monster Energy Kawasaki back up on top!