Jay Marmont will wear number two outdoors for the first time since season 2008. Image: Jeff Crow/Sport the Library.

Four-time Australian Motocross Champion Jay Marmont is in a confident mood after a positive public shakedown yesterday at the Monster Energy MX Nationals launch.

The 29-year-old will enter his second full season with Monster Energy Kawasaki with form on his side following his 2012 supercross series win, determined to bounce back from a campaign that saw him fail to reach the MX podium at all last year.

After riding alongside many of his main opponents at Raymond Terrace’s official series launch, Marmont has a set plan in place in the lead-up to April’s opener.

“This year I’m feeling a lot stronger on the bike, I feel that having the momentum of winning a championship in supercross, I can go out there and win an outdoor championship with Monster Energy Kawasaki,” Marmont told MotoOnline.

“Now, after riding the 2013 KX450F, it’s working well and we’ve got a really good set-up. Everything we do I seem to like, it’s all in the right direction. I was able to ride with some of my competitors at the season launch and my pace was right there on par.

“I could still get a little more comfortable, I felt a bit anxious in some ways just rushing things here and there, while some of the others seemed a bit more calm because they’ve been racing.”

Marmont will contest a number of Sunshine State rounds over the next month in preparation for the nationals, refining his race-craft before the MX Nationals commence.

“At this point I just want to get out there, do a few races to shake the nerves and believe in myself that I can win that first round,” he explained. “I’ve put in a big effort this off-season, training hard and the tracks around me have been good.

“The bike that Kawasaki has given me to practice on so far has been awesome too, so everything’s coming together well in that respect and I’m in a confident mood. The upcoming races I have in Queensland will be a good shakedown and I’ll be trying as hard as I can.

“Every year everybody says it’s going to be a tough one, but you only have to look at the people to see 2013 will be as hard as ever. Let’s face it, if you don’t get results, you could be out of a ride.

“There are a lot of good guys out there pushing to win a championship or keep their seats – it’s getting tough!”

Marmont will team with Adam Monea for the 2013 Australian Motocross and Supercross Championships.