Victoria’s new Monster Energy Kawasaki recruit Adam Monea is a bloke on a fast ride to the top of the sport. We caught up with him after he won the opening round of the Victorian titles on the weekend and picked his brain.

Adam Monea will join Jay Marmont at Monster Energy Kawasaki in 2013. Image: Jeff Crow/Sport the Library.

Returning to the Monster Energy Kawasaki camp for 2013…

I rode for Troy Carroll and the Cool Air Kawasaki team back in 2008 before I got a bad attitude and left racing. Last year I returned with Zero Seven Motorsports, got some good results and had a few team offers to ride in MX1 and MX2, which was surprising after my time off.

Troy Carroll said he liked what he saw and offered me a ride, even after my accident at Moree that left me injured for the rest of the season. Troy has been happy to put the past behind him and I’m just grateful that he’s giving me a second chance. That in turn has given me the confidence to get amongst it and prove my worth. We’ve been doing a lot of testing and the bike is amazing.

Recovering from last year’s crash at Moree…

I had a huge crash at the second-to-last round of the MX Nationals last year. I broke 10 ribs in multiple spots and that caused my lung to collapse, puncture and fill with fluid. I also broke my scapula (shoulder blade) and was in a coma for a day.

Recovering from that was the worst three-and-a-half months of my life. I couldn’t sneeze or laugh and it was constantly uncomfortable to breathe or move. It was hell.

I worked hard with my physio, John Park, and doctor, Greg Harris, who are both members of RACESAFE, and now I’m back to 100% health.

Monea will wear the number three this season aboard his KX450F. Image: Jeff Crow/Sport the Library.

The importance of having a life away from racing…

Having a life away from racing means almost everything to me and I think it makes me a better racer. My mates I live with all ride and race, but at end of the day they understand it’s not all that I want to talk about. They understand the seriousness of racing at a national level and train with me, but they’re also buddies I can talk shit and have fun with, and can pick me up when I’m down. There’s never a dull moment with them around.

Concrete starts…

They suck balls. We ride dirt-bikes on dirt tracks, then occasionally we get faced with a concrete start. It’s unnatural and a good way to ruin a new tyre. They can be inconsistent to launch off of and I think more technique and skill is needed to get good starts of dirt. I’m happy there are no concrete starts in the MX Nationals this year.

Goals for my first year in the MX1 class…

They’re big [laughs]! I want to be a standout and I want to do well. My goals are higher than what they were last year, I want to ride to the best of my ability and if I continue to enjoy my racing I know the results will come. I’m keeping my cards close to my chest, but I’m definitely chasing podiums and wins. If my pre-season form is anything to go by, we’ll be in a good position to make it happen.