South Australia native Brett Metcalfe surprised many when he made a last-minute decision to return home to race the last half of the Terex Australian Supercross Championship.

It’s the first time we’ve seen the 29-year-old get behind an Australian start gate since the Oceania Motocross at Barrabool back in 2005, so we hunted down the 2013 Canadian motocross champ to find out what’s been happening and his plans for next year.

Brett Metcalfe was third on day one at Phillip Island, before suffering a DNF on the second. Image: Grant Reynolds/FiftySix Clix.

Welcome home, Metty. How’s does it feel to be back in the motherland?

It’s been great. It was short notice to come back for the last few rounds of the supercross championship, I only decided eight or so days before the event to lock it in, but it’s been cool to come down and spend time with my family and friends.

I came back for Christmas last year, which was the first time in 13 years, so this is the second time I’ve been home in a year.

What have you been up to since you’ve been home?

I’ve basically just been spending time with my friends and family. I’ve had a couple of local riding sessions, we took the jet skis out on the Murray River, and after Phillip Island we took one of my good friends from the US, Bryan Brimhall, along the Great Ocean Road back to South Australia.

This weekend I’ll also be a guest rider with Stephen Gall at my brother Shane’s Y-AIM riding schools at Gillman. They’ve completely redesigned the track and no one’s ridden it before, so it should be a lot of fun. It’s cool to be able to help out and spend a day riding with the South Aussies.

From there I guess we’ll focus on the final round of the supercross at Toowoomba, then head back to California to get back into it and prepare for next year.

Awesome. Let’s recap Phillip Island quickly. What did you think of your first race in Australia since 2005?

To be honest it was a little tough! I haven’t raced supercross in 18 months, I had barely ridden my Kawasaki on a supercross track, and the suspension settings from Factory Connection were just a shot in the dark because we didn’t know what to expect.

I struggled all weekend and thought the track could’ve been prepared and maintained better, but considering the lack of preparation and bike set-up, I was happy to get third in Saturday night’s main and be able to run the pace of the front-runners.

The second night was a bummer, I got cleaned out in the main and that ended my night.

Metcalfe is back in Australia racing for the first time since 2005. Image: Grant Reynolds/FiftySix Clix.

How much has the Australian scene changed since you last saw it eight years ago?

There are more teams and their presentation has become more professional, for sure. That aspect has lifted, but other than that, the scene’s kinda the same. The supercross is getting back on its feet now and Yarrive Konsky is doing a good job pulling in outside sponsorship, which is really great to see.

It will take time to rebuild the sport to the level it was a few years ago, but I think it’s on the right track. Because the Phillip Island round was held alongside the MotoGP it’s hard to get a real feel for the sport, so I’m looking forward to Toowoomba and see how it’s run without having other corporate parties involved.

Awesome. So what are your plans for next year? Are you heading back to Canada to defend your title?

Honestly, I don’t have anything locked in yet, but I’m currently in negotiations with the Monster Energy Leading Edge Kawasaki team I rode for this season. Most likely I’ll head back there and run a similar program to what I did this year, where I raced the Canadian series and a few rounds of the US motocross championship.

So there are no openings in the US at all?

Nah, it sucks. After my performance this year I thought I could’ve got something, but it’s bad timing, with a lot of the guys only one year through their two-year contracts, and then having three or four guys like Eli Tomac and Ken Roczen moving up from Lites and taking the few spots that were available.

I’ve been pushing for the US and Canada is still my plan B if nothing works out, but it has been a little disheartening.

Metcalfe won the 2013 Canadian Motocross Championship on debut. Image: Image: James Lissimore.

Canada still seems like a great option, though. I mean, surely it’s better to score a ride there, get some great results and be more financially stable rather than struggle as a privateer in the US.

That’s exactly right. I mean, it’s not as if anyone doesn’t want me, it’s just that there’s no budget and I understand that. I’ve talked to a lot of people who would love to have me but the offers just haven’t been substantial enough.

It’s a sign of the times and unfortunately I got injured and dropped off the picture at a bad time, and now there’s no easy route to get back there.

As you said, I’d rather ride in Canada than put my own effort together in the US. It’s so hard to do and takes a big budget.

For where I’m at in my career, I’ve got to look at the future and how I’m going to finish it off over the next five or so years I know I can be competitive for. If I was 25 I’d ride for whatever I could get in the US, but I’m kinda past that point.

It’s about playing the smart poker moves and doing what’s best for me and my family financially.

Well, we hope the best for you, mate. Enjoy being home and good luck for Toowoomba.

Thanks, mate. Speak to you soon.