After claiming four straight MX Nationals titles with Craig Dack’s CDR Yamaha outfit, Jay Marmont opted for a change of scenery by switching to Monster Energy Kawasaki for 2012 and 2013.

MotoOnline.com.au caught up with the eight-time Australian motocross and supercross champion to find out more about his return and what it means for his 2014 season.

Jay, after an amazing run with CDR Yamaha you moved over to Kawasaki for 2012 and 2013, but it was a tough time for you. What are your thoughts and why do you think you experienced such a slump?

Looking back on when I first moved to Kawasaki, I had a rough motocross season where I was struggling with a knee injury for most of 2012. That held me back and I wasn’t able to train properly. I still had some good races, but I felt like I couldn’t get any momentum.

In supercross I rode strong and won the Pro Open championship, which really boosted our spirits and it felt like we were on track again. But last year was a real slump year. I didn’t gel with the team and it felt like I couldn’t find the extra gear I needed.

I questioned myself and whether I even wanted to race any more, lost confidence and experienced some depression. It was a tough time, and I was tossing up whether I wanted to finish up and just do a nine-to-five job or to give it all another crack.

Image: Simon Makker.

Late last year you announced you weren’t going to re-sign with Kawasaki. What’s happened there? Did they let you go, did you walk or was it a mutual thing?

To be honest, I wasn’t offered a deal for next year. If they’d offered me something I probably would’ve thought about it and weighed up my options. But yeah, they didn’t offer me anything and it became obvious they thought it would be best for both of us if we went our separate ways.

We didn’t argue or have a falling out or anything, but not being able to go and get the results was hard and something I struggled to deal with myself, and did affect the team relationship.

Everyone really stepped up their games this year. Dan McCoy and myself were first and second in the 2012 supercross, but this year we finished fourth and fifth. I didn’t feel like I was going any slower, but it seemed like everyone upped their pace.

On Friday you posted an image of a YZ450F in your possession, adding a tonne of fuel to the fire that you’re returning to CDR Yamaha. Put us out of our misery, mate, are you going back to CDR?

Yep, 100 percent, I’ll be with Yamaha for 2014. Dacka told me before Christmas that he’d give me a ride, then just after the Christmas break we spoke again and he confirmed it. Last week I drove halfway to Melbourne and picked the bike up, then went riding at Kembla on Saturday.

Straight away I felt right at home on the bike. The engine is exactly what I wanted and it’s just a matter of getting the suspension dialed in properly. One thing I noticed on the 2014 compared to the 2012 model I last rode with Yamaha is how well the bike turns.

It’s going to be an amazing bike and it’s a matter of just putting hours in the saddle, getting as comfortable as I can on it and staying injury free before the MX Nationals starts.

So how was that first conversation with Dacka? They were pretty gutted to lose you a couple of years ago. Did you feel a bit like the bad son returning home to dad?

[Laughs] you know, it’s weird. We get each other and have the utmost respect for each other. He’s extremely smart and knows how to get me going and make me work. We have a great chemistry and even though we haven’t worked together for a couple of years, we’ve always remained good friends.

It’ll be cool to see his new shop, get back in the old truck and go to the races together again. I’m really looking forward to it.

Image: Jeff Crow.

After such a dominating career, then following your departure from Kawasaki, I’d assume there would’ve been a few teams hunting your signature for 2014.

Actually, I’ll be honest – there was nothing on the table. If I didn’t get the ride with CDR I probably wouldn’t be racing this year. I spoke briefly to Yarrive Konsky at Honda and he said straight up that he was unsure and didn’t offer me anything.

I respect that though, Yarrive has always had my back and I know he would’ve helped out any way he could. But yeah, apart from that, there were no other offers.

Wow, that’s surprising. So if you compare yourself to this time last year, how are you feeling and how’s the training going?

Well Saturday’s ride was the first ride I’ve had since Toowoomba, so it’s still early days. I haven’t had a bike in the garage for two months and that was a weird feeling and struck home to me what it would be like if I wasn’t racing.

Before Christmas I worked dad’s bobcat and that also brought the reality of what it’s like to not race. It’s made me appreciate it all a lot more, that’s for sure.

As for the training, well, nothing beats time on the bike and now that I have one I’ll be knuckling down hard and getting myself to where I need to be before the season starts.

Speaking of the upcoming season, what are your goals? Have they shifted after two tough years?

I’ve always seen myself as a championship guy. In the Pro Open class there’s only myself and Matt Moss who have won a motocross championship. You’ll always have guys coming through and this year won’t be any easier, but I’m in it to win it.

My sign-on with CDR isn’t as great as what it was a couple of years ago, so I really have to prove myself and work on getting the bonuses! Last year I didn’t even stand on the podium in the MX Nationals, so my goal for round one is to get on the box, then reel off as many race wins as we can from there.

Great stuff, thanks for that, mate. Can’t wait to see you bring the heat at round one.

Neither can I! Thanks a lot.