This season is shaping up to be the most promising in Sam Martin’s career. The 19-year-old took the plunge and jumped from the MXD ranks to the premier MX1 class last year, and now with a year’s worth of experience and a fresh look to the DPH Motorsport team, Sam could be something of a dark horse entering the 2014 race season.

After a mixed junior career, the outgoing Victorian stepped over a Suzuki for his first year in the Under 19s class in 2011. He gained his first national podium at Albury where he placed second overall and collected a number of podium trophies throughout the season.

For 2012 he signed with GYTR Yamaha, but apart from a race win at Wonthaggi, his season never really got going, although he finished with a decent fifth overall in the supercross championship.

However, it was Martin’s lifestyle away from the track, and a string of serious, rapid-fire injuries that hampered his Under 19s years. Throughout 2011 and 2012 he battled injuries and letting his racing take a back seat, but things came to a head at the final round of the 2012 supercross season.

Image: Grant Reynolds.

“At the final race of the season I was in second place and had a really decent chance of winning, but I got to the 10-lap mark and died in the arse,” he explains. “It made me realise how I wasn’t even close to being the racer that I wanted to be. It showed how much work I hadn’t been putting in and that I wasn’t focusing on my racing. That race was definitely the turning point.”

It was a refocused Martin that lined up on a DPH Motorsports Suzuki RM-Z450 at the opening round of last year’s MX Nationals. It was a big call to step up early, but it was also a way to prove that he was ready and serious about making a decent fist of his racing career.

“Plus I’ve got really heavy fingers and that means I’m too heavy for the Lites bike,” Sam laughs. “Nah I’ve always found the 450 suits me better. In 2012 I won the Pro Open state championships on one and I love the extra power.”

Still, jumping straight into the MX1 class was a baptism of fire and it took five or so rounds to get used to the frantic pace. At Swan Hill Martin came into his own with a Super Pole win and a top five result as he finished off his maiden pro season in 10th overall.

Heading into his preferred supercross, Sam had high expectations of a solid championship. But after an impressive third at Phillip Island his season came to a grinding halt when his surgeon announced it was the only time he could fit him in to complete a knee reconstruction.

He reluctantly agreed, acknowledging it made more sense to be fit and healthy for the start of the 2014 season instead of playing catch-up from a later reco. Now, with his knee at 100 percent and after taking ownership of the new DPH Motorsport YZ450F this week, Sam is fired up for the upcoming season.

“Man, I can’t wait to get out there again. We rode the new bike for the first time yesterday and I was so impressed with it. It’s a great bike straight out of the box and the power is so smooth and strong.

“I’m pumped to have Kade Mosig as a team-mate this year, too. We only live around the corner from each other and are best mates. I’ll still take him out in a race if I have to, but it’s going to be a lot of fun at the races this year.”

As far as goals go, Sam’s just aiming to stay injury free and ride strong in every moto.

“If I ride to what I know I’m capable of I know I’ll do well. I want to finish on the podium in supercross, and if I don’t pop a knee out all season, I’ll be happy.”