Image: Jeff Crow.

Team Motul Suzuki’s Matt Moss has played down any budding rivalries in the 2014 Monster Energy MX Nationals ahead of round four this weekend at Murray Bridge in South Australia.

The defending MX1 champion has vowed to focus on his own program week in, week out, in a bid to retain the title despite increasing pressure from the likes of breakthrough Wonthaggi round winner Adam Monea.

Moss, a proven outdoor title winner with two MX2 championships alongside his MX1 crown last season, doesn’t see Monea – or anybody else – as threats in the early stages of the season. He won rounds one and two before Monea snapped his overall win streak at Wonthaggi.

“I wouldn’t go as far to say that [Monea]’s a threat,” Moss commented. “That was his local track, he had a lot of friends and family supporting him there and ultimately I still pulled more points in the championship.

“He might be a threat here and there on the day, but as for the championship I am just working hard for myself. I’m sure everyone is going to have some good races and stuff, but the only threat to me is myself.”

Monea is confident he will in fact challenge Moss for the championship, but himself insists that singling out one rider as the man to beat isn’t the path to the title.

“You just have to keep working on it,” Monea explained. “I am a lot closer to Matt than I have ever been and he’s beatable. His brother Jake is flying as well as a couple of other guys and the competition is pretty fierce.

“If we concentrate on Matt too much then I think someone might fly under the radar so it’s about bringing the best everyday and being the best you can be. You can’t concentrate on that one person because obviously that person will beat you if you worry about them too much.”

Monea’s Monster Energy NPS Kawasaki teammate Jake Moss outlined the importance of not giving his twin brother Matt any edge when it counts on race day.

“When it comes to Matt I need to just dominate all day against him,” Jake said. “You can’t give him a sniff of a win because he will just take it and run.”

Moss’ lead currently sits at 22 over SA local Kirk Gibbs, with Monea a further 14 in arrears. The battle will resume this Sunday, 18 May, at Murray Bridge in South Australia for round four of the 10-stop series.