Webmaster posted on July 30, 2010 18:03
CDR Rockstar Energy Yamaha’s Jay Marmont has claimed a third straight Pro Open Australian Motocross Championship, winning the 2010 title at Coolum’s final round of the Rockstar Energy MX Nationals in Queensland last weekend.
Jay Marmont and the CDR Rockstar Yamaha team.
Photo Credit: Daniel McKenzie.
In a massive double-header weekend of racing contested over two days and consisting of six motos, Marmont finished third overall on Saturday with 4-3 results and then repeated that third place podium performance with 5-7-2-3 results to seal the crown on Sunday.
“It feels awesome,” Marmont beamed. “Championships don’t come easy and this year has been a tough one from the word go. It’s been testing, but once I got the championship lead at Toowoomba I’ve had it ever since.
“It was really close today, Billy pretty much won every single race except for one and was on a charge – he was getting maximum points on me. He put all the pressure in the world on me, so it’s good to be here with the number one plate for the third year in a row.”
The weekend wasn’t a complete walk in the park for Wollongong local Marmont however, receiving a controversial 20-second ‘stop and go’ penalty on Sunday after clearing the first jump on the circuit on the opening lap of race two.
“I came up to the big jump and I was focussing on [Dean] Ferris, racing him, and by the time I got to the up-ramp I just couldn’t pull up,” the 27-year-old explained. “I jumped it and paid the ultimate price with the 20-second penalty, drifting back to seventh in the race. I still got third on the day though, which was a pretty good achievement for me and gave me enough points to wrap up the championship.”
Marmont’s latest title joins the motocross championships he won in 2008 and 2009, also a former dual Australian Supercross Champion in 2003 and 2004.
After winning the title by 13 points ahead of former Motocross World Championship contender Billy Mackenzie, Marmont says the 2010 championship is one of the finest of his illustrious career.
The achievement also marked a first title win in the world for Yamaha’s revolutionary 2010 model YZ450F, which Marmont and the CDR team have developed into the ultimate weapon on a national level in Australian motocross.
“It was very hard at the start because we have been developing a new bike with the YZ450F, but in the end we got it really good after a lot of testing to start the year. The bike is so good right now, I feel so comfortable on it and it’s just what I need heading into Super X and some upcoming races in America that we have planned,” he explained. “When I look back to the Moree round I think it was one of the best rides I’ve ever had in my whole life and that round win set me up for the title.
“I’m so pumped for my team, we’re the first Yamaha team in the world to win a championship on the new 450. For me it’s a big thing to win three in a row, so I’d like to thank my wife Abby, plus all my personal sponsors – FOX, Oakley, Ogio and all the guys for looking after me and supporting me. This is my chance to give back to them and I’m very excited and happy.”
Visit www.mxnationals.com.au for more information and detailed results on the 2010 Rockstar Energy MX Nationals and be sure to follow Jay on Twitter @Marmont2 for the latest updates.