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Australian Motocross Legend Jay Marmont
Photos: [Left] Red plate holder Jay Marmont (NSW, CDR Yamaha) leads Cheyne Boyd (4) and Daryl Hurley (912) at the Coolum round of the 2008 Australian Motocross Championships , which he went on to win – By Peter Coward; and [right] Marmont in 2010 winning his third National MX1 title in a row, going on to create history in 2011 after winning in his fourth successive title.
Marmont – 8 times Australian motocross and supercross champion
New South Wales Motocross rider Jay Marmont (CDR Yamaha) created history in 2011 becoming the first rider to win four successive Australian MX1 Motocross Championships.
This feat also equaled Australian Motocross Legend Stephen Gall’s achievement in the earlier Australian 250cc Championships, when Gall won four National titles in a row in that class – between 1980 to 1983.
Back in the eighties, the Australian Motocross Championships were run over one weekend with two motos for individual classes held on the one day. But Marmont’s victories were achieved in the National series over multiple rounds across Australia and his four motocross titles in a row etched his name in the history books and elevated his status to one of Australia’s all-time motocross greats.
In stark contrast to most of the other Australian motocross legends who learnt there craft in outdoor motocross, then also competed in supercross, Marmont was successful early in supercross, winning the 2003 Australian Supercross Championships and Supercross Masters series aboard KTM machines.
He also moved to the United States early in his career, between 2004 and 2006. His best result came in 2005 when he switched to Kawasaki and finished fifth in the AMA SX West 125cc series, earning him a ride with the Red Bull KTM factory team for 2006. Marmont finished tenth in the 2006 AMA SX East Lite Series and, after copping three serious injuries in succession, returned to Australia in 2007.
Still riding a KTM, JayLo as he is nicknamed, struggled to ride and train that year without pain, but things started to improve after he had all his plates removed.
Switching to Yamaha and joining Australia’s CDR Yamaha team in 2008, Marmont netted his four consecutive National motocross championships (2008 – 2011) in the premier MX1 division, as well as winning another two Australian Supercross championships.
Marmont won the 2010 title with the CDR Yamaha Team, but moved to Kawasaki after the 2011 motocross season to win his fourth National Supercross title =.
As a result, Marmont won 8 National Motocross Championships (4 each in MX and SX), including the 2002 Supercross Masters series, becoming a legend of Australian motocross. His trademark gutsy, fight to the end, championship victories will be talked about for years to come.
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Photo: In 2008, Jay Marmont joined the CDR Yamaha Team, winning his first Australian MX1 Motocross Championship to add to his two National Supercross titles (By Peter Coward)
Where it all began for 'JayLo'
Jay Marmont, from Wollongong in New South Wales
Jay Marmont was born on 8 April 1983 and grew up in Wollongong, a breeding ground for successful Australian motocross riders.
International superstar Chad Reed and another Australian legend Craig Anderson, who are cousins, also hail from this area.
Marmont’s first bike was a Yamaha YZ 50cc Pee Wee, which his father bought for him and his younger brother Ryan when he was five years old. Jay started racing minibikes around age 6 and rode every year through to his retirement at 33, progressing through Junior Motocross ranks, to seniors, National, then International competition.
His home track was the famous Mount Kembla circuit in Wollongong, which hosted international and Australian championship events in the 1960s and 1970s, then later again in the 1990s.
Marmont’s first big wins came in 2003 when he won the Australian Supercross Championship aboard a KTM, as well as the prestigious Manjimup 15000 in Western Australia.
In 2004, Jay competed in the United States in April and May, returning to Australia to finish third in the Australian MX1 Championship and winning back-to-back Australian Supercross titles.
Racing professionally in the United States
In 2005, Jay permanently moved to the United States to pursue a professional racing career and, in his first year, finished fifth on a Kawasaki in the AMA SX West 125cc series and 33rd in the 250cc class.
His best races that year were in Seattle, where he finished fifth in the 125cc class on 16 April and fourth in the 250cc class in Houston on 30 April.
Jay’s performances earned him a contract with the Red Bull KTM Team for 2006, where he finished 10th in the AMA SX East Lites series and 35th in the AMA outdoor motocross Lites series.
The Houston circuit became one of his favourites, and on 1 April 2006, for the second time in a row, he finished fourth in the Lites class and just missed out on a podium finish.
Unfortunately, Marmont had a bunch of injuries in the USA. After injuring his knee while practicing, he then broke his femur and wrist in separate accidents, so he decided to return home to Australia for the 2007 season.
Photo: Jay Marmont with the late Andrew McFarlane, who also raced professional motocross in the United States (by Errol Taylor)
More National MX and SX Championships
In 2007, Marmont struggled to ride and train without pain and it wasn’t until he had the plates removed from his leg and wrist that racing became easier.
Still racing for KTM, Marmont accepted a contract to race Yamahas with Australia’s top CDR Racing team for the next season – a move that would shape his career.
In 2008 he beat New Zealand Champion and former Australian MX1 Champion Daryl Hurley and Cheyne Boyd. His switch to Yamaha and subsequent wins in 2008 were made easier with 2006-2007 champion Dan Reardon leaving to race in the USA.
Marmont sealed his second Australian Motocross Championship in 2009 after winning the final round with a 1-2-1 finish in the three motos contested. Boyd went one place better to second in 2009 behind Marmont, with the late Andrew McFarlane from Queensland in third, a year before his tragic death at Broadford in Victoria.
In 2010, Marmont won his third National MX1 motocross championship in a row and etched his name alongside the legends of the sport. That year he finished ahead of Scottish rider Billy MacKenzie and Dean Ferris.
Marmont is a fierce competitor, who is known for his dogged determination and his ability to win races when they must be won. In 2011, the CDR Rockstar Energy Drink Yamaha team rider overcame an 18-point deficit to edge out teammate and experienced international rider Josh Coppins to clinch his fourth successive MX1 title after his Kiwi rival suffered a dislocated shoulder in moto three and was forced out of action.
Marmont’s results against Australia’s best asserted him as one of the greatest ever in the sport.
In 2011, Jay Marmont won his fourth Australian MX1 Championship in a row aboard a Yamaha (By Peter Coward)
In 2016, the four-time Australian Supercross Champion made a comeback with Husqvarna to contest the National SX series, finishing in the Top 5 (Photo courtesy of Australasian Dirt Bike)
Representing Australia in the MX des Nations
Jay Marmont representing Australia at the 2010 Motocross des Nations in the United States (By Peter Coward)
In 2010, after winning his third MX1 title, Marmont got to represent Australia at the Motocross des Nations, which were held that year at Lakewood in the United States on 25-26 September.
Riding in the open class, along with Brett Metcalfe (MX1) and Dean Ferris (MX2), Australia finished 7th overall, with Marmont finishing 18th and 10th in his two motos.
Marmont was a late calling for the Australian team that year after multiple World Supercross Champion Chad Reed withdrew due to illness.
That year Reid was struck down with the Epstein Barr Virus, which de-railed his AMA Pro Motocross season, forcing him to stop racing while he underwent ongoing treatment.
Life after racing motocross
Half way during the 2014 motocross season, Jay Marmont officially announced that he would retire at the end of the season.
After racing at the 2015 Manjimup 15000 in Western Australia, Jay made a comeback to Supercross in 2016 when he rode for Husqvarna in the Australian Supercross Series.
At thirty-two, the four-times Australian Supercross Champion finished in the Top 5 in the 2016 series, finishing with a memorable podium at the Aus-X Open in Sydney.
Marmont finally hung up his racing boots that year and in 2017 took up a new role as Team Manager for the KTM Motocross Racing Team.
Australian Motocross Legend and KTM Australia General Manager Jeff Leisk approached Marmont, who’s industry currency, as well as his impeccable racing pedigree were key factors in the appointment.
After retiring from motocross Jay accepted a role with KTM Australia as Team Manager (Courtesy, ADB).
Video Gallery
Marmont wins his fourth National Supercross title aboard a Kawasaki – Australian Supercross
Getting to know Jay Marmont – Yamaha Motor Australia
Jay Marmont announces his retirement mid-season in 2014 – Moto Online
Jay Marmont's key career highlights
Jay Marmont winning the 2011 Australasian Supercross Championship at the Campbelltown Stadium in New South Wales
Australian supercross
2003
Australian Supercross Champion (KTM)
Australian Supercross Masters
2011
Australian Supercross Champion (Yamaha)
2012
Australian Supercross Champion (Kawasaki)
international
2004
22nd 125 AMA West Supercross (KTM)
2005
5th 125 AMA West Supercross (Kawasaki)
33rd 250 AMA West Supercross (Kawasaki)
2006
35th AMA Motocross Lites (Red Bull KTM Team)
10th AMA East Supercross Lites (Red Bull KTM Team)
2010
Motocross des Nations, Lakewood, United States – Australia 7th
Australian motocross
2003
Manjimup 15000 winner
2004
3rd Australian MX1 Class (KTM)
2008
Australian MX1 Champion (Yamaha)
2009
Australian MX1 Champion (Yamaha)
2010
Australian MX1 Champion (Yamaha)
2011
Australian MX1 Champion (Yamaha)
Australian Championship results and photos
Click on the links below to view Australian Motocross Championship results back to 1953, event photos or rider profiles.
Australian Motocross Champions MX1 class
Australian Motocross Champions List (All classes)
Australian Motocross Legends
