Jay Marmont calls time

After an illustrious career, veteran Australian motocross rider Jay Marmont will retire at the end of the 2014 domestic season.

The seven-time national champion – four in motocross and three in supercross – made the announcement at the July 13 round  of the 2014 MX Nationals in Conondale (Qld).

“I was getting asked a lot about when I was going to stop racing, so I thought by getting it out there now and telling people where I’m at, might make things easier,” Marmont, 31, said.

After he had made the announcement, Marmont turned back the clock and led the filed away in the opening moto before eventually finishing third behind Matt Moss and Kirk Gibbs. Then a long-standing wrist injury began to flare, which saw him sit out the third and final moto. He holds down 11th in the MX1 title ahead of round eight at Raymond Terrace (NSW) on Sunday, August 3.

“It felt good to get a holeshot and lead a race,” he said. “I tried not to worry about who was behind me and just do my thing and I was happy to finish third. But my wrist was hurting badly by the end so I tried to get through the next race but I couldn’t ride properly so it was better to just call it a day.”

“I want to finish the season out well and ride as fast as I can at the remaining few rounds so I will have to get my wrist looked at and then get back into it.”

Marmont’s team owner Craig Dack said: “The partnership of Jay Marmont and CDR Yamaha has been extremely successful winning four MX Nationals and a supercross championship during the 2008-2011 era. Jay is a true champion of this sport and is held in the highest regard in the racing industry and come the end of season 2014, we wish him all the best in his future endeavours and hope to continue our relationship with him and his family.”

Marmont’s first Australian supercross title came in 2003 on a KTM, and he followed that up with further successes in 2011 (Yamaha) and 2012 (Kawasaki). But in motocross competition, his four consecutive Australian titles (2008-2011) came on Yamahas.

Marmont won't get a chance to add to his supercross CV later this year, as Yamaha Motor Australia has already announced that its supported teams -- including Marmont's -- won't be competing in the championship, which begins in Bathurst (NSW) on October 10.