Marmont to join Honda for SX

Multiple Australian off-road champion Jay Marmont will join Honda to compete in the 2014 Australian Supercross Championship.

“I have been speaking to the Penrite Oil Honda Racing team over the past two months,” Marmont said. “I knew I had something left in me and I still love riding and racing.

“I always wanted to race supercross this year and I can't thank Penrite Oil, Honda and their team sponsors enough.  Without them giving me a chance I would be sitting on the couch and I am not ready for that.”

Marmont rode for Yamaha in the 2014 national motocross title, but the Japanese manufacturer then decided not to contest the supercross series after initial uncertainly over the calendar, which left Marmont free to explore other options.

The New South Welshman will be riding a CRF450R in the five round championship, which begins in Bathurst on October 10-11 (alongside the Bathurst 1000) before heading to Phillip Island on October 18-19 (alongside MotoGP), with the finale to be held in Brisbane on November 8.

“It's going to be awesome to see supercross running on the same weekend as the V8 Supercars,” Marmont said. “It is generally an epic weekend anyway and now race fans can get non-stop motorsport.  Supercross is something that's respected by all racers and most of the V8 drivers are following our sport. To have V8 Supercars during the day and supercross at night will be massive.”

Marmont has had an illustrious career.  In the past 11 years he has won eight Australian championships, including the supercross title in 2011 and 2012. The 31-year-old from Wollongong has also represented Australia in the Motocross of Nations and has been an enormous presence in racing in Australia for the past 25 years.

Marmont joined Mick Doohan and Daryl Beattie at Phillip Island on September 2 to view the supercross track, which will be redeveloped for rounds two and three of the 2014 Australian Supercross Championship.