Metcalfe to make long-awaited return

One of the biggest stories in this weekend’s rounds of the 2013 Terex Australian Supercross Championship at Phillip Island will be the return of top gun Brett Metcalfe to local competition.

The immensely gifted 29-year-old is one of Australia’s real success stories in the cut-throat American motocross and supercross scene, but his last appearance in Australia was way back in 2005 at the now-defunct Oceania motocross title in Barrabool, just outside Geelong (Vic).

“The timing has never really worked out to come back to Australia and compete, which has been a major disappointment,” said Metcalfe, who now calls Murrieta in California home. “During my time in America, the focus has always been on reorganising and restructuring for the following year, which has made trips Down Under – other than to catch up with family for short spells – difficult.

“I only decided to compete at Phillip Island last Sunday, as my main focus before that was competing for Australia in the Motocross of Nations in Germany last month.

“I have been so thankful during my career to have such a large fan base in Australia, and it’s nice to be able to perform in front of them again.”

Metcalfe admits he is not race ready, as he’s only had two-and-a-half days of supercross practice in the last 18 months.

“I am really rusty. You can’t pull the trigger in supercross if you haven’t got a rhythm and a setup. But really, Phillip Island is just about coming back home and having some fun against guys like Matt Moss and Jay Marmont, and I’ll have more time to prepare for the final round in Toowoomba on November 16.”

Metcalfe won the 2013 Canadian Motocross Championship, and then combined with Dean Ferris and Todd Waters to finish fourth in the Motocross of Nations – Australia’s second best result in the showpiece teams’ event.

At the midway point in the 2013 Terex Australian Supercross Championship, Suzuki-backed siblings Matt Moss and Jake Moss are running one-two on 66 and 62pts respectively, ahead of Americans Weston Peick (Honda, 58) and Josh Hill (Suzuki, 56). Moss was victorious in the opening two rounds before Hill rose to the top in Mt Gambier (SA) last Saturday.

Metcalfe is impressed with the Phillip Island supercross layout.

“It’s a little tighter than what we see in America -- but it’s still a lot bigger than what I was expecting. There are a couple of different options on the lanes, but like any supercross the starts are important and we’ll let the races play out from there. Either way, it’s going to be great competing in front of such a large crowd.”