MOTO CROSS
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
After a lean 2013 season, Wollongong MX legend Jay Marmont is out to end his win drought at Appin on Sunday.
The experienced rider was virtually untouchable during his reign between 2008 and 2011, but last season he battled injuries and disappointing results.
Almost unfathomable, the four-time Australian champion lost confidence in his ability to make the podium and admits he has been unable to mentally crack it at the top level over the past 12 months.
But he believes this weekend's second round shapes as the perfect opportunity to turn it all around.
"I know once I crack that, I can break that mental barrier and do it week in, week out," Marmont said.
"I practise with the best in Australia every day and most of the time I seem to be a bit better than those guys practising.
"It is very frustrating for me and my team at the moment, but I feel that with the team I am back with now, if I am ever going to do it they are going to bring me out of my shell to make it happen."
Talk is always likely to surface that the former champion is at the end of his career as a top-class rider, given he is now 31.
But Marmont refuses to buy into the conversation and has taken inspiration from another of the sport's greats to get his career back to winning ways.
"It is a confidence thing really and Chad Reed proved that over in America by going out there and winning and blowing that theory out of the water," Marmont said.
"You see the best runners, boxers and even football players at times going out there in their early 30s and absolutely killing it.
"I believe it is just a confidence thing and letting it snowball from there."
A major boost has come from Marmont's switch back to team CDR Yamaha, with whom he won his four Australian titles.
Though his overall eighth placing in the opening round at Broadford wasn't a swashbuckling return, the team is confident of an improved result on Marmont's "home" course in the championship.
"I didn't start off with the best result last weekend, so that is going to be hard to build on. But in saying that, a local round this weekend, and I will just try and get the ball rolling here," Marmont said.
"It will definitely help me gain momentum for the rest of the series.
"Hopefully we will walk away from a good race and go from there."