Jay Marmont wins for lost daughter

By Michael Cox
Updated November 5 2012 - 11:30pm, first published November 8 2009 - 10:31am
Jay Marmont scored an emotional victory.
Jay Marmont scored an emotional victory.

Just two days after the tragic death of his baby daughter, Wollongong motorbike rider Jay Marmont won an emotionally charged round of the Super X Series in Canberra on Saturday.Marmont and his wife, Abby, had endured the worst week of their lives after seven-month-old Lila succumbed to an undiagnosed white blood cell disease on Thursday. Her funeral will be held today.

  • Marmont mourns death of daughter Marmont, a two-time Australian motocross champion, wasn't expected to race."His nerves were shot - we were thinking about not letting him ride," Marmont's father, Peter, said yesterday."But he said, 'don't let anyone try and stop me', he said he just wanted to 'put it up front' for Lila - that's race terminology for being No 1 - and on the night he was."Wearing Lila's name on his helmet and bike, Marmont charged to a memorable victory."I think Lila was just starting to do her work - she was looking after Dad pretty good. It was her chance to give back for what Mum and Dad did," Peter said."What I've seen both those kids (Jay and Abby) go through. He was living at the hospital 24-7, he and Abby stayed at the hospital 24-7 in the same room as her.""Lila's last day was very hard, as you would imagine. It was very hard to watch a mother lose her baby. Abby just didn't want to let her go." "Both those kids are so strong - they're my heroes." After Marmont's victory, the rider paid tribute to the motorbike racing fraternity who have supported the family through the tragedy."Its been a really tough week and I was going to stay at home in grief and watch the race on TV, but the overwhelming support from everyone gave me the strength to come out and race. Everyone here is my second family and I just can't thank them enough," an emotional Jay said after the race.Opposition riders all wore stickers in memory of Lila. Former world champion Chad Reed, who crashed out in the final, said his thoughts were with the Marmont family."Jay Marmont is amazing and races don't get any tougher than that," he said. "I can't imagine how hard this is for him and his family. Our hearts are with him in this really difficult time."Marmont is now second - by just one point - in the championship standings.Lila's funeral will be held at Parsons Funeral Home, Bulli, today at noon.The Marmont family have asked that in lieu of flowers donations be made to Wollongong Hospital Children's Ward.
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