Exclusive: Adam Monea Interview

Melbourne’s Adam Monea may have made his first stop on the top step of the MX1 podium at his home round of the 2014 Monster Energy MX Nationals at Wonthaggi over the weekend, but it wasn’t all smooth-sailing for the National Pump Monster Energy Kawasaki rider. Transmoto’s Johnny Bonnar caught up with Monea to talk about winning the Overall on a count-back via his consistent rides.

TM: Your first MX1 Overall, Adam. How did it feel?

Monea: It was kind of weird. We all (Matt Moss, Kirk Gibbs and myself) finished on equal points so we weren’t 100 percent sure if we got it when I got in. Once I got the confirmation, I was speechless. I had dreamed for this thing for so long. It was pretty amazing to share it with all my family and friends who were there because it was my home race.

So the moment you crossed the finish line you still didn’t know if you had won the Overall or not?

Never, no, not at all. I knew Kirk was closing in on Cody Cooper at the end of the moto and I figured my 3-3 would beat Matt’s 2-4 score, but I didn’t know until it had been confirmed.

You won the Overall via 3-3 scores. How important is it this year to be consistent?

It is massively important as always. It is a major factor, especially this year with Matt and Jake Moss, Kirk Gibbs, myself and Billy Mackenzie (who had a race win over the weekend) all consistently on the ball and riding fast.

Do you feel like, because you didn’t win a moto on the day, you were gifted the Overall by other riders’ inconsistencies?

I crashed in the first moto while leading so I was annoyed with that and the second race I came from ninth to third, so I did it with solid races – I rode strong in both motos. It would be a different story if I had of just checked out because of other riders’ mistakes, but I had to work for these races.

This is your second season on the National Pump Monster Energy Kawasaki team. What has this Overall win done for your confidence?

I am quietly confident in myself anyway. You have got to be – we are racing at a national level. We were going pretty good anyway, its not like we were slouching, to say, but this win does big things for my confidence. I definitely want to get a few more.

How much does already having done a year in this class and on that team play a role in an achievement like this?

I learned a lot from last year. I grew into a better rider from the experience and what it takes to be there every weekend. That experience was vital in learning what needs to be done.

Now you have a taste for it, how do you keep pressing forward?

I want to start chipping away at Matt’s points lead, or at least keep that to a minimum and not let it grow any bigger, so by the time we get to Round 10 at Coolum, I am in the points lead or in the battle for the championship.

Cheers for your time, Adam. Good luck at the next round.

Cheers mate, talk soon.

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Detailed results from Round 3 of the 2014 Monster Energy MX Nationals can be found here.