Five Minutes With Matt Moss

Matt Moss is no stranger to winning. The New South Welshman scored his second consecutive Australian SX1 title last year. The 2015 season may have started on a sour note, but it hasn’t tainted his hunger for success. Motorcycling Australia sat down with the defending champion to discuss everything supercross.

MA: Matt, last year, you wrapped up your second consecutive Australian Supercross SX1 Championship. Was there ever any doubt you were going to achieve that?

Matt: There is always an element of doubt when you are entering a new championship. You don’t know where your competition is at and you can only gauge your speed on what your team is telling you. I was confident though, I was coming off a championship victory in the MX Nationals and I was feeling very comfortable on my Suzuki.

You flew to Europe following your Australian Supercross Championship win and from there to America. Considering you had been in America at the beginning of 2014, weren’t you feeling a little burnt out?

You know everyone was saying that and to be honest at the time I felt great. I felt good at the beginning of supercross in America in 2014 and I wanted to maintain the same program that I felt was working. In hindsight, I probably did overdo it, and I never let my body rest from minor injures. I am not sure if I will do it again, however no one can suggest that that program didn’t work for me in 2014. Reedy has always said we don’t race enough in Australia. There are 52 weekends a year and we race 15 or 16, so I think racing overseas helps me stay sharp.

The 2015 MX Nationals has been a difficult one for you. The sport can be brutal, people don’t understand how fit and strong you need to be to ride, let alone win. How are you coping?

To be complete honest it sucks, but I will be back at Coolum for the next round. Racing is what I do and sitting at home makes me anxious and frustrated; it makes me over think things, so it will be great to be back racing the next round of the MX Nationals. Everyone understands our sport is brutal. Consider that Villopoto is out, Hahn was out, Roczen missed half of the Supercross Championship, Barcia missed a lot of races, Canard is out, Tomac missed races and Justin Bogle could be out after his first round crash. At the elite level when you are pushing the limit things can go wrong. Being sidelined isn’t fun, believe me, I would prefer to be healthy and racing every weekend if I could. I have won a lot of championships and for some people to think that I prefer the couch to my Suzuki is disappointing. I don’t want to come back and finish fifth or sixth – I want to come back where I left off and that was winning. So the truth is I am not coping that well, but it has made me hungrier and I can’t wait to race Coolum. As they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder and I am missing that winning feeling.

The 2015 Australian Supercross Championship is shaping up to be another step forward. Are you excited with what you are reading?

The fact that it has been expanded to six rounds, it is going back to Adelaide and James and Chad are racing is fantastic. Last year the championship was on TV, crowds were strong and the vibe was great. The hype is even stronger this year with all of the news around new venues, increased prize money and James Stewart’s participation. I can’t wait.

Do you think the Aussies can compete with Chad and James?

Definitely, indoor racing is unpredictable. Riders need to be aggressive and the start is crucial. I will be gunning to beat them both. If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t be a racer.

You and your brother Jake were originally involved in the building of Jimboomba. How did this come about?

Scott Bannan is a friend of ours and is very passionate about motocross and supercross. He is also a boxing promoter so it made sense that he would combine his business for promoting with his passion for the sport. The track at Jimboomba is amazing and it will provide for some great racing. It is a full on American style track.

The money question? Can you come back and make it four in a row?

I can. I am not being over confident, it is no different to Marquez coming back and being competitive in Moto GP, or Canard coming back, or Carmichael coming back when he returned from a knee injury. I know how to ride, and I know how to win. The Motul Suzuki also knows how to win. Together we have won a lot and we will relentlessly work towards winning again this year. I am lucky, I know the bike, I know the tyres, the chassis, and the team members. When we all gel it provides for a winning environment. If I didn’t think I could race for a third championship, then I should walk away. It is no fun finishing second, let alone fifth or sixth, especially when you expect so much from yourself. My body wasn’t right but it is improving and I will be showing up to the opening round of supercross one hundred percent fit and ready to win but before then I expect to be winning some motocross races. There are still 12 MX Nationals races to be run and won so you can bet that come supercross, I will be ready and willing to do what it takes to win.

—

The 2015 Australian Supercross Championship kicks off on October 11 in Bathurst, NSW.

Round 1: October 10 – Bathurst, NSW
Round 2: October 17 – Jimboomba, QLD
Round 3: October 31 – Adelaide, SA
Round 4: November 21 – Sunshine Coast, QLD
Round 5: November 28 – Sydney, NSW
Round 6: December 5 – Sunshine, VIC

For more information, visit: www.ma.org.au