Matt Moss is one of Australia’s most successful Lites riders in history, a multiple-time Australian supercross and motocross champion, who’s been in the US with JDR/J-Star/KTM in 2012.

Moss scored his one and only American podium in the San Diego round of the West Coast Lites Supercross series earlier this year on his way to fifth in the series, but was ruled out of the outdoor season through illness.

Now, Moss has confirmed he’ll step up to the Pro Open class in the upcoming Australian Supercross Championship riding KTM’s brand new 2013 model 450 SX-F, and he’s also working on a Lites class supercross-only deal for the US next year.

MotoOnline.com.au gave Moss a call to get the rundown on his season to date and find out what his plans are for the next 12 months.

You’re back in Australia now and have supercross coming up. You will be on the 450 for that, so how has everything been going for you since you’ve been back?

Everything has been good. I’ve actually been riding the 2012 model in motocross to just get used to a 450 again, but I really enjoyed riding it. Then actually [last week] I got the brand new 2013 450 with supercross suspension.

I had a go of it and absolutely loved it. It felt really good and I really thought that as soon as I hopped on it and rode around, this could definitely win a championship, for sure.

You had a strong supercross season in America and got that podium at San Diego, before injuries then took their toll for the rest of the year. Coming into supercross in Australia on the 450, this could be a good way to really set this year off for you, and a good opportunity to get another championship.

Definitely, it wasn’t in my plans to come back and race the supercross series, I was always wanting to have time off. But because I didn’t do motocross over there, I’m a racer and I want to race.

So I think it’s a good building thing for me before I head back to the states for supercross, just because I’m around friends, family and enjoying life.

And obviously if I win races, which I think I should, obviously my confidence is going to be very high.

I know that you’ve been battling injuries a bit, but what was it exactly that kept you out of the nationals? I know you have been on and off the bike, but we never got to see you reach your potential there.

I actually just got sick. I had some benign tumors, which are non-cancerous sort of lumps all through my body, and they were making me really sick – I couldn’t even get out of bed and I was getting dizzy.

Then my blood and sugar levels all went out of whack, so I couldn’t really get out of bed for about four weeks. I sort of thought I could have been ready for motocross when I came back for those two races, but it just obviously wasn’t there.

Then I just decided to give it a miss, there’s no point in getting out there and bashing myself over it, and the team thought that was the best thing for me as well.

Half way through the season as well, I made the decision for next year, I asked the guys at JDR and KTM if I can do a supercross-only deal for next year.

So that played a big part in it as well, knowing that I’m only coming back for the supercross next year. I made the decision not to race motocross and wreck myself before I go.

I know that supercross is your favourite part of the sport, you are really competitive at both disciplines, but supercross is the one that you seem to really enjoy. Looking back on this season it must be satisfying for you in your own way to get on the podium with the level of competition over there. Do you still look back to that and feel satisfied with how it went?

Yeah I do, I’m satisfied whether I win motocross or supercross, because none of them satisfy me better than the other.

I just feel like supercross for Australian riders has become a lot easier, we start at a younger age and our motocross tracks are nothing like their motocross tracks. So it’s harder for an Australian rider to go over there and succeed in motocross.

And the other reason I chose to do supercross only is because it’s a long time away from home, just me and my girlfriend and all that sort of stuff. You know, I’m getting older and some things are better off to do.

I think my body could do with a rest after two seasons of supercross, so I think that’s what has made that decision.

Ideally for you if you could race supercross here and supercross there, that would be a pretty solid year for you wouldn’t it?

Yeah, definitely. I’d do supercross here and then do supercross again in America, then come back and just ride around and do some motocross if I want to.

Then obviously do supercross again and head straight back to America if the opportunity comes up again to do the same sort of thing. I’d love to keep doing that.

Finally, I know you’ve only spent limited time on the bike and just started on the 2013 model 450 SX-F, but what are your expectations on this upcoming Australian Supercross series?

My expectations are to win. You know, I honestly believe I can and I know there is going to be some great racing.

I’ve picked five guys that can definitely win the championship and I think it’s going to be whoever podiums every single round.

But I’m looking forward to it, I think Jay Marmont is going to be a big challenge, I think my brother Jake will be a big challenge, obviously [Ben] Townley and guys like [Dan] McCoy and [Lawson] Bopping.

I think this supercross season is going to be great and obviously I’d love to have that number one plate at the end of the season.

Awesome, well we look forward to it and it’s great to see you back. Thanks for the interview.

Thanks a lot mate!