As the six-week mid-season break finally draws near, we glean the thoughts of a handful of racers and team players and find out if the break is too long, too short, and whether it’s helped or hindered their campaign and momentum.

Kade Mosig – Troy Lee Designs – Maxima Zero Seven Motorsports Kawasaki’s MX2 contender

The break has its good and bad points. On the negative side six weeks is too long, especially when there’re only two weeks between the last round of the motocross and the first round of the supercross. If this break had been shorter we would’ve had more time for supercross testing instead of rushing into that series.

There’s also a risk of us getting bored and it’s a challenge to stay motivated. We’re professionals and would race every weekend if we could!

The good part of this break is that it’s given me a chance to recover completely from my injuries and surgeries and come into the second half of the series fit and healthy. It’s going to be interesting to see who has stayed in the groove and kept the discipline and training up.

Personally, though, I think the break should be shortened to three weeks, four weeks max. That would be ideal.

Jay Wilson – GYTR Yamaha MXD contender

The break hasn’t been a bad thing for me as the first part of my MXD season was average. I was putting in a lot of work but just got caught up in silly things. It was good to end it on a high when I raced the MX2 class at Conondale and to carry that confidence into the break.

If I hadn’t raced the MX2s at Conondale I would’ve had an eight-week break between races, which probably would’ve driven me a bit nuts.

As it was, it would’ve been good to back up my Conondale results with another positive, but I was still happy to have a break and do some training with Luke Clout and Tye Simmonds. I’m ready to go again now. I had a great round at Appin last year and want to use it to turn my 2013 season around.

Ryan Marmont – Raceline Pirelli Suzuki MX2 contender

This break has given me too much time to think and I’ve ended up buying a business! That’s what happens when you give a rider too much time to sit around (laughs).

Racing does take its toll, for sure, but as a rider it’s good to stay in the zone and keep your routine going week-in and week-out. When you look at the team as a whole a lot of our boys were hanging out for this break so they could catch up on all the small things that get pushed aside due to the racing and travelling.

For me, the break has been great as it’s opened some fantastic opportunities with MXR&D store and start looking at setting up myself up for the future.

Peter Rabjones – Serco Yamaha mechanic for Luke Styke

I think a six-week break is a bit long. It means we can all catch up, clean and restock the truck, have a rest and do some testing if a rider is struggling, but our guys, Luke Styke and Luke Clout, they don’t want to stop; they just want to keep racing.

Stykey went to Europe in the break and Clout came up to Queensland as it was raining in Sydney, but they’re both fit and healthy and just want to go at it again.

Personally I think a four-week break would be ideal; it almost feels like we’re about to enter another series rather than the second half of the same championship.

Chris Woods – Carlton Dry Honda Racing team manager

I think the mid-season break is great. We’ve been flat-out since 14 January with testing, pre-season, then the actual MX Nationals, so to have a chance to recharge the batteries in the middle of the year has been welcome.

It’s also given Josh Cachia time to heal and for us to improve out 250cc program with engine development. Josh isn’t 100 percent and he won’t have a magical new hand come Appin, but he’s rested and has been putting in some quality training to make sure he’s ready to go in 10 days’ time.

I can see how the six-week break can mess up the momentum and progress of riders who are fit and healthy and want to keep the ball rolling, but personally I think the past couple of years have been fantastic with the breaks and the way the motocross and supercross seasons have worked in together.