Three-time Pro Open MX Nationals Australian Motocross Champion Jay Marmont is a fan favourite in domestic motocross, a champion on the track and one of the most approachable and down to earth guys off track.

This year’s Motocross of Nations is set to take place at Thunder Valley in Colorado on 26 September, with the CDR Rockstar Energy Yamaha rider travelling over to the United States on Monday this week.

Now, in a series of diaries exclusive to MotoOnline.com.au, join Marmont on his trip in the lead-up to the MXoN event, where he’ll partner American-based Brett Metcalfe and MX Nationals number three Dean Ferris.

Here’s Jay’s first diary submission, stay tuned for more to follow in the coming weeks:

My first destination on the Motocross of Nations trip was Los Angeles, flying out of Sydney on Monday evening with V Australia and that gave us the perfect arrival time of 5:30pm.

This left us with enough of the afternoon sunlight to take in while viewing the impressive West Coastline on the way to Troy Carroll’s friends house in Malibu, California.

Making the trip was Abby, TC, his friend and two other mates with a total of seven large suitcases, a suspension case, plus a couple of backpacks all squished into a H2 Hummer – not a Hummerzine!

In the back seat we had our knees up to our ears, a great way to stretch out those tight hip flexors!

It would’ve been ideal to stay in Malibu near the sites of nudie beaches, million dollar yachts and celebrities, but our next destination was Temecula, home to many motocross racers since I needed to be near all of the moto tracks that are out here.

It all looked a whole lot different driving back through my old U.S. hometown from when I was based here five years ago, that’s for sure!

The super-sized Starbucks coffee hadn’t changed though, which was a great way to kick-start the day. This being the reason for my coffee addiction…

My recently favourite competitor and mate Billy Mackenzie was nice enough to have us stay with him at his six bedroom home in Temecula, but the only catch was that it was an empty six bedroom home.

So the mission for our first day was to purchase bedding and other essentials – luckily home-wares in America are as cheap as chips. We happened to find the Don Perignon of blow-up beds for myself and the other boys had something more like what you would see floating in the pool.

Billy has a great pad and he sure does know how to entertain. What more could we want – eating organic pizza, kicking back in the Jacuzzi, as well as the boys on a roll after drinking many beers… but only I could kill the mood after leaning my hand straight onto the stinger of a bee.

I think I did everyone but myself a favor, it was a panic only because I’m allergic and last time I was stung my face blew up like a beach ball. So I had to rush off to the nearest pharmacy for some antihistamine and to my surprise we arrived back to everyone in bed at 10:30pm!

Like I said, I did them a favor – they needed the sleep!

On the second day of our trip I was invited to the Yamaha YZ250F launch out at Glen Helen where my 450F awaited me. We packed up the Hummer with my gear, stopped at the nearest corner where you can always find a Starbucks, and the five of us were on the road again.

A five-lane freeway was the road we’re talking and only in America would you be stopped mid-sentence by a large wheel powering toward the car at around 200km/h. We were lucky to have been chopped up by a car earlier who had received full impact of this tyre, which unlucky for her but very lucky for us! It was funny but scary at the same time.

The main man who had arranged for me to come out and be apart of the launch day was Steve, who looks after all new development for the Yamahas.

The track looked better than I’ve ever seen it before, and I couldn’t wait to get out there and tear it up. The first couple of rides took a bit to get into as it was just so fast, but by the third ride I started to find my groove.

The Racer X guys were using Nicco Izzi for their pictures on the 2010 YZ250F. After Nicco had finished the shots he pulled his practice bike off the back of his truck and threw some laps down.

It was cool to ride with someone new to see how my speed stood up against the American tracks.

After I’d done three tanks of fuel I called it a day. The Aussie boys were up the top of the hill waiting for me and ready for our next journey.

On the way home we stopped in at Bert’s Mega Mall, where the place is full of Jet Skis, four-wheelers, ATVs, motorbikes and every accessory you can think of – we were like fat kids in a cake shop.

That’s it for my first diary blog, but we’ll be sure to drop in again soon for another update when we get the chance.