Seven-time Australian champion Jay Marmont has confirmed that he will join the Monster Energy Kawasaki team for the 2012 Australian Motocross and Supercross Championship season.

The 28-year-old from Wollongong in New South Wales will make one of the most anticipated switches in Australian motocross history next year, taking on a fresh new challenge after winning five titles in four years with CDR Yamaha.

Marmont will take his number one plates to the Queensland-based factory Monster Energy Kawasaki operation for next year aboard the team’s brand new 2012 model KX450F, the team managed by former multiple-time national champion Troy Carroll.

It’s a move that Marmont says is important at this point in his illustrious career, which has included championship victories in the past four MX Nationals series, as well as this year’s Monster Energy Super X title. Marmont also won the Australian supercross titles in 2003 and 2004.

“My time with CDR has included the best years of my career and many of those years have ended with championships,” Marmont said. “There has been a lot to celebrate and I’ve learned so much along the way. It’s been great to be a part of, but it’s time to move on and I thank the entire team and its supporters during that period of my career.”

Now forming part of the three-rider Monster Energy Kawasaki team, Marmont will commence testing immediately and is excited to defend his titles in an all-new program for him. Currently in the best form of his career, Marmont is motivated to continue his recent string of success.

“I’ve been really good friends with Troy Carroll for a lot of years and I have watched him run the Monster Energy Kawasaki team and do a good job at it,” Marmont added. “I’ve been really impressed with the way the team does things and they have great partners involved including Monster Energy and Kawasaki.

“The level of racing in Australia is getting harder and harder each year, so I have to keep challenging myself. With a strong field of internationals continuing to come to Australia it’s not going to get easier any time soon, so I’ll begin working today with Monster Energy Kawasaki to prepare for next year.”

Marmont is currently in Queensland testing with the Monster Energy Kawasaki team in order to gain a base setting on the KX450F, before returning home for the off-season and holiday period.

The opening round of the Australian Motocross Championship will commence in Queensland on Sunday, 1 April 2012. Next year’s series will expand to 10 rounds nationwide throughout the country.

Follow Jay Marmont on Twitter @Marmont2 for updates from behind the scenes throughout the 2012 pre-season. Stay tuned for the release of Marmont’s official Facebook Page soon to be released.