Monster Energy Kawasaki’s defending Terex Australian Supercross Champion Jay Marmont is thriving for the challenge of Chad Reed when the dual American and world champion arrives in Australia next week.

Reed will contest the final three rounds of the series along with his US-based TwoTwo Motorsports Honda team, commencing at Phillip Island alongside the AirAsia Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix on Saturday, 27 October.

Marmont, a close friend of Reed, is looking forward to taking on Reed for the first time since Newcastle’s season-opener in 2010, and will use the opportunity to gauge himself against one of the world’s best on home soil.

“I’ve gone over it in my head a lot, the form I was in when we raced in 2008, 2009 and that one race in 2010,” Marmont told MotoOnline. “When Chad was at his best, he was very, very hard to beat, but when he didn’t get the best start then we got him in a couple of races.

“He’s definitely a beatable guy, but I think the level he’s at right now it’s the perfect gauge at the top of the sport.”

Marmont is certain that the confidence of domestic riders has been raised in recent seasons, with most now looking forward to the challenge of Reed, rather than settling for second on any given race weekend.

While he has his sights firmly set on defending his supercross title, Marmont admits the opportunity to go head-to-head with Reed would be a highlight of his season.

“There was a time when Chad used to come over here and we’d be so intimidated by him that he’d already beat you before you put your helmet on,” Marmont added. “But now I think that we have the right support and we are competitive enough to take him on.

“The goal is the championship and that’s what will be in the back of my head most of the time, but to beat him in a race would be a huge accomplishment. I’m not giving up – I’ll be putting my head down to have a good race with him.”

To check out a complete interview with Marmont on MotoOnline following the Dubbo opener, click here.