Monster Energy Kawasaki team manager Troy Carroll has confirmed that the team is in its final stages of confirming Jay Marmont’s re-signing for the 2013 season in a streamlined 450-only assault.

Marmont suffered a disastrous outdoor campaign on debut with Kawasaki, fresh from four consecutive MX Nationals titles with CDR Yamaha in an unbeaten run since 2008.

Despite not landing any podiums in 2012, Marmont bounced back with victory in Dubbo’s Australian Supercross opener before finishing runner-up to Chad Reed at Phillip Island and currently leads the series at its halfway point.

Carroll expects to finalise Marmont in the lead-up to the team’s home round at Toowoomba next weekend, excited at the team’s prospects with the heavily-revised 2013 model KX450F next year.

“We have never had any intention of losing Jay Marmont,” Carroll told MotoOnline. “After winning so many straight championships and doing what he’s done, he had to have some kind of bad luck fall his way at some point.

“We understood that when we took him on, but we are very excited now that he’s back to his current form and managed to silence the critics out there that it was the bike or the team, this or that. It just goes to show that Jay’s capable of doing anything on any bike.

“Our intention is to re-sign Jay and I believe he has a contract at his house right now. We’re already talking about moving forward and what we’re going to do for next year, how we can make it better suit him.”

According to Carroll, part of Monster Energy Kawasaki’s plan is to downsize to a two-rider 450 program for next season, effectively dropping its Lites class campaign that has been spearheaded by Kade Mosig this season.

“It’s been decided that we’ll have two 450 riders for next year,” he confirmed. “We have run the 250 for the past two years, but will go back to the 450s only so we can refine the operations within the race team.

“With three riders under the tent it makes it hard to develop the bikes at the level we need to and to spend the time with the riders that we need to spend. By eliminating the third bike and refining what we do, I believe the Monster Energy Kawasaki team will be a lot stronger come 2013.”

While Mosig and Scotsman Billy Mackenzie will depart the team for 2013, Carroll has reached an agreement with a second 450 rider to join Marmont, but declined to confirm who until an official contract is signed.

A number of Australians have been linked to the seat, however Carroll’s only hint is that it will be a 450 rookie stepping up from the Lites class.

“We’ve already negotiated a second rider and have agreed to all the terms,” Carroll revealed. “They’re really excited and obviously we’ll put out an official Kawasaki press release to name the second rider – there are a lot of rumours out there, but we look forward to bringing younger guys through into the Open class.”

After three relatively successful, but inconsistent years with Mackenzie, Carroll wished the former GP winner the best in his expected position at CDR Yamaha for 2013.

“I’ve heard that Billy has signed with CDR Yamaha for next season and we wish him all the best for next season,” he continued. “We wish him all the best and I’m excited to see him go to another great team so he can further his career in Australia. I hope he enjoys his time.”