BIO
One of the rising stars of Australian off-road racing, Matt Moss rejoins Suzuki in 2008, spearheading Team Shift Motul Suzuki’s Pro Lites campaign. Since he started riding at the age of three and racing at the age of four in Nowra (NSW), Moss has climbed towards the top level of the sport.
Riding 60cc machines, Moss was a regular front-runner in New South Wales competition, finishing third in the 1995 State titles before taking the crown the following year. He added further state titles to his resume in 1997 and 1999, before tasting National success in 2000 in the 85cc ranks, cementing himself as future star of the sport. In 2001 and 2002, Moss coupled his local racing with trips to New Zealand and America, winning his second National title with Suzuki in 2002, and finishing seventh in the 85cc Super Mini class at the World Mini event held in America. Despite promising signs, a move to Honda in 2003 didn’t return satisfactory results, with Moss moving to a satellite Yamaha team for the 2004 and 2005 seasons.
Success soon followed, with Moss winning the rookie Motocross class, finishing third in the Supercross Masters and fifth in the Supercross Nationals. Remaining in Pro Lites the following year, Moss attracted the attention of the factory Yamaha team and stepped up into Pro Open in 2006. With the introduction of more-powerful four-stroke machines, off-road racing was rapidly changing and Moss’ style which was so successful on 250cc two-stroke machines didn’t immediately translate to 450cc four-stroke motorcycles. He was also plagued by injuries, but broke through to win Pro Open motocross in Toowoomba last year, only for his season to end shortly thereafter with another injury.
In the lead-up to his 2008 Pro Lites championship campaigns, the 19-year-old has enjoyed a successful return to Suzuki, winning the Stroke Supercross Summer Nationals and the Stadium Motocross Series. While injury sustained in round one of the Rockstar Energy Drink Motocross Nationals in Tasmania has all-but ended his 2008 Motocross campaign, Moss will be one to watch later this year in Supercross!