FULLCIRCLE

The last few years in the life of professional motocrosser Jay Wilson have been anything but ordinary. The 2015 MX2 champ has transformed from a young, single man with plenty of doubts and questions about his future and who spent every waking minute thinking about dirtbikes and racing, to a mature, married family man with a balanced outlook and a positive future. But it wasn’t a simple process and there were plenty of dark days for the talented Yamaha racer. In the last three years, Jay has experienced the near death of his brother at a race in Horsham, won a national motocross championship with limited support, lost his ride at Honda, become disenchanted with the motorcycle industry, contested the UK Arenacross championship 10,000 kilometres away from home and missed the birth of his daughter — all before getting married to his partner, Misty, and then resurrecting his career in late 2017 when his passion for racing returned.

That’s a lot for any 23-year-old to absorb, especially while trying to maintain a professional sports career, but Wilson has emerged from the other side and his position in life is content. We caught up with the likeable racer just prior to the opening round of the MX Nationals and spent some time talking changing nappies, racing in the UK, his affection for mud and his resurrection as a racer.

BEING A WORLD CHAMPION AT 15

It was a bit unexpected at the time really. I had put a bit of work into the prep for that World Championship but I guess you could say I didn’t really go there thinking I was going to win. When I found out