bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup’s Brodie Gawith Has A Big Future

In his first year of racing in the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup, Brodie Gawith, can’t wait to get back on track having only competed in the first round of the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul.

With the extremely tight competition in the Oceania Junior Cup (OJC), the 15-year-old from Waurn Ponds, Victoria, is no stranger to intense on track battles, having won a swathe of motocross races and titles before joining the OJC.

Gawith’s love of motorcycles began at 6-years-old on a 50cc and he began racing dirt bikes at age 11 through the Barrabool Motocross Club before joining Horsham Motocross Club.

He has represented Christian College Geelong in the Interschool Dirtbike Team grass track competition and competed in numerous motocross championships including Victorian titles taking home a swag of trophies.

Now, Gawith’s attention and passion is racing in the OJC.

“My Dad was going through Facebook one day and read about the OJC and the opportunities and experience it gave and thought it would be good to give it a go,” he said.

“I had no road experience at all. I did the trial at Broadford and did alright and went straight from there.

“The day was kind of hard but as the training days went on, I felt good on the bike.

“I felt like riding the road bike didn’t take much out of me as I was fit. Whereas on the motocross bike I could barely walk afterwards.”

His first OJC meeting was round 1 of the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul, with the WorldSBK at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.

Competing on the world stage could be daunting for anyone, but for Gawith it was an experience of a lifetime.

“It was amazing, probably one of the best experiences of my life,” said Gawith.

“Just going around the track, the scenery, the speed, being able to hold the bike wide open for pretty much the entire track. It was a really good experience.

“I like the first two corners they are pretty fun.”

While Gawith did not score the results he had hoped for, he managed to mix it with the front runners finishing just over 2 seconds behind the leaders in race 3 in his first ever OJC weekend.

He has confidence in his ability going forward and is looking forward to his next race.

“It was crazy, as I’ve been doing motocross and competed at the Aussies, but it was a bit overwhelming as I’d never started on a grid at all,” Gawith said laughing.

“The nerves got to me a little and the last race was my best race, but I need to be on it from the first race in the future.”

The ASBK family is a tightknit group of men and women racers, and Gawith has fit right in from day one. He is looking forward to catching up with his OJC mates Henry Snell, Levi and Jai Russo and Lucas Quinn.

“OJC is very welcoming, everyone treats you like you’ve known them for years. It is a great environment and I can’t wait to see all the boys.

“I like how ASBK run the events. They are very professional.”

Despite no racing since round 1 of the ASBK, Gawith is very upbeat about the future.

“COVID has thrown everything out the window. So, I just take it a day at a time at the moment.

“I can’t wait to just get on the R15 and give it my best shot and see where it goes.”

For now, Gawith is concentrating on staying fit.

“I have a home gym and track and I get on my dirt bike and keep the bike fitness up and I have a mountain bike and go to the tracks down Anglesea and the Otways.”

Gawith is inspired by Australian motocross legend Chad Reed and MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi.

“My hero is Chad Reed as I’ve grown up watching him on TV and Rossi is pretty cool, and the effect he has on the crowd is amazing.”

Gawith could not go racing without the support of his parents.

“They help me with everything. They support me with the bikes, the money to go racing, taking weekends off to support me. I couldn’t do it without them.”

Where does Gawith see himself 10 years from now?

“With hard work and dedication, whatever I choose I want to be the best.”

Head to www.asbk.com.au for more info about the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul. For the latest updates from the ASBK, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Photos by Andrew Gosling and Russell Colvin