Bramich beats best to claim coveted national ASBK title

VICTORIAN Benjamin Bramich emphatically won the GP Juniors 160cc class at the thrilling, final round of the 2016 Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship at Winton Motor Raceway last weekend, October 1-2.

Ben, from Beaconsfield, was victorious by 39 points in the top junior class in Australia’s top road racing competition. “Winton was awesome. We went there to secure the championship, and we did that, so that was awesome. We just rode safe and smart,” Ben said.

The 15-year-old, who topped an all Victorian podium, beat fellow Victorian Ned Faulkhead by 39 points and Jack Cousens by 140 points. “The season overall was amazing. I didn’t make any mistakes to cause any DNFs so that was awesome,” Ben said.

“My favourite round was my last round at Winton. There was more competition, it was harder, and it was a good, fun race,” Ben added.

“Zane Ford and Reid Battye (both from New South Wales) provided some really good racing and kept me to my toes, which was good fun,” he said. Ben rode fantastically-well all season, which included breaking the 160cc lap-record at Morgan Park in Queensland in August.

Ben also took part in Motorcycling Victoria’s Elite Rider Training Camp where he learnt invaluable off-bike knowledge in September.

Bramich remains undefeated in the 2016 Motul Pirelli Victorian Road Racing Championships in Juniors 125cc class. “I have won every single race this year so that’s great and I plan to keep it up in the last round at Broadford in November,” Ben said.

After the VRRC, he will also be heading to Malaysia to try-out for the 2016 Shell Advance Asian Talent Cup, a world-renowned competition to help promote the world’s best young road racing talent on October 30.

“The Asia Talent Cup Selection Trials are coming up in October and I want to continue to improve on my times and results and give it my all when I get over there,” Ben, who’ll also be watching and supporting his idol Valentino Rossi at the Australian MotoGP at Phillip Island later this month, added.

Ben is also a regular participant in the Junior Development Days at the State Motorcycle Sports Complex at Broadford this year. “They’ve been really helpful. They help to teach you’re the right techniques like how to ride smooth and picking the right lines out on the track,” he added.

Ben would like to thank his Mum and Dad, family and sponsors who without these people would not be out there racing.

“I’d really like to thank my parents, Ron Angel Classic Racing, Tingate Racing, Nolan Group, Ricondi Motorcycle Apparel, Whinner Motorcycles, Nelsigns, BoardPro and Rock Oil for all their fantastic support throughout the year,” he praised.

The final round of the 2016 Motul Pirelli Victorian Road Racing Championships takes place at Broadford’s State Motorcycle Sports Complex on November 12-13. You can follow Ben’s progress throughout the year via his official Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Bennybramichracing.