Dunker Hoping For Oceania Junior Cup Title Birthday Celebrations
A bLU Cru Oceania Junior Cup Championship title would be “phenomenal” and the best birthday present for NSW young gun Cameron Dunker at next week’s Grand Finale, mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul, at Wakefield Park Raceway.
Dunker, from Weston, NSW, turns 13-years-old on the first day of qualifying, December 3, will not only be attempting to win the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup (OJC) title, but is taking on extra duties competing in both the YMI Supersport 300 and YMF R3 Cup classes.
If that doesn’t make your head spin, it means Dunker could potentially take part in each and every practice, qualifying, and warm up session over the four days as well as compete in 15 races over three days. That’s nearly 40 times on track.
Dunker currently sits in 3rd place in the OJC, after scoring a 4th, 7th, and 4th placings at round 1 and is only 27 points behind the leader in his first full year in the Championship. He was a wild card entrant at the last round of ASBK at Sydney Motorsport Park last year.
“I wasn’t expecting that at Phillip Island, I tried my best and came out with a good result,” said Dunker.
He has ridden a couple of times at Wakefield Park Raceway and likes the circuit and is confident of a good result. Come Sunday afternoon, he wants to be holding the Motorcycling Australia bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup Championship trophy.
“I like Wakefield and especially turns 4 and 5, it’s a complicated track in some parts especially with 18/19 other riders at the same time,” he said.
“I’m not sure what to expect this weekend. I just need to sort out qualifying and hopefully I can get a good result.
“To win would be a phenomenal birthday present.”
Dunker said the OJC – Motorcycling Australia’s junior road racing development program – was the perfect training ground for young riders.
“It’s the close racing I like and the feeling of going fast and slip-streaming and being a part of the OJC team,” Dunker said.
“It’s like a really big family. Everyone helps everyone out. But, as soon as the visor goes down there are no friends anymore,” he said laughing.
Dunker’s father Mark, a former racer himself, is full of praise for the OJC and admits watching his son race from the pits can be “a nail biter”.
“It’s been a pleasure to be involved with such a well organised and structured series. I wish we got involved earlier,” he said.
“We are excited to get the next two rounds done. I raced there when I was younger and to see my young fella race, it’s great to see.
“To see him jump out there with the wild card at Eastern Creek last year that put my mind to rest and I knew that’s what he wanted to do, and he has excelled.
“At Phillip Island he really impressed me and definitely lifted to that next level and that’s what he does. He knows where he needs to be and analyses everything, and he works out where he needs to go and how he can improve.”
Dunkers love of motorcycles and racing began at 5-years-old when he received a Yamaha PW50 and rode in the backyard and at local dirt tracks.
He quickly progressed and before long was winning State and National Dirt Track titles.
Dunker has had only two years road racing experience, including this year’s COVID-19 period where no racing has happened for 8 months.
Like many in the Oceania Junior Cup his first taste of road racing was on a Kayo 150 under the watchful eyes of Damian Cudlin’s Motostars program before moving into ASBK this year.
However, it is Dunker’s father Mark, he is most thankful for in getting him involved in racing.
“Dad is the one who got me into racing, and I couldn’t do this without him and Mum,” said Dunker.
He also encouraged ASBK fans to watch the live television coverage on December 5 and 6.
“It’s going to be very hard and close racing and hope they enjoy it,” he said.
Each of the five Championships – Oceania Junior Cup, YMF R3 Cup, YMI Supersport 300, Motorsports TV Supersport and Kawasaki Superbike class – will be decided at the Grand Finale.
Race fans can catch all the drama and action from the 2020 ASBK Grand Finale at Wakefield Park Raceway, on December 5-6, live via ASBK TV live streaming, and through ASBK TV partners SBSHD, Fox Sports Australia and Fox Sports Asia on both Saturday and Sunday.
Keep up to date with the latest news on the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul, via www.asbk.com.au and following ASBK on Facebook and Instagram.
Photos by Russell Colvin and Andrew Gosling
