Elliott amped for rookie season in the Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK)

At only 21 years of age, this humble and talented young rider, Brayden Elliott, is entering in what could be described as one of his most adventurous and exciting years of his racing career. The Tumut, New South Wales born rider is about to embark on his rookie year in the ASBK premier class aboard his new Suzuki GSXR 1000 machine. We caught up with Elliott to get his comments on his exciting step up for 2016.

How’s the new bike feeling after the first test on the new machine?

The Superbike is going great! It’s a little bit more of a difference than what I was expecting compared to the 600, but so far things are going good. I am just trying to get used to the power difference and probably the speed. So far, so good.

We are about two weeks out from the opening round, how are you feeling about the 2016 championship?

I’m feeling pretty good coming into 2016 championship. It’s been a huge learning curve this year for me obviously getting onto a bigger bike. I am definitely looking forward to it, looking forward to the challenge and learning the dynamics of this new bike.

Being on the new bike and in a new category, what are your goals for this year?

I would definitely love to be up the pointy end of the field but it’s a little bit hard to say yet because its still early days. I have only ridden the bike a handful of times, so it’s a little bit hard to judge where my speeds at, at the moment. Being a racer we always want to be at the front, my goals are definitely to be up the pointy end battling as far up the field as I can.

It’s a big step up to the new bike how are you finding adapting to it?

Jumping up to the 1000cc from the 600cc has probably been a little bit more of a jump than I was expecting. I was anticipating a big power increase but probably not quite as big as it has been. It’s been a big learning curve, a few little challenging things, the electronics, different tyres and setup. It hasn’t given us a lot of time to learn how to master the bike but so far I have adapted quite well and am really looking forward to Round 1 at Phillip Island later this month.

What are the things you are most looking forward to leading into the start of the season?

First round is always a great one. World Superbikes is probably the best race of the year so to be amongst all that is great. To be out on the grid with a lot of guys that I’ve always looked up, got advice from and watched will be a great experience also one I am looking forward to as well.

What are your thoughts on the series last year and what are you expecting from the series this year in terms of the ASBK?

The ASBK was great last year! It was my first year in the championship, everything went really well and I had some great rounds personally. The way the rounds are structured and ran is quite professional and I was really happy with the format and the way they went about it. I enjoy the layout with practice on the Friday, qualifying on Saturday and race Sunday. I think it puts a lot of focus on the race on Sunday. This year I think obviously everyone is looking to improve and keep moving forward, I am looking forward to seeing what they (MA) can do this year.

Given that it’s your rookie year in the premier class what are your expectations from round one?

The team has made me feel very comfortable in the fact there is no expectations and no pressure on myself. I think we will continue to focus on improving and learning, I have only done 20 or 30 laps around here so far and my times are getting down there – we are getting quicker and quicker. I certainly can’t afford to be playing catch up all year so I will be giving it everything to get as many points as possible and pushing to get up the front as much as I can.

How’s your fitness been leading into the 2016 championship?

My fitness has been great; we have actually changed a bit of my fitness program. Just going from the 600 where we were trying to maintain more of a lighter weight ratio with my height, now to the superbike. I was finding it a little bit difficult to hold on and get some strength, so the fitness programs changed a little bit working on keeping up some more strength coming into this championship. Physically and mentally I am feeling as fit as I have ever been.

Who are your biggest threats?

It’s hard to say at this stage I think as far as threats go for the championship there’s going to be a lot of quick guys out there. At the end of the day virtually anyone out there on that Superbike grid is probably capable of winning the race. At this stage we will just keep worrying about ourselves, keep trying to chip away at our own improvements and see how we go when it comes race time.

What’s it going to take to bring home the title?

At this stage it’s a little bit hard to say where we’re at, I still have only had a few days on the bike, it’s still early days yet. The championship’s not really on my mind currently, we are just trying to learn and develop this new bike and feel comfortable out there but we will see how we go. I’m definitely going to be pushing as hard as I can to get out the front and to learn from these guys as I am racing against them.

Image: Russel Colvin