One-on-one with Matt Barton – PART 2

We took some time to chat with current Honda Moto 3 / 125 GP class leader Matt Barton (ETS Racefuels) ahead of the third round of the 2015 Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli at Barbagallo this weekend.

We have split the interview into two parts and today you can read part two of the interview.

To keep up to date with Barton this weekend, you can follow him via his Facebook page (www.facebook.com/mattbartonracing) or check out his progress on Instagram (@mattbarton24).

Do you think finishing off the series in Tasmania then at Phillip Island will be an advantage for you?

I need to be within touching distance come the final round at Phillip Island.

I knew that Morgan Park and Symmons Plains would most likely be my worst rounds because of the style of the tracks and because of how bumpy Morgan Park was.

I actually thought Morgan Park would be my worst round of all, but to win races and come away with the lap record means on the whole we took a huge amount of positives out of the weekend.

To come to a track like Barbagallo that really suits my style and should be pretty comfortable, and then to head to Phillip Island in the last round, means I can make a solid charge at it and we will see where we can end up.

How have you found the championship so far this year?

This year I think that the ASBK has come on leaps and bounds.

The amount of exposure that we have had this year and the number of riders that are getting involved is phenomenal.

To have Honda come on board and support our class is a big step – it’s a big jump for us as a class and a community.

It’s great to have older guys in our class as well – I think I am getting older than some of the younger guys that are coming through and to have guys like Brian (Houghton) and Tom (Bramich) who’s 18, to have the older guys there to face against gives the class a bit more credibility.

It’s not a big class and we’re on a par with the Superbikes and the 600’s, it’s just that we’re a smaller capacity.

With the Superbikes if you do well in Australia you are eligible for a Wildcard, 600’s if you do well in Australia you are eligible for a Wildcard and Moto 3 if you do well in Australia you are eligible for a Wildcard.

We’re on par with that level now I think, and we’re only going to grow – especially this weekend having 18 entries is going to be pretty awesome, and pretty spectacular for the fans to watch.

Remember to stay tuned to the ASBK website for all the latest news, results and action direct from Barbagallo as it comes to hand.

Thanks for your time – good luck this weekend!

No worries – see you there.