ASBK 2023 Sydney Motorsport Park bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup Round One Sydney Motorsport Park hosted the opening round of the blu cru Oceania Junior Cup for the year as the young tackers were not on the card as a support event at the opening round of the Superbike World Championship at Phillip Island in […]
At four-years-old Cameron Swain had a crash on his brand-new Yamaha PW50 and hung up his boots swearing he wouldn’t ride again. Fast forward nine years and he is Australia’s latest motorcycle racing rising star and hot property, winning last weekend’s 2021 bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup title after what can only be described as the perfect season.
Unlike recent OJC recruits, the 13-year-old from Queensland didn’t come from a dirt track or motocross background, he ventured into racing on a Metrakit 80, eventually going through the North Coast Road Racers and MotoStars Junior program run by former Australian MotoGP rider, OJC and GTR MotoStars Team Coach, Damian Cudlin.
Swain’s 2021 season over three rounds and nine races of a COVID interrupted mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul, saw him amass a super impressive six wins, two second places and one third – the only OJC rider to podium at every race, had never crashed in two years, and won the 2021 title by 56 points.
His small build and raw talent, as the youngest competitor in the field, was noticed immediately in 2020 from the opening round the at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit where he battled with the front runners finishing in sixth place. No mean feat as the OJC competition is intense and often with three-quarters of the field covered by only a second or two.
Swain would finish the 2020 Championship in fourth place, a year in which he learnt the importance of race-craft and suspension set-up.
Cameron Swain: “At the end of last year, we had a bad set-up all weekend and we were talking to Oceania Junior Cup Technical Manager Trevor Manly, as at that time as people were telling us the set-up was right, but I was struggling all weekend. I had a look at the front runner’s suspension set-up and made those changes and I ended up on the podium. I discovered it was all about suspension, pre-load, ride height, not just about riding. People think it just comes down to the good rider, but if you have crap settings its never going to work.”
Swain said his father Jason was always on the phone to Manly, searching for answers for the right set-up.
Swain: “We would be at Morgan Park all the time and I’d get into tyre slides, and we would call Trevor and he would tell us what to do. Also, Joe Salter from Ride Dynamics who is a suspension tech, and rider coaching was helping me a lot. We would call him and or Trevor and they would tell us what to change and we just kept on improving.”
Swain admits he also needed to make adjustments to his riding style if he was to compete at the front of the pack 2021.
Swain: “Joe is not a bad rider himself and Stephanie Redman also helped with coaching advice. I needed to improve on the way I tipped in into the corner, where I looked through the corner, and my braking into a corner. I learnt how to use less brake to have more speed into the corner, as I’d brake late and really hard, but I’d lose too much speed and slow down in the corners. It was really Trevor who helped us sort out the forks and how they should be, in particular spring rates and fork height, and we have pretty much set that and stuck to it for the whole year. Between the two of them we found this awesome set-up.”
The OJC class is where riders not only learn the importance of suspension, ride heights, health and fitness, but also the importance of slip-streaming to not only qualify well, but also to utilise it on track to win races.
For Swain however, he was often qualifying on clear track away from other riders, something he preferred, and which helped him qualify at the top, and start the races from the front row.
Swain: “The way I did it (to win the title) on my own was pure corner speed, they would use less corner speed and they would catch me on the straights slip-streaming, but because I gained my speed on the corners where they would lose so much, they couldn’t gain on the straights.”
Swain admitted he didn’t think at the start of the year he would be crowned a Champion.
Swain: “But I was on the podium at every race, and it felt great getting the photos on the straight with the other champions Wayne Maxwell (Superbike), Broc Pearson (Supersport), and Ben Baker (Supersport 300 and R3 Cup), as it was always a dream. I saw Carter Thompson (2019 OJC and 2020 R3 Cup Champion) do it and I was working my hardest to get there, I knew I had a good shot at it this year and I knew this was the year to pull it out. It is pretty good; I got the most podiums and victories and for me this was more exciting to me.
“Beating Carters records as he is a pretty big name at the moment is a cool thing. I teared up on the in lap, I still had that feeling where I wanted to win that race but wrapping it up with two races to go was just awesome as the next two races, I could just go for it and not worry about crashing. The emotions kicked in on the in lap, thinking about the whole year, and when I came and hugged Dad and a good mate of mine Johnny Lytras and Aaron, it was pretty cool.”
While the ASBK season is over, the Swain clan now turn their attention to 2022, and it seems Cameron is hot property with a number of Supersport 300 and R3 Cup teams, as well as teams from the British Talent Cup that are interested in the young man’s talents.
Swain has big dreams and plans for the future and hopes to one day make it to MotoGP.
While the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup title was run and won yesterday by Cameron Swain, there was no rest for Australia’s youngest riders in races 2 and 3 of the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul.
The Oceania Junior Cup has provided sensational action not just over the weekend but all year.
Every session has provided handlebar-to-handlebar action throughout Friday’s practice, yesterday’s qualifying and first race where 13-year-old Queenslander Swain claimed his maiden Championship title after a dominating performance this year.
Race 2 started with the usual Oceania Junior Cup fury as Swain, Larkin, Sam Drane, Ryan Larkin, Nate O’Neill, Hudson Thompson, Harrison Watts and Levi Russo jostled for position on the opening lap at the front of the pack.
With riders sometimes four-wide going into corners battling over the same patch of bitumen on lap 4, it was Thompson who came off second best crashing out of the race. Pending any appeals, Hayden Nelson was later relegated 3 positions as he was deemed to have caused the crash causing the red flag
The race was declared with Swain taking top spot, Drane 2nd and Larkin in 3rd.
Pos
Name
Bike
Time/Gap
Speed
1
Cameron SWAIN
Yamaha YZF-R15
7m50.558
134
2
Sam DRANE
Yamaha YZF-R15
+0.058
136
3
Ryan LARKIN
Yamaha YZF-R15
+0.110
134
4
Hayden NELSON
Yamaha YZF-R15
+0.244
135
5
Nate O’NEILL
Yamaha YZF-R15
+0.321
139
6
Harrison WATTS
Yamaha YZF-R15
+0.527
141
7
Levi RUSSO
Yamaha YZF-R15
+0.883
138
8
Rikki HENRY
Yamaha YZF-R15
+6.520
139
9
Marcus HAMOD
Yamaha YZF-R15
+8.733
134
10
Varis FLEMING
Yamaha YZF-R15
+8.757
135
11
William HUNT
Yamaha YZF-R15
+8.940
140
12
Cameron RENDE
Yamaha YZF-R15
+9.404
138
13
Bodie PAIGE
Yamaha YZF-R15
+9.455
142
14
Valentino KNEZOVIC
Yamaha YZF-R15
+9.519
141
15
Teerin FLEMING
Yamaha YZF-R15
+9.716
139
16
Toby JAMES
Yamaha YZF-R15
+17.155
132
17
Lachlan MOODY
Yamaha YZF-R15
+21.354
133
18
Elijah ANDREW
Yamaha YZF-R15
+52.319
132
DSQ
Hudson THOMPSON
Yamaha YZF-R15
+0.492
142
DSQ
Jack FAVELLE
Yamaha YZF-R15
+1 Lap
92
Race 3 would see Larkin jump out in front the pack with Watts, Swain, O’Neill, Nelson and Levi Russo hot on his tail.
Marcus Hamod would crash on lap 2 as he was attempting to stay with the front bunch.
The battle continued at the front with riders swapping positions as often as corners came up.
On lap 4 Larkin managed to gain a small gap on the pack as they diced amongst themselves.
On the final lap Larkin had a 0.828 lead on the chasing pack which was enough of a gap for him to take victory as Swain, Nelson, and Russo battled to the line, with Swain finishing 2nd and Nelson 3rd.
motoDNA have just launched the new motoCHAMPION initiative, a world-first data driven motorcycling competition open to riders aged between 11 and under 16 aimed at finding and supporting the next generation of Australian MotoGP superstars.
The COVID-friendly competition harnesses the new motoDNA ‘Digital Academy’ technology, leveraging over a decade of rider data to analyse behaviours such as braking, steering and more, to measure, grade and coach competitors, helping improve core skills and elevate their riding ability.
It’s easy to take part – using a GoPro on your motorbike, riders can compete on any bike, on tarmac, on any tyres, on a Figure 8 layout from anywhere in Australia.
Upload a video of your best lap and motoDNA algorithm’s analyse your riding, grade your skills compared to the other riders and place you on the motoCHAMPION leaderboards. Visit https://motodna.com/motochampion/ to learn more, or to sign up.
Mark McVeigh – motoDNA CEO
“The development of young Aussie motorcycling talent has been impacted by COVID-19 restrictions so we’re happy to be able to facilitate a return to competition in the safest way possible. motoCHAMPION is stepping in to help our next generation by giving them a leg up and showing the world through riding data that our Aussie talent is world-class.”
motoCHAMPION has been launched in partnership with Motorcycling Australia, who are committed to developing riders through the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup (OJC) and the Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK). The OJC Academy is designed to open a pathway into junior road racing and through its development academy format, lift young motorcycling talent through national competition, setting them on a path to international success.
Peter Doyle – Motorcycling Australia CEO
“Developing and facilitating our next generation of riders is a key focus for Motorcycling Australia. We’re excited to be a part of motoCHAMPION in partnership with motoDNA which provides riders with an additional tool in their tool kit to further develop their riding technique and skills.”
The top prize is a sponsored place in the 2022 bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup, worth over $10,000. The top five motoCHAMPION riders will earn an automatic place in the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup selection event where they will have the chance to qualify for the 2022 season.
The competition will open on Monday, September 6 and entries will be accepted until Tuesday, November 30 with the winners decided on Friday, December 10. Visit https://motodna.com/motochampion/ to learn more, or to sign up.
motoCHAMPION is sponsored by Bendix, and will be a key part to the new partnership between motoDNA and Australia’s leading brake manufacturer.
George Kyriakopoulos – General Manager of Bendix
“As Australia’s leading brake brand, Bendix are proud to support the motoCHAMPION, and the development of our young Aussie talent. Bendix is now taking its stopping expertise to the two-wheeled category.”
Motorcycle riders will gradually see Bendix brake product become available for their bikes in the Australian market and also see an increased presence of the Bendix brand in the two-wheeled scene.
The 2022 Oceania Junior Cup is looking for racers to join Motorcycling Australia’s Junior Road Race Academy for 2022, competing on board an all-new Yamaha factory prepped YZF-R15, as part of Australia’s Road to MotoGP program.
Launched in 2019, the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup (OJC) provides some of the most spectacular racing in the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul (ASBK).
The OJC provides 20 riders with identical race machines, and victory comes down to a rider’s ability to get the most out of themselves and their Yamaha YZF-R15.
The focus of the OJC program is the development of junior riders, both on and off-track, providing riders with the skills and knowledge about training, nutrition, media and bike skills.
Riders receive race weekend technical and coaching support on how to get the best out of your Yamaha and yourself.
Full racing gear is supplied including OJC signature leathers by Ricondi, team uniform, helmets, boots and gloves.
A proven program, the OJC statistics speak for themselves:
50 different juniors have run through the OJC
5 have been selected for the Asia Talent Cup
1 has been selected for the Red Bull Rookies Cup
1 has gone on to be the Yamaha R3 Cup Champion
7 have competed internationally
11 Australian SS300/R3 Cup race wins
34 Australian SS300/R3 Cup Podiums
4 Australian SS300/R3 Cup Pole positions
12 Australian SS300/R3 Cup Front row starts
Supported by the FIM, FIM Oceania and officially named a Road to MotoGP program with the support of Dorna Sports, the Motorcycling Australia Junior Road Race Academy, the Oceania Junior Cup is waiting for you.
Expressions of interest for 2022 are now being accepted online at the ASBK website (link).
Motorcycling Australia (MA) is proud to announced expressions of interest are now open for motorcycle riders aged 11 to under-16-year-old to be considered for the 2021 Oceania Junior Cup (OJC).
The OJC Junior development program made its debut in 2019 and is Australia’s premier junior road racing academy, officially recognised by the FIM and Dorna, as part of the Road to MotoGP program.
Riders are provided with a race-prepped Yamaha YZF-R15 bikes, equipped with Pirelli tyres, Öhlins suspension, RK chains, Motul oil, Ricondi Motorcycle Apparel leathers and gloves, AGV helmets, TCX boots, round entries, transportation of bikes, pre-event service of bikes, technical support, spare parts budget, and Oceania Junior Cup team uniform.
Riders competing in the 2021 championship will receive elite coaching to help develop their bike skills and technique, health and fitness, sportsmanship, and off-track activities such as media and fan engagement.
The OJC, which featured as part of the 2020 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul, was also part of the Australian round for the World Superbike (WorldSBK) and was scheduled to be a feature race at this year’s MotoGP at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.
“Motorcycling Australia are committed to developing Australia’s junior talent on the Road to MotoGP, aimed at developing Australia’s next national talent and international champion,” said MA Operations Director Martin Port.
“Our current riders come from a multitude of disciplines including road, speedway, motocross, enduro and dirt track.
“Every bike is identical, there are no haves and have nots in the OJC program.
“The racing is spectacular, and victory comes down to a rider’s ability to get the most out of himself or herself.
“But winning isn’t everything in the OJC program, our focus is the development of these juniors, both on and off the track.
“It’s about learning, developing as a rider and opening up opportunities.”
Dorna are the commercial rights holders and promoters of MotoGP, the Superbike World Championship and Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup. Dorna has also co-organized the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup since its inception in 2007. Their endorsement is a significant development and adds the OJC to the esteemed list of Dorna Road to MotoGP programs around the world.
Dorna’s commitment has already seen OJC riders qualify for the 2020 Asia Talent Cup Selection Event, and cements MA’s objective to develop clear pathways for junior road racers in the Oceania region. Additionally, selected riders from the OJC were provided the opportunity of participating in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Selection Event in 2019.