Features 10 Oct 2013

Race Recap: Daniel Falzon

Australia's newest Supersport champion reflects on the season that was in 2013.

Daniel Falzon is one of Australia’s brightest emerging talents, now a two-time national champion after clinching the 2013 Australian Supersport Championship last Sunday at Phillip Island.

At just 19, Falzon has speed, consistency and professionalism on his side, with championship results on his resume to back it up.

CycleOnline.com.au contributor Russell Colvin caught up with Falzon this week to debrief season 2013 and fine out what’s in store for next year.

Daniel Falzon won the 2013 Australian Supersport Championship on Sunday. Image: Andrew Gosling/TBG Sport.

Daniel Falzon won the 2013 Australian Supersport Championship on Sunday. Image: Andrew Gosling/TBG Sport.

You’re last year’s Australian Superstock 600 Champion, and you’re this year’s Supersport champion at your first attempt. Did you think when you won the opening round at Phillip Island that you could clinch the title as a rookie?

Definitely not. When we first came to Phillip Island at the World Superbikes we had the expectation to get top seven and we would be happy after seeing the entry list. I’m a realest. I didn’t want to set myself up for disappointment at the start of the year.

So I set obtainable goals and at every round we have hit those. After winning round one, it gave me so much confidence going into round two and then I knew when Darwin came up that we could really push for a win there.

Once we won there it gave me such great confidence for the last round because 20 points is something to really fall back on if something did go wrong.

From the outside, it looks as if it has been a lot of hard work for you on track. From your point of view, has it been hard? How would you describe your season?

It has been very difficult, that’s for sure. Certain tracks have suited certain tyre manufacturers, so to keep up at some tracks it was difficult, but to pull away at other tracks it was easier. I love the Dunlop tyre though.

I think we are the only one left in the top five, even more, who are on Dunlops – they worked for me and I loved them, so we were really happy with that. At the last round, I think Aaron [Morris] was trying to play some mind games with me, but that’s alright, we played them back and we were smart.

We didn’t get the round win, but we did get the championship win and that’s all that everyone remembers.

You did mention Aaron Morris, who has obviously been your main challenger for this year. Who else has been rivals of yours this year?

Well anyone who has really been up there. Michael Blair for example, he has been quite consistent this year and has been up there all year. He won both races at Queensland, which proved as a bit of a threat.

But we managed to pull 30 points on him in Darwin, which was handy because come to the last round we had 43 points on him. It was really down to a show between myself and Aaron. We stood out a bit more during the year.

There was only the three of us who won races throughout the year. Aaron won a few, Michael won a few, I won a few, so I would regard Aaron and Michael to be my biggest rivals for the year.

Falzon celebrates his title with Dunlop motorcycle and motorsport manager Ken Wieden. Image: Andrew Gosling/TBG Sport.

Falzon celebrates his title with Dunlop motorcycle and motorsport manager Ken Wieden. Image: Andrew Gosling/TBG Sport.

You’re only 19 years old and already a two-time Aussie champion. What will we see Daniel Falzon doing in 2014? Will you line up on the supersport grid again and try and go back-to-back titles or will you jump up to Superbikes?

As far as we know I will be staying in Supersport next year. I love racing 600s and the Caterpillar/EPSA Yamaha R6 is a brilliant bike, as you can see with the results. I’m really enjoying it and that is the main thing for us. The competition is great!

We will look forward to maybe getting a better deal with Yamaha for next year. You never know really, we haven’t had any offers yet for next season. If something does come up and it looks good, whether its Superbike or Supersport, we will definitely consider anything.

Which championship means more to you? Your Superstock 600 or Supersport?

That’s a hard question, but I am going to have to say Supersport means a bit more just because it is one of Australia’s two premier series. It was a lot harder than the Superstock category – that was more of an entry level to the Supersport.

I did find the Superstock title a bit easier because I did have such a commanding lead throughout the season. In Supersport, every single round was under 10 points up until Darwin that I had on second position.

Every round we were making one to two points on second place, so that really did keep me on my toes the whole year and any small mishap would prove very bad for our championship. To come out with the championship win is incredible for us.

And we have had so many people put in heaps of effort this year and I’m just ever so grateful to everyone that has helped me this year. It’s a team effort and I could never have done it without all of the support.

Those supporters include Caterpillar, EPSA, Berik Leathers, Shark helmets, IPONE, Ken Wieden from Dunlop, Yamaha Pitman, Liam Wilkinson, my brother Jon, parents, girlfriend Sarah and Tony from Race Bike Services.

One final question. What’s your highlight for 2013?

Without a doubt it would have to be Darwin. Darwin has always been a very special place for me. Seeing I don’t have a home round in South Australia, which I can have a track advantage, I would class Darwin as my home track. Only because it’s a level playing field for every competitor. Seeing it’s no one’s home track, I’m going to call it my home track.

In 2011 when we first started our Superstock campaign it was really where I started to get faster. I got my first podium in ASBK, then in 2012 we came there and cleaned up just like what we did in Supersport this year.

We got the lap record, pole position and double race win which was really beneficial for our championship which let me relax a little bit in the final round.

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