Current Yamaha Motor Finance R3 Cup championship leader Callum Alderson is a somewhat ‘different’ character in the Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) paddock. CycleOnline.com.au went and found out a little bit more about this 18-year-old who hails from Cockatoo in Victoria to see what makes him tick.

Image: Russell Colvin.

My Way

Greatest moment of your career?

To date it would have to be getting accepted into the Red Bull Rookies Cup trail in 2013 at Monteblanco in Spain.

Toughest race ever?

It would have to be Morgan Park this in the last race of the Production. The whole weekend I was in front of Brandon [Demmery], then he found some pace and was just making it difficult for me to get away from him. I started to manage to get a gap. It was just hard, as I really wanted to get three from three and just hose him completely. It was a tough race as we we’re struggling with set-up because we made a few changes in the wrong direction, possibly. However I managed to hold on to the win get over the line in P1!

Long-term goal?

Ideally I would like to ride in World Supersport in the next five years or so. Just smashing away at it, then ride in World Superbikes or possibly Moto2. Or if that wasn’t to pan out ride in a factory team here in the ASBK such as Yamaha Racing Team (YRT).

Favourite track?

Probably Barbagallo Raceway. Purely because I went there with no knowledge of the circuit at all. I didn’t even walk the track as I ran out of time as it got dark. I went out in the first few sessions and broke the lap record and continued to dominate the races that I finished, even though I crashed out in the first race. I managed to hose them in the next two races after that.

Arch-rival?

I would have to say Brando. We but heads a little bit. We are both good riders, he is fast in his own bits and I am fast in my own bits. Then off the track we don’t quite see eye to eye, but at the same time we can still be friends.

If you weren’t a racer, you would be?

If I wasn’t a racer, I would be that kid you see at the Milk Bar with his razor scooter, that everyone keeps their kids away from.

Greatest inspiration?

Valentino Rossi! Ever since I started watching motorcycle racing I have always liked his showmanship. On top of that he was winning races at the same time.

Superstitions?

I have two actually. I like to get on the bike from the left hand side. I don’t know why, it’s just more comfortable. The other one is, if I have a set of earplugs and I do a real fast lap time I like to keep them for the rest of the weekend.

Training methods?

Gym, six days a week without a doubt.

Off the Wall

Non bike-related hobbies?

Hanging out with my mates and doing up my car.

What car do you drive?

Currently drive a 1999 BMW 318i. It’s a beast!

What’s on the iPod?

Believe it or not, I actually don’t have any music at the moment.

Best thing about racing in Australia?

I’m not a big fan of the travel. However I do like knowing everyone in the paddock, as it’s a very tight community.

Who will win WorldSBK this year?

That’s a no-brainer, Jonathan Rea. He’s a mad dog as well, he has an Aussie wife.

And MotoGP?

I want to say Rossi, but it’s going to be Marc Marquez. He is just hosing them at the moment.

Tell us something we don’t know about you?

I’m a gardener. I mow people’s lawns for money… Got to earn your money somehow.

First and Last

First bike?

A 2003 JR 50 and got it when I was five years old.

First proper injury?

I’ve never broken a bone, touch-wood. However when I was nine I was airlifted to the Royal Children’s Hospital because they thought I broke my back. That was at the mini moto nationals at Warrnambool.

First time you got in a fight?

Probably in grade one, as you do.

Last holiday?

Spain in 2013 when I went over for the Red Bull Rookies Cup trail.

Last big crash you had?

Last year at Phillip Island at the interclub meeting on the Supersport bike. Crashed at the Hayshed. It was really windy and cold and had no front grip. I simply tucked the front-end and threw the bike away into the gravel trap.

One or the Other

Faster circuits or more technical circuits?

I’m a 300 rider, so I would have to say more technical circuits.

Monster or Red Bull?

Red Bull. I just like the taste better.

PC or Mac?

Mac for sure! I’m not a scrub [Laughs].

McDonalds or KFC?

KFC. You can’t go past the 24 nuggets for 10 bucks!

MotoGP or WorldSBK?

MotoGP at the moment because I know more of the riders. I’m not just guessing who they are.

Print or digital magazines?

Print. You can’t go past the old paper cuts!

Blonde or brunette?

[Long pause] good question, I’ll both, I’m not picky… I’ll have both at the same time.