Yamaha Racing Team rider Rick Olson recently added the 2010 FX600 Australian Formula Xtreme Championship to his resume after edging to the title at Eastern Creek in New South Wales.

Entering the 2010 Formula Xtreme Championship season, many expected Yamaha Racing Team teammate Kevin Curtain to cruise to a pair of championships in the FX1000 and FX600 classes respectively.

But it was Olson who came up the big surprise of the season, beating Curtain to the FX600 title by two points after an epic five-round tussle, adding the crown to the Superstock 600 title he won in 2009.

MotoOnline.com.au gave Olson a call to chat about his latest title and to find out what’s next for the talented teenager.

Yamaha Racing Team's Rick Olson is one of the brightest up and coming talents in Australian road racing. Image: Keith Muir.

Rick, first of all, congratulations on the FX600 title this year. Good job!

Thanks, yeah it was good. It has finally sunk in, so it’s good that all the pressure is off now!

I guess Curtain was the favourite going into the series but you were able to beat him. Did that surprise you at all, or were you expecting to win all along?

Well at the start of the year before the first round I was really confident that I was in with a shot, but after the Supersport round at Phillip Island and how good Kev was riding there, I thought it was probably a long shot.

At that point I thought second was probably all we could get, but as the year went on and I started to get some wins, I kind of felt that we could get there if we kept pushing.

You added the championship to the ASBK Superstock 600 title that you won in 2009, so do you feel as though you’ve improved even further this year?

Yeah, I definitely improved a lot this year over last year. Racing with somebody like Kevin drags you along and you learn where you need to push, to go with him, so it definitely lifts your game and makes you learn a lot more.

Being part of YRT on the official factory team must have been good this year. How have you enjoyed being a factory guy?

Yeah, it’s been really good actually. They’re all really good guys and are really relaxed, so that helps a lot. Going in I was really nervous about performing, but they made me feel really comfortable. If you make a mistake like have a crash or something, they support you and help you through it. YRT is a good team to work with and they’ve got the bikes in the R6 – it has to be the best 600 out there.

Olson wrapped up the FX600 by just two points over Kevin Curtain at Eastern Creek's finale. Image: Keith Muir.

We have the Summer Series coming up, so will you stay on the 600 for that and try to get another title?

I’d like to have a go on the 1000, but it’s up to Yamaha and I haven’t heard anything, so as far as I know I’ll be on the 600. We’ll see what happens, either way I’m happy.

As far as next year goes, is the plan to stay with Yamaha another year and try to get that opportunity on the R1?

For sure I would like to stay with Yamaha and if an offer to ride the 1000 comes up then I’ll be there to take it. We’ll wait and see on that one too I guess!

Okay well congratulations again, good luck in the Summer Series.

Thanks, I appreciate it.