Next Gen Motorsports headed stateside last weekend in their much-anticipated wildcard entry to the Laguna Seca World Superbike event.

CycleOnline spoke to Glenn Allerton just prior to him boarding a plane back to Australia, and caught up on how the team fared against the cream of the crop.

Next Gen Motorsports turned out an immaculately-presented BMW for their venture to Laguna Seca. Image: Toby Lynch.

Tell us about the leadup to the event. We know you jetted over there quite late as you had a ride day to attend over there, bring us up to speed about how you were able to settle in.

The conditions probably weren’t ideal and I would have liked to have been here a bit earlier and I ended up getting a bit sick when I got here. I don’t think it affected us too much. It was a very tough weekend, obviously a bit more difficult than I expected. I had goals of achieving top 10 but yeah look it didn’t come together. It was a quality field with quality bikes, and yeah you’ve still got it your best shot. The goal is to be in World Superbikes and a rider you just give it everything. It was still a fun weekend, I pushed myself pretty hard to try to get up into the group and fight but it just wasn’t to be this time.

The first race ended up being split into three parts due to the red flags. Talk us through your first WSBK race at Laguna Seca and how you managed those interruptions.

I actually went okay in the first part before it was red-flagged. There was a group there that I was racing in and then there was the first red flag. I was in a group of guys again and there was the second red flag and, then the third time was just a 12-lap all out sprint. I made a little mistake on that first lap and just lost touch with that group and ended up finishing 16th. It wasn’t too bad but obviously we moved up there because of the crashes.

Sunday’s second race went the full distance, start to finish. Can you fill us in on your progress and any improvements you were able to find from race one?

Sunday’s race I felt like I got a really good start and I got by a couple of guys. On the second lap I was going pretty well but made a little mistake just before turn six as you go up the hill and ran off the track. It’s actually a track where you stop and point and shoot a lot, and the electronics and extra power of the World Superbikes really helped. For me to watch them ride around in front of me showed me how good their electronics are and the technology they’ve got which makes it a lot easier.

It was a good learning experience. It’s not going to shy me away from trying to get there at all. I think when the EVO rules come in and some of those electronics are gone, as far as EVO championship goes, will level up the field a bit and make for some really interesting racing.

Allerton checks in with his crew during a pit stop in practice.

There was plenty of work done on the Next Gen BMW after your earlier wildcard at Phillip Island. There’s no direct comparison as these are vastly different tracks, but how did you feel these changes contributed to the handling and power?

The boys did a lot of work on the bike. All the things we wanted to fix, top end power and that and the weight, well Laguna is a pretty short, sharp track and a place maybe you’re better off with a bit less power to make it easier to ride off the corners. But it still was a better bike, really powerful, which probably made it a bit harder to ride than I was used to, but you’ve got to just take it as it is and make the best of it.

But yes, I’m disappointed with the result because we were so far away from the leaders’ pace, but next time they come to Phillip Island I’m sure I’ll get another chance to race them on home turf, and hopefully in the EVO class, so I’ll have a really good chance to get to the front of that class.

You’re boarding a flight back to Australia now, and it’s back onto the HP4 for the final ASBK round. What’s the plan of attack heading to Phillip Island?

My aim is to try to go out there and get pole position and win both races. Wayne’s going to be really strong at Phillip Island, as he has always been, but I had a really good outing there last time. I think the key to my success is doing the best that I can, but I’m going to need some luck on my side. All I can do is focus on myself, and try to reach the maximum level, and wherever the chips fall in the end they fall.

We’ve had a pretty good year. We had such a strong start but then have had some hiccups along the way so it’d be really good for me and the team to finish on a high point.