Features 2 Feb 2016

Profiled: Glenn Scott

Aussie World Supersport regular previews 2016 season.

Australian’s Glenn Scott says that he wants to be ambitious this year and would definitely want to finish well within the top 10 of this year’s FIM World Supersport Championship.

The 24-year-old from New South Wales will this year saddle up aboard a Honda CBR600RR with Team Lorini Italia Honda for the 13-round championship. As the curtain raiser at Phillip Island gets ever so closer, Scott says there is a lot going on at the moment.

“We’re trying to find as much sponsorship as possible and I’m still hard at work earning money in the family business,” said the 2013 Australian Superbike Privateer Cup winner. “I’m working there while I’m back in Australia to earn money for travels for when I’m back in Europe. On top of that I’m putting my training regime around my twelve hours of work.”

Throw in talking with sponsors and the team in terms of getting his gear sorted, it just goes to show the hard work that our Aussie internationals have to put in behind the scenes.

“I’m liaising with the team and getting prepped for the test at Phillip Island and also a bit of forward plaining getting to and from Thailand. It’s all going pretty smoothly, but there is a big work load involved,” explained Scott.

Image: Russell Colvin.

Image: Russell Colvin.

Scott has not yet met his new team since he has signed on the dotted line, but he was hoping to go testing at the end of January with Team Lorini Italia Honda.

“Unfortunately the weather was not looking on our side in terms of temperature wise,” he added. “It’s been pretty cold in Europe and on top of that the team were on the limit to try and get the bike ready. So we decided to not go ahead with it and just make sure we are 100% prepared come Phillip Island.”

This is not phasing Scott at all, as he does believe he will be a lot more prepared than what he was last year: “I’m looking forward to meeting the team and getting on with the job come the test at Phillip Island.”

It goes without saying that the test is going to be ever so important for Scott. It will be a crucial part of his season to get familiar with the team and the mechanics that he’ll be working with.

“Obviously it’s going to be quite different from my team last year,” he continued. “I’ll just have to work out how they do things and how we communicate. Then obviously learn the bike itself. Of course it’s going to be a Honda CBR600RR which is great for me in terms it’s going to be very similar to last year. However we have new rules under us, so the bike will be slightly different. The bike will be a bit of a step up from last year, so I’m excited by that.”

With the new rules changes for 2016, Scott is quite excited by it, as he thinks it will be a bit more suited to him with less modifications.

“I think what Dorna have done in regards to the rules is a good thing and really smart,” Scott said. “It has brought a lot of riders to the class and brought a lot teams up from Superstock, which will make this year’s World Supersport a lot more competitive, which is great.”

For riders such as Scott who has not had a lot of experience with traction control, launch control and other little gadgets it should work in his favour: “I have ridden bikes for a lot of years without all the electronics, so I’m quite happy with how the rules are heading.”

As mentioned, Scott is pinning his hopes on a top 10 finish in this year’s FIM World Supersport Championship and says finishing in the top 10 from race to race consistently is going to be very important to do.

Image: Russell Colvin.

Image: Russell Colvin.

“If you look at the team which I’m with, the results which they have had in the past they have always been between that fifth place and 10th,” he reflected. “So that is what I have to aim for because I know the bike is capable of doing that.”

However what are his goals for his home round come the last weekend of February at the 4.445km seaside circuit? Without seeing the bike and meeting the team it’s a hard call to make for Scott, but straight off the bat he is striving for top eight result which would be a very strong start to his season.

“I do know the track well, but I have not ridden at Phillip Island since the first race last year,” he continued. “I know Phillip Island from the previous years and I probably know it better than some of the European tracks. It’s kind of an advantage, but not really.”

The biggest advantage for Scott will be the fact that he will have his family and friends, along with us fellow Aussie race fans lining the fence lines cheering for Scott and the other Australian contenders.

“I’ll be quite relaxed at Phillip Island as I’ll be comfortable with my surroundings that’s for sure,” he concluded.

To keep up to date with Scott’s endeavours, you can follow him on his Facebook Page at Glenn Scott Racing or his website via www.glennscott.com.au. Companies interesting in sponsoring Scott’s World Supersport challenge can support him via a GoFundMe page at this link.

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