It’s been a heck of a start to the season for SA Kawasaki BCperformance’s Ben Burke, claiming a podium finish at the recent second round of the 2016 Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK). Although he’s primarily focused on the Australasian Superbike series, Burke sits fourth in the ASBK standings at this point of the season. CycleOnline.com.au spoke to him about his early 2016 form.

Image: Russell Colvin.

Ben, well done on the podium at Wakefield Park. It seems like you’re making a bit of a habit of these post-race interviews. It’s a great start to your 2016 ASBK season…

Yeah, the result was good, unfortunately I didn’t test here, so I just didn’t have the pace. There wasn’t enough time for me to get the gearing right and I’m still riding around problems even in that last race. It was frustrating that I should have been a lot closer to the front leaders than I was. However I kept my noise clean and that is what mattered this weekend. It was a pretty action packed weekend. There were a lot of guys getting taken out and making pretty big mistakes. I’m glad I wasn’t one of them and I got good points for the series. I just have to make sure I’m on it for the rest of the season.

I know the SA Kawasaki BCperformance team is focusing primarily on the ASC series, but for you will we see you at more ASBK rounds?

I’m going to do my very best to do the full series for the year. We have got contract commitments with ASC, so you are going to see me at every round there. It just comes down to budget and if I can make it to every round of the ASBK I will.

Image: Russell Colvin.

So this is a bit more of a privateer effort in terms of the ASBK?

Yeah, very much. Anything to do with the ASBK I’ll be doing by myself. The other boys can’t make it to do both series. I’m in the position where I can hopefully get across the line – it’s all going to be a family effort and back to basics.

Well the end result makes it all worthwhile, well done.

It does. Thank you very much.