Features 13 Dec 2016

Five Questions Why: Brayden Elliott

ASBK rookie standout set to travel overseas for BSB challenge in 2017.

After winning the 2015 Australian Supersport Championship, Brayden Elliott moved up to the Superbike category this year and got stronger as the year progressed. Suzuki-mounted Elliott finished sixth in the standings with a race podium to his credit at Winton and Phillip Island’s GP supports, while also gaining experience in MotoAmerica during the season. Now, for 2017, Elliott will head to the British Superstock 1000 series with CF Motorsport riding a Yamaha YZF-R1. CycleOnline.com.au contacted him for this month’s Five Questions Why.

Image: Keith Muir.

Image: Keith Muir.

Why have you decided to head overseas for 2017?

It’s something that I put a hell of a lot of thought into, but in the end I felt it was the best decision for my career and myself. To race on the world stage has been my goal and my dream my whole life and I assessed every situation, so I think going to the British championship will put me one step closer to reaching my ultimate goal. I just wanted to take another step forward in my career and keep on improving.

Why the British Superstock 1000 series?

I did a lot of looking around first and obviously did those races in America this year, so I looked there as well, but the British championship is rated as one of the toughest domestic championships in the world. People realise that it’s got a lot of recognition how tough it is, so if you do well there’s not too many levels higher before jumping onto European Superstock or the World Superbike Championship. In terms of Superstock 1000, it’s good because it’s similar to what I’ve been racing in Australia, so even though I will be on a Yamaha, the modifications will be really similar. It’s also a good class that gets plenty of racing, which will allow me to learn the tracks without the pressure of going straight into the Superbike class.

Why did CF Motorsport become the best option?

I’d started talking to Craig [Fitzpatrick] back when I was doing Supersport and he contacted me after I won that championship. We’ve just been in contact on and off ever since really. His team seems fairly similar to ours, the way it’s family-run and orientated, so I like that side of it – I’m not just another number, being the rider. I think he personally will look after me, he sounds like a genuine guy, and Chris Vermeulen has been big behind the scenes in recommending Craig, giving me some background information there. Also, Craig has obviously had some great results with his team and it’s a proven package, so hopefully they can offer me a bike and environment where I can keep improving, working with each-other to keep moving forward.

Image: Alex Gobert (Foremost Media).

Image: Alex Gobert (Foremost Media).

Why are you confident you can do well overseas?

Finishing the season the way we did here in Australia, the few podiums definitely upped my confidence levels, and being able to work with Phil [Tainton] and [Shawn Giles] Gilesy the last couple of years has been amazing. I definitely still have a lot to learn, but all the information and everything I’ve learned will put me in a good position to go overseas. I feel like going into another team I can probably give pretty good feedback and everything else, where maybe other riders struggle. Apart from that, I feel like I’m in a pretty good stage of my career and life to make the move. It’s obviously going to be tough and everyone’s told me the obstacles and challenges involved, but I’m sort of looking at that as a bit of a positive. I know the tracks are tight, twisty and technical, but most of my best races have been on those types of tracks – hopefully the layouts suit me. I don’t think offers to go into a team as good as Craig’s come around all the time and that will be another reason why I can succeed. Fitness-wise, mentally and everything else, I’m probably at the best point of my career to go over and give it a crack. It wouldn’t be a move I’d commit to if I didn’t think I could do it, because I think I can overcome the challenges and make it work.

Why will you miss racing the ASBK?

I definitely reckon I will. Probably the main thing will be racing with my family, because I’ve done it my whole life and I’ve never actually raced the motorbike where either my mum or dad haven’t been there. Just as much as it’s been my life, it’s been theirs, so not being in the ASBK with them by my side will be a huge change. Obviously the friendship that I’ve had with Phil and Gilesy, all their help has been huge and I will definitely miss that. At the moment ASBK is on the rise for sure, so seeing it keep building and progressing, it would have been nice to be part of that rise. I also feel like if I stayed another year I could’ve had a fair crack at it, kept improving, but worst case scenario later in my career if things don’t work or if I don’t like it overseas, I could come home and do what I was doing before. I was a little bit worried that if I stayed for another couple of years, the chances of me staying for good were probably going to be pretty high.

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