News 11 Oct 2017

Power increase the biggest learning curve for Collins in Superbike debut

Premier class outing fuels full-time ambitions for 2018.

Image: Marc Jones.

Newly-crowned Australian Supersport champion Ted Collins say his biggest learning curve from his Superbike debut last weekend at Phillip Island’s final round of the Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) was adjusting to the significant power increase of the premier class machine.

Collins, who dominated the Supersport class to wrap up the title a round early, raced to a 14-16 scorecard at the popular Victorian venue, crediting him 16th overall for the weekend aboard the Next Gen Motorsports backed BMW S 1000 RR.

“It’s a bit obvious I guess, but the power of the bike was the the thing I founded the hardest [to learn],” Collins explained to CycleOnline.com.au. “The Supersport bike is all about getting 100 percent throttle as soon as you could – you can get on the throttle hard on the side of the tyre and it’s okay.

“On the Superbike, you really need to stand the bike up and get it onto that fat part of the tyre to be able to use the power. The BMW has an extreme amount of power, and the main thing was me telling myself not to ride it like a Supersport bike.

“Every time I got into a little battle or push a little harder, I’d go back to my normal way of riding – that’s something to work on over the off-season and hopefully by the time round one come next year that will be the normal way of riding for me.”

After experiencing his first taste on the Superbike, the youthful talent is adamant that it’s a step he wants to make full-time in 2018.

“It’s definitely what I want to do,” he continued. “I’m just hoping we can get a plan in place so I’m able to race a Superbike next year.”

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