After a seven-year hiatus from national competition, Sean Condon made a commanding Supersport return at the third round of the 2022 Mi-Bike Australian Superbike Championship at Wakefield Park. Riding as a fill-in for Tom Edwards at Bikebiz Yamaha, Condon impressed by qualifying in pole position and finishing second overall in Goulburn. CycleOnline caught up with the returning contender to get his Fast Thoughts on a variety of topics.

Image: Foremost Media.

Your 2022 return at Wakefield Park…

As soon as Tommy [Tom Edwards] found out he was going overseas, the [Bikebiz] team asked me if I wanted to ride the bike because it was just going to be sitting there.

The seven-year gap between now and your last national competition outing…

I just started focussing on actual work [laughs]. I started a business two years ago, so I got out of my old man’s bike shop, I got out of BikeBiz, and started working with machines. That is pretty much all I have done. I started a company, my own excavation business, just life. Back to sort of normality, which for most people is working for a living and not riding.

Changes in Supersport machinery over the last 10 years… 

It’s a whole different motorcycle. I rode a 2010-2011 R6, and the rules that we were allowed back then, were superstock, it wasn’t a supersport bike. Standard rear shock, no computer, you were allowed to flash the ECU and we had to run control Dunlop treaded tyres, no quick-shifter, they were just a superstock bike. The bikes themselves, the new R6 handles a lot better, with the R1 front end. It’s a completely different motorcycle, from handling, power and the way you can set the thing up. In saying that, I can’t really delve into too much because it’s been ten years since I’ve rode an R6.

Image: Foremost Media.

The results you achieved at Wakefield…

I didn’t really know what to expect, I didn’t really set any expectations. I knew I could probably push up the front, and get some speed. I didn’t set any goals or expectations except to go out and have fun and enjoy being back in the paddock. In the back of my mind, I knew I could still ride a motorcycle, it was my fitness that I was more concerned of.

A full-time return to racing if the right opportunity arises… 

100 percent. I got injured seven years ago with my shoulder, and that is sort of what stopped it all. Then I just thought about life a bit different. I have always missed it, there hasn’t been a day that has gone by where I haven’t missed being on a motorcycle and racing. If the opportunity arose, 100 percent I would take the ball and run.

Further Supersport outings this season…

If the bike is just sitting there, and Bikebiz is prepared to help out, then I would definitely do it. There’s no ifs or buts about that – if I was offered to do it again. Like I miss it, and I would love… I feel like I have unfinished business in the sport – it ended pretty dramatically. I didn’t even try and come back. So for me, I do feel like I have some unfinished business, and I would love to give it another crack for a full season, ideally on a superbike, but a 600 would be great as well. I know if I put my head down and arse up I could still ride up the front.