Interview by Andrew Harbron, pictures by Toby Stokes.
Since we last spoke to 22 year old Australian Brendan Robert’s, a lot has changed in his racing life. Just thirteen months ago, Brendan was leading the BSB Metzeler National Superstock Series on his Gixxer and had just taken his fifth win of the season, broke a lap record and got pole position at Oulton Park. He went on the secure the championship with 216 points, six race wins and eight podium finishes, not bad for a seasons racing eh!
Brendan has spent the beginning of this season riding for Ducati Xerox Junior Team in the European Superstock 1000 FIM Cup on the brand new Ducati 1098. This year is his first full year after competing in only six races last year. Out of the last six races this season he has won once, and is ninth in the championship with 52 points.
He received a serious wrist injury earlier in the season in Almeria and regardless of the damage Brendan has fought hard to get it back to race fit. It was announced in June this year that as well as riding for the Ducati Xerox Junior Team, Brendan was join forces with the Buildbase Ducati Team for the rest of the season, in the National Superstock Championship.
Brendan even managed to secure a memorable win in the European Championship in the pouring rain at Silverstone, showing that he’s still up there with the best.
Our very own Andrew and Toby caught up with Brendan in the Buildbase Ducati truck recently to see how he’s getting on going from a in-line four to a twin, and how that wrist of his is holding up.
Andrew: So Brendan, for your fans on Londonbikers.com, tell us about the season so far - I know you’re running in European Superstock, so why not start there.
Brendan: Started testing in Valencia mid January and they went pretty well. It was a standard road bike (the 1098) with some suspension work done to shake it down, seeing what was going to break, what the score was with it
Andrew: Well in mid-Jan the 1098 was brand new wasn’t it?
Brendan: Yeah that’s it, the bike was a bare road bike and I had to learn how to ride a Ducati.
Andrew: Have you been on a twin before?
Brendan: No first time so…
Andrew: Is it staggeringly different, I mean from the point of view as a race bike?
Brendan: Oh yeah, the power is quite different - it’s a little down on power (compared to the others). The riding style and chassis have to set up so accurately so you can carry as much corner speed as possible otherwise you’re going nowhere.
Andrew: So it’s lacking the pull out of the corners?
Brendan: Exactly, so you’ve got to take that speed with you through the corner.
Andrew: Does the fabled extra torque of a twin make up for that?
Brendan: No, I mean it doesn’t make much difference except that you’ve got to be switched on a bit and ride within the torque or there’s nothing - you’ll be going nowhere. Like all bikes, you’ve got to stay within the boundaries of the bike or you’ll struggle.
Andrew: So I guess it’s the chassis that makes the biggest difference to the Gixxer (last year Brendan ran a K6 Thou that he spannered).
Brendan: Yes it’s that that makes for the different riding style.
Andrew: Did it feel like all your Christmas’ had come at once when you signed up for a big team instead of working out of a van and a tent, doing everything yourself?
Brendan: Yes, that was a big thing to get used to, but it’s cool and, so easy to get used to!
Andrew: Guess the whole “going to Valencia in January for testing” was a little out the norm too!
Brendan: Ha-ha yes, that was special and I was quite nervous at the start but the two days went well…
Andrew: How was your Dad about it all? Was he excited? (Brendan’s Dad helped him get started and has been a constant support from Australia)
Brendan: Yeah, yeah… He’s been ok (surely an understatement?) I mean he’s saving a bit in the pocket now!
Andrew: Hope you are starting to pay him back now……
Brendan: Haha, yeah I can now a bit.
Andrew: Does he, or has he come over to see you?
Brendan: No, no not yet, but it’s just as well since it all went tits up at Almeria!
Andrew: Christ yeah, how is it (the wrist) now?
Brendan: Getting better now, but it’s been five months. It’s the finger movement that I’ve lost
Andrew: And your strength in the arm - I mean it must keep you out of the gym?
Brendan: Yeah the arm’s pretty weak; I can only do about two push-ups!
Andrew: Hell, I can only do two push-ups when I’m fit, DOH!
Brendan: He, he…
Andrew: By Christ, you’re almost a normal man again, a mere mortal! So are there pins in there?
Brendan: Yeah a couple, one holding the bone together and another one holding, well it’s the bone that all the ligaments are connected to so the other pin is holding the stitches for that together. The ligaments were pulled off the bone when it popped out in the crash. So I tore that, there’s some nerve damage too - I mean I can touch it here (points to side of hand and small finger) and I can’t really feel it.
Andrew: Yeughhh... So were you worried that might be it for your racing career?
Brendan: No, no... well I didn’t know that was the problem at the time. When I crashed I was like; f..king hell! What am I doing? It’s like two weeks to Donington, so shit it’s over”. Then five minutes later I’m thinking… nah, broken wrist? In two weeks I‘ll be fine, pinned and plated I‘ll be away no problem. (My eyes bulged at this attitude)
But then we got to Almeria hospital and they’re like, “No, you’ll need an operation straightaway!” because the blood-flow to the hand had been cut off so it was a pretty serious thing. (Presumably tissue rot would be the problem). Guess it was touch and go for a while there, my hand was just blue like a dead persons hand. I think that’s why there’s still so much wrong with it now.
Andrew: I gather you’ve just had a massage to help with the tightness… (Suppressing a smirk)
Brendan: Yeah it was all right, nearly fell asleep in that ten minute session just gone!
(For the record the Superstock riders had to complete a 10min ‘warm up’ at 5.50pm before the track closed.)
Andrew: So, how were the first few races? (European SS series)
Brendan: Well I spectated at Donington and did a few laps at Valencia because it’s part of the rules - I didn’t want them putting someone else on the bike so I had to ride for a bit.
Andrew: Was it strapped up, or injected?
Brendan: Yeah it still is… For Valencia, Assen and Monza I had injections.
Andrew: So that’s the ‘famous injections’ we hear about riders having to push back the pain barrier?
Brendan: That’ll be the one, and it’s pretty good but it wears off through the session or race so it gets painful - sometimes like pain I’ve never felt before. (Think about that readers’, he’s riding a bike flat out while experiencing pain that would likely confine us to bed.)
Andrew: So you just have to work through it, ride through it? Otherwise you might as well come in off the track?
Brendan: That’s the thing, you’ve just gotta ignore it. Silverstone was the first race that I didn’t have an injection for. The injections aren’t good for you and made me sick before every race.
Andrew: Are they steroids?
Brendan: Nah they’re painkillers, really strong ones. They make you chuck your guts up shortly after having them which is of course just before the race. So, at Silverstone the race was wet so I figured since it won’t be 100% power I might not need it. I did take other tablets to try and keep the inflammation down which helped although there’s still something on the side here that’s not right (points at lump by the wrist opposite his thumb).
Andrew: Silverstone, yes I remember that race. I was stood at Becketts in the rain watching for you coming around but didn’t recognise the helmet. Guess the race went ok?
Brendan: Two guys crashed out so I went from the 13th position on the grid to 11th off the line, then I was fourth into turn one. I knew I had to get up with the leaders straight away, I mean at Valencia Pirro (who took the lead here) was smoking in the wet so I couldn’t let him get away - if he got a break he’d be able to sit comfortably. So I pushed to get into second on the first lap and I was a second behind him. Then I chipped away at that until I was past him. Then I made a few mistakes trying too hard to get away from him - we were both on the limit - and then he got past me. So I decided to sit on him and he put the hammer down! We were both setting faster and faster laps until he binned it with a couple of laps to go.
Andrew: So, the champagne must have been sweet - to justify the struggle of the season so far?
Brendan: Yeah well I went back to Australia that night on a bit of a high…
Andrew: 'A bit of a high????' Are you kidding me? Suppose you couldn’t really drink too much with the medication
Brendan: No that’s the truth. My team boss said that my season starts at Silverstone so that wasn’t so bad.
Andrew: How are things with the team, are you fitting in ok - they‘re all Italian right?
Brendan: Yeah not too bad. I can’t mix in as well as I’d like to. I know a few Italian words here and there but I can’t really have a conversation. My bike engineer speaks English so setting up the bike isn’t a big problem but still sometimes things get lost in translation. We do have disagreements about “No I said this” “I thought you said that” inevitably I guess.
Andrew: So are you making an effort to learn it? “Italian for Dummies” etc?
Brendan: Nah, it’s just hearing it all the time that helps. I can sometimes understand what they are talking about but can’t put it all together properly.
Andrew: So do you hang with the team in between races? It’s what three to five weeks between races on average?
Brendan: Yeah well we’re having a big gap at the moment; think its five weeks between the last race and Germany coming up. I don’t spend that time with the team though; I can’t do any testing because of my hand. If I spend an hour on the bike I’m finished for the day! It’s not that I’m unfit, it’s just too painful!
Andrew: So here we are with Buildbase at a wet and windy Croft. Is this a good idea then?
Brendan: Yeah, it gives me more bike time since I’m not testing. My other team mates are out there all the time trying out the new 1200 super bike (??) and I’m just sitting around. This is giving me the opportunity to keep my skills sharp.
Andrew: As long as it doesn’t set your wrist back that’s all!
Brendan: No, no it helps actually. I can ride another bike, try different things out. It’s like one bike would work better on fast flowing tracks and one is better on other tracks.
Andrew: Is the set-up knowledge gained in the European Superstock useful here?
Brendan: Yeah, we’ve brought it here this weekend. We’re riding a similar set-up today and it’s working better than at Oulton - we made some bigger changes and they weren’t so good there. John’s (Laverty - principle rider in the Buildbase team) being doing the whole set-up so far, but now I’ve come along and it means we can each go different ways and learn twice as quick (clearly having more riders means more options can be explored in any track session) which is good for everyone especially as we‘re very similar riders.
Andrew: Well it’s a pretty impressive team ESP in Superstock, where most of the teams operate on a very small budget like yourself last year, with your van and tent arrangement! Ha, ha...
Now there’s this very professional team in the middle with brand new bikes and matching leathers, a rarity on the Superstock grid it seems… I guess the team has expectations for BSB next year then?
Brendan: Yeah for sure BSB is where they want to go next year but there is a Ducati pecking order which includes me since I’m contracted to Ducati rather than a specific team. I’m in the pecking order too so I have to wait until the ball is rolled to see which way I’m gonna go.
Andrew: So they can just move you around their various teams? Sounds like a bit of a double edged sword?
Brendan: It’s good and bad, yeah I don’t really know where I’m going to go next but I’ve still got some say in it.
Andrew: Since it’s Ducati I bet it’s not very much say! He, he…
Brendan: Yeah well… Ha, ha.
Andrew: So it’s the Ducati Xerox Junior Team? When I heard I thought of the ‘Ivy League’ or ‘Junior League’ sort of thing?
Brendan: Ha, no, no… We’re just Ducati’s second team. The first team is the Superbike Team - Bayliss etc… and then there’s us who they are developing to move up.
Andrew: So you get to hang with Troy (Bayliss) then?
Brendan: Yeah we talk a lot; he’s a good guy, a good laugh…
Andrew: I met him last year and he came across as someone who’d have plenty of time for anyone.
Brendan: Yes especially away from the racing when you can let your hair down (I point to Brendan’s near crew cut). Yes, he’s fun to be around.
Andrew: If he offers the chance to go for a bike ride with him though, be careful eh?
Brendan: Nah, he’d smoke me - he’s pretty good on a cycle.
Andrew: Damn near Tour de France material I understand!
So, the Euro schedule doesn’t clash at all with this BSS?
Brendan: No not at all, I could’ve done Knockhill too, but the BSS didn’t run that weekend so I went to the World Ducati Week doing PR stuff.
Andrew: Guess you’ll be doing more PR stuff than you’re used to?
Brendan: Well that’s what it’s all about really. I mean we can all ride our bikes around the circuit but if no-one comes to watch…
Andrew: I touched on this last season with you, and at Euro level I imagine the schedule is different, the idea of being at the bottom of the schedules. You always seem to race while everyone’s leaving!
Brendan: Well this weekend it’s great as we’re the first race out. Sure many people will still be arriving but it’s gonna be great having a big excited audience watching us. The ESS is covered much better than this of course, it’s even sent to Australia so it’s all going well.
Andrew: And a new website too? (www.Brendan-Roberts.co.uk)
Brendan: Yeah it’s all going on!
Andrew: How has Glen (Richards - current BSS leader and ex-super bike rider who’s pasted the competition thus far) taken your arrival? I notice he’s been doing more in the practice sessions since your arrival! He, he…
Brendan: I spoke to him yesterday and he said he hasn’t been here since last year; he hasn’t ridden a Superstock machine here at all so he’s struggling a little - he crashed yesterday of course. It’s all about track time here because it’s a tricky circuit to set up for correctly. There are fast bits, big bumps, hairpins everything really so you need to go around it a lot.
Andrew: I remember the track days here and it’s pretty scary. Hawthorne especially being bumpy, fast and off camber must be tricky with an injured hand?
Brendan: Yeah you let the rear go through there and you’ll have a sore arse when it comes back down on the seat!
Andrew: Tell me about the helmet then - is it a one off design?
Brendan: Well it came about at the end of last year as they (Ducati) asked what race number I wanted to run and I wanted 26, the number I used last year in the few ESS rounds I did. They came back and suggested 155 because it meant something to both Ducati and Suomy, it’s got a one in it and the 5+5 equals 10 which has another 1 in it (are you all following?). It’s the helmet design name in the shops - it’s called the 155 design.
Andrew: Of course Ben Bostrom ran 155 for Ducati for a number of years I think.
Brendan: Yeah that’ll be the Ducati link I guess. They are keen to be reunited with Suomy so that was the deal.
Andrew: It’s a sweet design, almost Roman-esque it looks to me. And of course you don’t have to buy them anymore….
Brendan: No that’s true. If it goes down the road they have another one ready just like it... He, he…
Look at you all helmets and matching leathers, jackets, shirts trousers. Quite the major league player now!! (Last year it was jeans and t-shirts).
Brendan: Ha, well that’s the thing… It’s like which team is it this weekend - gotta make sure I wash and iron the right stuff every time!
Andrew: So how does it feel to back on the British circuits amongst all the familiar faces?
Brendan: Oh it’s great, especially having so many people to talk to - there’s not many people I can talk to on the European scene with all the languages about. There aren’t too many English speaking riders out there.
Andrew: So everyone here’s still ok with you? I mean there’s no jealousy etc?
Brendan: Not really, I mean your mates stay your mate’s right? Those that aren’t or don’t, well they’re not your mates anyway.
Andrew: They don’t mind you coming along half way through the season and immediately dominating the weekends?
Brendan: Not at all, well Glen (Richards - championship leader) might!! (He’s joking of course.)
Andrew: Ha, ha and Hudson? He got a lap record today I believe?
Brendan: Yeah fastest Superstock lap at Croft. He’s definitely on it this weekend.
Andrew: He looked a bit loose through Hawthorne this afternoon mind so maybe he’s right on the edge!
Brendan: Oh he’ll be on the edge, we all are, but that’ll be the tyres, they are what stop us going faster. The bikes are capable of more but because we have to use road tyres the bikes are limited for pace through corners.
Andrew: Are the ‘standard’ road tyres we could have fitted at ATS or similar? And are they the same as used on the Euro Series?
Brendan: Well they are sticky road tyres, probably not really suitable for the road in normal riding conditions but they are available so if you really wanted to ride hard on a hot day they’d be great. And this series uses Metzelers, whereas on the European Series it’s Pirellis. So the tyres are a little different in feel but pretty similar otherwise. Same sort of compounds etc… which makes sharing data between series easier for me.
Andrew: So talk us through Brands as a complete weekend event then.
Brendan: Well the weekend started on the Thursday when I rocked up and signed the contract for the rest of the year, just to say I’d turn up and ride the bike, that kinda thing. Then when I went into the garage they said they’d totally changed the suspension, and I was like “ah god” as I’d really struggled in Italy to get the bike ride-able if not perfect, and here at Brands I find they’ve undone all that work. I was like “Bloody hell what are you doing guys? Job’s hard enough as it is thanks”
Then I went out on it and it felt like it was on rails (he, he), everything was just working perfectly. I think they’d just hit the nail on the head first time and although we changed a few things as the weather warmed up I think the bike’ll be set up like that for the rest of the year.
Andrew: And are there any technical differences in the rules between the Euro series and the UK?
Brendan: They’re pretty much the same but in Euro we’re allowed to run a different ignition map that gives a lot more revs and more power, and the tyres feel a little different (Pirellis v Metzelers) but mainly they seem to last longer (the Pirellis) which I don’t know if it’s the chassis that does it, or simply the tyre brand.
Andrew: And the circuit? How did you get on with the full GP track?
Brendan: Well I didn’t really know the GP track - I rode the Indy for the R6 cup, and I’ve done a track day but otherwise nothing.
So the Tuesday before I was there with a mate on a track day having a good look around and a good think about it watching the lines people were taking. I thought I knew the bike but of course they changed the suspension, but I knew I wouldn’t be in any more different a boat than the rest of the riders.
After the race I was thinking about how I went and I didn’t feel like I didn’t know where I was going, but it was just that lack of 100% confidence when you are leading - a lot of the guys have that problem and don’t like leading the race or even a pack of riders. When we’re not certain what’s coming up it’s better to follow someone and use them as a brake marker and go a little deeper. So people sit behind you getting closer and closer then pick you off at the end.
Andrew: So was it off down to the Corona tent for a few beers on the Sunday night?
Brendan: No, no, straight home mate. My mechanic had to go to work on the Monday and I was pretty drained so just wanted to chill out. Aside from the physical drain, the Italian/English barrier is very mentally tiring so I just wanted to relax at home.
Andrew: Ok well that sounds like a plan mate. And a decent place to say thanks again Brendan and good luck for tomorrow.
Brendan: Cheers Andrew...
Related Links:
www.Brendan-Roberts.co.uk
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