Broc Pearson reflects on busy pre-season and looks to next year

Broc Pearson

Broc Pearson has one of the most coveted rides in the paddock on the DesmoSport Ducati (DSD) Panigale V4 Rand 2023 which could be a successful or groundbreaking year for the young man. Given the obstacles he has endured on his way to the Superbike class, he certainly knows the difference between a good year and a bad year.

There was a time when his dreams, his health, and the reality of his life were suspended with a few major bumps that left him with some debilitating injuries.

But Broc has shown the tenacity and determination inherent in the genes of top road racers in his quest to find the best of the best, to fight back to the pinnacle of victory at… Australian Super Sport Championship 2021.

Broc joined Team DSD last year as a teammate of Bryan Staring. He missed the Wakefield Park and Hidden Valley rounds but still finished in 11th place^order took place and won the “Rookie of the Year” award.

For 2023, the weight of the team’s expectations rests on the shoulders of very tall Queenslander as the sole driver on the team following the departure of last year’s third-place driver, Bryan Staring. No matter how much he tries to relieve the pressure, it will surely be lurking somewhere in the garage…

After Test ASBK SMPBroc and the team ventured to Phillip Island for a test run first round of the Hartwell Club Championship and walked away with two wins, one second and one three as well as a new PB. A great foundation for the season opener in a little over two weeks.

We quickly caught up with Broc as he rushed to the airport to finish the Hartwell round.

MB: Two days in Sydney and a couple of days here in completely contrasting conditions, sum it up for me after so much sitting late?

BP: “Sydney is really good. we made a there’s been a lot of progress with the bike and with my riding, so I’m really happy with that. Being in the top 5 is quite promising for the year, I’m quite satisfied with that.

“And now we’ve come to Philip Island to do some races and run a few laps before the first lap. Maybe I was hoping to go a little faster but there were a lot of laps in the lead this weekend. I didn’t win every race, Herf won a few but the ones I didn’t I missed quite a bit in the last lap.

“All my lap times are done by myself, which is good because everyone knows the difference a little draft makes around here on the Island.

“It’s important for us to come down here and make some improvements. It’s the fastest I’ve been to the Island based on transponder off time so you can’t complain but when you get a little closer to the front you’re never really satisfied. We have a long way to go but I believe the boys are doing all they can and I know where I need to improve.“

MB: Before I ask where you need to improve, when you say you found something on the bike it’s clear that you can’t do much with the engine but mostly the electronics. More suspension?

BP: “Definitely electronic. We’re going down a different path this year, we’re trying some different things electronically and we’re making good progress with that, but we’re also making quite a few changes. mechanically. Here at the Island, I haven’t done a lot of laps so there are a lot of mechanical changes this weekend, but we’re on the right track..”

MB Do you follow anyone a lot in Creek?

BP: “Not really. You should do all the laps alone in quick time but that leaves you wondering where you will be in the upcoming race. At one point I was with a few men in front of me but I think during those sessions I got a new bag and they had an old bag, so the draft didn’t really work at all. there and here same kind of situation. No, I’m happy to do all my laps and need to improve and get into the race.“

MB: So what do you personally have to improve?

BP: “Maybe just a bit of line selection and the like. I definitely still have to improve my riding style a bit. I still have the old style that doesn’t really fit these new days.”

MB: You mean get off the bus more?

BP: “Well get off the car more. I definitely have to adapt to that, but only a little in my options and the like. Another thing is that you don’t really get a chance to learn easily when you’re ahead. I think I spent a whole lap behind Troy in my two days on this island. These people have a lot of experience and things like that, so learning in a different way but I’m still learning.”

MB: So what happens to muscle memory when you’re cycling again and you’re changing your style, can you remind yourself ‘wait, I have to do this’ or does it come naturally slightly?

BP: “Definitely becoming more natural as I’m becoming more comfortable with cycling. But in short, it’s easier to do it on test days than on race weekends. Race weekend your mind is pretty busy with other things so I need to work on that these days and hopefully by race day it’ll be more natural..”

MB: Do you think you’ll have a chance to be on the podium for round one here in a few weeks’ time?

BP: “Yes. I really think yes. Honestly, I’ve always been honest with myself, because I never want to go to a race weekend and wonder what’s going on. I won’t count myself off the podium. I think a podium would be a great result. I think being in the top 5 is a good result but I think we can get this into the box.”

MB: Thanks. I know you have planes to catch!

ASBK Calendar 2023