“Umm. I’ll let you know mate. I need to think about it and get back to you.
OK I’ve though about it. I’m in!”
I get off the phone and take in the conversation.
OK. I’m a journo (read target). I’m an ex-racer (read
desperado). I’ve spent years convincing myself that
I’d actually be quite successful on a factory bike
if only I was given the chance (read hero). Now I
have to actually put my money where my mouth is and
do it! (read scared).
I look at the race calendar to work out how long
I have to prepare for the races. What? Next week?
They call me one week before the event and offer me
a superbike ride? I haven’t raced for five years.
I’ve hardly ever used slicks. I’ve never ridden a
factory bike in anger… I need to get fit. Get sharp.
Practice… Shit. Where’s the nearest grog shop? I need
beer. Now.
Seriously. If I was going to finish two 13-lap races
on a superbike after two gruelling days of testing
and qualifying I need to be fit…ish. One more six-pack
and a pizza then I’m going cold turkey.
I have a chat to my dog, Stan, and explain to him
that we’re going to be doing a hell of a lot of walking
and running over the next six days. On the seventh
day, the Thursday before the event, I’m going to veg
out and watch TV all day to relax.
This is serious stuff – the Australian Superbike
Championship. And although I’m only there for a story,
I can’t exactly head out there and get in everyone’s
way.
My training goes to plan but I’m still a fat 98kg
bastard at the end of it!
I arrive at the track on Friday and meet all the
crew. Jeff is my mechanic, Paul Free is the manager
and Josh Brookes, Krusty and Jason O’Halloran are
there to offer advice, and take the piss… so we’re
all set.
The amount of times I’ve had to do two or three trips
to take bike/gear/race stands, etc, to scrutineering
is ridiculous – so to have Jeff sort it makes the
start to the day much easier.
The riders briefing is next – and I’ll tell you,
the looks are awesome as I ponce around in my official
factory Honda team shirt. Other factory riders look
dumbfounded, while old racing rivals look like they’d
just seen a ghost! What the f*#k is Jeff Ware doing
on a factory bike? Ha… gotta love that!
The first practice session is at 11:10am so Jeff
and I set the bike up to fit me. We just do the levers,
‘pegs, etc. We don’t change much at all – I want to
ride the bike as is.
My nerves hit the roof as quickly as the tacho is
swinging while Jeff calmly blips the throttle and
warms the engine up.
I head into the truck to gear up. And then the experience
hits me. Here I am, standing in the back of the Honda
truck in my undies, changing into my leathers with
Josh Brookes and Adam Fergusson. Wow. I’m a factory
rider this weekend…
I crack some stupid joke and get two blank stares.
OK. This is serious business…
The one-minute siren hoots and Jeff rolls the bike
off the stand. The next minute I’m entering turn two
– the bits in between are blank… Oh well.
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
The first thing I notice is that the bike
is so light compared to a stocker – and just so strong.
It pulls cleanly through the whole rev range but up
top it’s an absolute missile. I put my head down and
try to get in a fast rhythm. I feel OK and the bike
feels great. But I’m fighting it and I don’t feel
fast at all. In the end I do 12 laps with a best lap
of only 1:43.734 – a 250 Proddie time.
The next session is much better. My goal is to go
quicker each time I ride the bike and I manage a 1:41.690
– but it’s only one-second faster than I go on a stock
‘Blade on stock tyres! I don’t have a problem with
the bike – I just can’t link all the corners together
and get drive. I’m struggling to get my head in the
right space to corner this thing properly and get
on the gas at the right time. I’m just spinning it
on the edge of the tyre off every turn.
After thinking things through and drawing some track
maps I arrive at EC on Saturday with a fresh approach.
Judd is here today and gives me plenty of tips on
turn-points, throttling on, etc. I also have fresh
rubber today so it should be fine.
I plan to spend the first 30-minute session stringing
13-laps together, just to make sure I can go race
distance! The second qualifier will be the one I really
try during.
MAKING THE GRADE
I’m trying so many new things at once I feel
like I’m going to have brain failure but at least
I’m learning. I’m braking harder but smoother, and
squaring off the turns better than before. It’s still
weird though – the fast guys seem to be able to run
it in fast, carry lots of initial corner speed, then
completely change it around and park it in the middle
of the turn then fire it out. Sounds easier than it
is – believe me! In the end I’m 27th out of 34 but
I go two-seconds faster! The best thing is that I
do 13-laps and my 13th lap is my fastest so I feel
much more confident for the races.
Between sessions Brooksey’s dad puts on a great lunch
in the truck’s kitchen, and I have a chance to chat
with Judd some more. I also get a tip off Josh, “Don’t
be nice to it, just go flat-out everywhere.” And Krusty,
“Be careful, these things bite. Treat it gently and
ride smooth.” Gee. Thanks guys… I’ll find a happy
medium then, eh?
Jeff fits a new rear hoop for Q2 and I head out on
a mission. I don’t go any faster. Too much cheese
on my sanga at lunch I reckon. Final qualifying position,
28th.
It’s Sunday and I’m really pumped today. I’m actually
taking myself seriously for once. I really need to
go quick in the morning warm up to kick the day off,
and I do (for me). I go a full second quicker than
yesterday – making me 18th fastest and the quickest
B grader (they put me back to B because I hadn’t raced
for so long).
All the lads are fired up now and want me to do well.
I just want to finish and get into the 1:37s but that
lap time isn’t looking good. The nerves are high,
and life is hectic with friends and relo’s along to
see me race. My old man, John, is busy chatting up
the Joe Rocket girls and Heather and Pappy are busy
snapping away.
Jeff is doing all he can to keep me free to concentrate
on riding and it is terrific. Just knowing that all
is sorted makes a huge difference.
The time finally arrives for my first race. Tensions
are high in the back of the Honda truck as Krusty,
Josh and I change into our gear for the race.
LOSING MY VIRGINITY
As we line up for the start I have another
one of those, “Oh my God look where I am” moments,
then it’s on. I get a terrible start and must be last
by the end of the chute. I put my head down and go
skitz for the first two turns, passing at least 10
riders. Then I calm down for two or three corners
to compose myself before a few of them pick me off,
one at a time. In the end I figure I must be somewhere
around the mid-twenties and I settle in for a good
race with Glenn Taylor, Ashley Roe, Jeffrey Hill and
Justin Millington. It’s awesome dicing like this on
a superbike, but I’ll tell you, you have to watch
that throttle! I try to get through a few times and
chase Millington, who’s made a break, but in the end
I just have to keep it together and finish 25th.
As I get back to the pits Jeff is smiling – I got
into the 1:39s so I’m closer to my goal of 1:37s,
plus the bike and I are in one piece…
SECOND CHANCE
Fresh rubber again for race two and we’ve
also made a gearing change, as I’m not carrying the
rpm that the other guys are. This time I’m going to
try and clear off from the group I was racing in the
first race. If I can get a tow from someone I reckon
I’ll do 1:37s, albeit very loosely!
Jeff has fitted a new rear tyre and I’m pumped for
a better result. Judd reckons I’m doing well and I
feel OK physically, although my arms and shoulders
are wrecked…
The light goes out and I get a slightly better start
than last time. After the pack settles and we crest
the hill for four I pass a few of the guys ahead of
me and chase down the next pack. A lap later I’m there,
and back dicing with Hill, Millington, Roe and Taylor.
We’re even in the same order! Millington goes and
I try to follow. I give it a big squirt between turns
11 and 12 to see if I can’t shoot up the inside of
two of the guy’s into 12. I can, so the next lap I
do it and get a full-lock near highside. I end up
taking turn 12 sitting on the tank! Needless to say
I was just happy to be on the bike by now so I calmed
down for two laps before trying out of turn two and
up the inside of three. Again, my practice run works
but this time I do a Max Biaggi wheelie and almost
flip! OK. That’s it. I settle and finish. I manage
23rd spot and every lap, even the near crashes, were
1:39s – so at least I was consistent, and at least
I was in one piece!
After the race a bunch of chicks mobbed me and I
signed their butt’s and cleavage for them, then it
was off to the private jet for the flight back to
Monaco and the Lambo.
Just another weekend in the life of a factory rider…
TEAM
Rocket Racing was formed at the beginning
of 2005 to help Honda Australia support two young
riders – Judd Greedy (superbike) and Jason O’Halloran
(supersport). The team is supported by Honda and Joe
Rocket and is directly linked to the Joe Rocket Honda
Racing Team. The bikes are the same factory prepared
machines as ridden by Adam Fergusson and Josh Brookes
and the team is managed by Joe Rocket Honda Racing
Team manager Paul Free. Garry House builds the engines
in all the bikes and both teams share the same sponsors.
JUDD GREEDY
Birth date: 14 September 1980
Residence: Melbourne, Victoria
Started racing: I was 10 years old when I participated
in my first motocross club day at Kurri Kurri, NSW
Favourite track: Phillip Island
Long term aspirations: To race MotoGP
Height: 175cm
Weight: 71kg
How long have you been riding superbikes?
One year
What’s the secret to riding a superbike?
You need to be smooth on the throttle because they
can catch you out pretty quickly
What is the best thing about being a superbike rider?
You get a good indication of where you are at as a
rider, especially when you’re up against the likes
of Krusty, Brookesy, the Stauffer brothers, Gilesy
and Johnson just to name a few
What is your favourite thing about the Rocket Racing
Fireblade?
Besides the fact that the bike is ridiculously fast,
it’s good to know that the bike is prepared and maintained
100 per cent by Rocket Racing
What is it like in the rain?
You can steer it with the rear just like a dirt bike!
How do you think I went?
I think you did well and I’m sure that if a position
became available you would be the first person Honda
would consider… As far as winning the title, though,
I think you should stick to MotoGP on the Playstation
Thanks for letting me hang out with all your pit
girls. Do you usually have so many?
It was amazing wasn’t it? I have never seen so many
girls; it must have been because you were there Jeff.
There must be something about a 30 year-old journalist
trying to squeeze into his leathers from 10 years
ago that chicks dig. It’s unbelievable how much leather
shrinks over time, though, because it looked like
your leathers were painted on!
Thanks Judd. But remember, I rode slowly so as not
to embarrass you or jeopardise your job… I could have
gone into the 1:31s but I couldn’t be bothered.
I think you made a typing error; don’t you mean 1:41s?
JEFF DILLON
How did you end up Judd’s technician for Rocket
Racing?
Judd landed a position riding in the Honda race team
and I was invited to come and be his mechanic
Is it your dream job?
Yes. I am very lucky to be involved with a great bunch
of guys and a thoroughly professional race team.
Run us through a typical race weekend.
Leave home generally on a Thursday morning, fly out
of Tassie to any given race location, arrive at the
track several hours later to set up the pits, unload
bikes and make sure all is in order for Friday practice
day. Leave track approx 7:00pm,
Friday, arrive at track 7:00am, fuel up bike, fit
new tyres, start practice sessions and work on getting
bike set-up to suit track and Judd. Generally have
two one-hour sessions. After sessions, get tyres fitted
for Saturday qualifying and do any repairs needed
to bike (eg. Fit new clutch), clean up bike and pit
shed. Saturday, arrive 7:00am and do any adjustments
required after evening discussions with Judd. Q1 work
on final suspension settings and good lap times, Q2
fit qualifying tyres and try to achieve best times
possible, at end of day clean up again and leave track
approx 7:00pm.
Sunday, arrive at track at 7:00am, prepare bike for
morning warm up then wait for first race. Between
races change tyres, refuel and make any necessary
adjustments. At completion of races pack up pit sheds
and load all equipment in truck. When all is said
and done head back home to Tassie
Do you have a close connection with Judd?
Yes, I have known Judd for quite a few years; we are
good friends and communicate well at the track
What does it take to be Judd Greedy?
A; copious amounts of talent
B; a certain amount of lunacy
C; big kahoonies
SPECIFICATIONS
Engine Type: 16 valve DOHC inline-four
Bore x Stroke: 75 x 56.5mm
Displacement; 998cc
Compression Ratio: 12.4:1
Maximum Power: More than 180hp at the rear wheel Cylinder
Head: Ported to HRC spec by HRRT technicians
Valves: STD
Camshafts: HRC kit
Spark Plugs: NGK
Pistons: STD
Crankshaft: STD
Fuel delivery system: 44mm Throttle bodies, HRC ECU
Air Filter: DNA
Exhaust: Jardine
Engine Mgmt System: HRC
Starter: STD
Clutch: HRC kit
Transmission: STD
Lubrication: Pro Honda Oils
Final drive: 520 DC chain, AFAM sprockets
Fairing: Zac’s
Graphics: Signzone
Fuel capacity: 18L
Wheels: STD
Tyres: Michelin slicks
Front suspension: STD with K-tech 25mm cartridge kit
Rear suspension: Showa kit shock
Brakes: STD with Goodridge lines
Dry weight: 169kg
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