Australia’s 1999 SuperBike Champion Steve Martin has been competing in World SuperBike for the past couple of years on a privateer Ducati for the DFX / Pirelli Team.

Steve had to sit out the Oschersleben races last weekend after he tore a knee ligament in a crash during the free practice session leading to SuperPole.  We spoke with him earlier this week.

TREV: First up, how is the knee?

STEVE: It's coming along a lot quicker than I expected. Luckily for me Sandra (Steve's partner) used to be a nurse and we have been working on it constantly. The swelling has come down and I reckon I'm about a 99% chance to ride this weekend at Assen.

TREV: Is what you are doing next year sorted yet Steve? What are the options and or hopes?

STEVE: I’m still not a hundred percent sorted, it looks at this stage I’ll be on a Ducati with Pirelli tyres.

TREV: What was the new 999 SuperBike like to ride? Do you think it is going to be a significant step forward in full race spec’? It is already up to speed?

STEVE: It’s already fast, basically it was the first time on the track for the bike. The bike I rode hadn’t had the final touches so for sure it is only going to get better. The bike already steers better and I definitely have more feel from the rear swing arm.

TREV: And the V-4 MotoGP machine?  Is it faster than the World SuperBike machines yet?

STEVE: I have only been a spectator. The only thing I will say is that it sounds like a mix between an F1 Ferrari and a 2-stroke 500GP machine. Awesome.

TREV: How are the Pirelli tyres shaping up?

STEVE: We have a new front now, which I used for the first time at Oschersleben. I managed to qualify seventh fastest which is a definite improvement. We are still working on the rear. If we can make the same improvement in the rear as the we have in the front, I honestly feel that it won’t be much longer before we can be consistently up there.

TREV: You are originally from South Australia, but now mainly reside in Victoria, I normally call you a South Australian when I report in the press. What do you class yourself as these days?

STEVE: That’s a tough one. Sandra reckons that after nearly ten years of living in Victoria, I still have a lot of South Australian in me. I don’t know if she thinks that is a good or a bad thing. Seriously my heart is probably where I grew up, that being SA.

TREV: What is the best track to ride on the European circuit?

STEVE: Personally I like Misano and Imola a lot, but there are not many tracks in the world circuit that I don’t enjoy. The worst safety wise would have to be Brands Hatch.

TREV: If a race punter was going to choose one World SuperBike round to attend outside Australia which one would you recommend and why?

STEVE: Brands Hatch, because they get a lot of spectators there and the atmosphere is pretty pumped. Imola is also worth a visit as everyone goes all out for the last round of the year in the paddock, hospitality area and on the track.

TREV: Have you been happy with the results that you have achieved so far this year

STEVE: It has been a hard two years. I feel I am riding better than ever and am definitely the fastest rider on Pirellis this year. Pirelli are still in a development phase and we are making forward progress with the budget they have. I had hoped for better results but they haven’t come. As I said at the start we are close now, we have a good front and just need a few small changes to the rear to go a lot quicker overall.

TREV: Thanks for talking to us Steve and best of luck this weekend at Assen.