Matt Davies wins the 2013 Kirk McCarthy Memorial Award
17 year old West Wyalong teen, Matt Davies has been awarded the 2013 Kirk McCarthy Memorial Award, allowing him to realise a racing dream in Australia’s premier motorcycle racing championship, the Australian Superbikes.
Davies is a member of the West Wyalong Motorcycle Club and has been racing since he was six years old. At 13, his family moved to England to pursue his racing career and after five years overseas, Davies returns home as the youngest ever full-time World Supersport rider.
When told he was the winner of the award, an ecstatic Davies was at work at the family’s business, Davies Automotive and Industrial.
“You can’t get that type of support in motorcycle racing anywhere else in Australia, that’s for sure. Winning the award is going to help me to achieve what I want to achieve.
“The last five years have been a steep learning curve overseas and I have learned a lot from it. I’m really looking forward to racing here and am enjoying my time at home again.” He said.
Davies was also chosen by Motorcycling Australia to attend the Australian Institute of Sports, Elite Rider Training Camp in Canberra two weeks ago where Australia’s top riding talent have the opportunity to learn what it takes to become an elite athlete.
“The camp showed me how much effort, dedication and time you’ve got to put in if you want to be the best. Having world champions like Troy Bayliss and Jason Crump and blokes like Paul Caslick there was great too. Learning from their past experiences definitely helped for sure.”
In keeping with a hectic schedule for 2014, Davies has also applied for a wildcard entry into the World Superbike Championships (WSBK) at Phillip Island on 21- 23 February. The opening WSBK round is one of three world championship events heading to Australia next year, a occurrence almost unheard of in other sports.
When he’s not racing, Davies likes getting out his dirt bike and going for a ride with mates. Of all the tracks in the world he’s been to, he lists Britain’s Silverstone as his favourite because it’s fast, flowing and with six kilometres to cover on each lap, one of the longest.
About the Kirk McCarthy Memorial Award: The award is in honour of Kirk McCarthy, who passed away in 2004 following a distinguished national and international racing career which included stints in both the 500cc GP and Superbike World Championships, as well as being crowned Australian Superbike Champion in 1995.
Each year, one rider is selected to receive the award, so he or she is able to contest the following year’s Australian Superbike Championship.
In addition to the financial assistance the McCarthy Family provides, Suzuki Australia, Monza Imports, Dunlop, Bandit Tyre Warmers, Marty Craggill, Scott Williams, Darred Motors Body Work, and Motorcycling Australia contribute to the award.