One-on-one with Matt Barton
Behind the scenes with the Moto3 / 125GP series leader ahead of Wanneroo
Motorcycling Australia forwarded us this chat with current Honda Moto 3 / 125 GP class leader Matt Barton (ETS Racefuels) ahead of this weekend’s third round of the 2015 Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli at Wanneroo’s Barbagallo Raceway this weekend.
Thanks for your time Matt. How are you feeling about the third round coming up in Perth?
“I’m looking forward to it.
“Leading the championship there is a little bit of pressure and a little bit more of an expectation from myself maybe – not really from the other guys.
“But going to a track that’s similar to the tracks that I ride in Victoria, it is a bit of a confidence boost. It’s pretty similar to my home track at Broadford.
How important is consistency going to be in who wins this Championship?
“I think consistency is going to play a big part in this championship – obviously I dropped my race at the last round and obviously that’s put me in a tighter position, but I am happy to have come away from that round still with the championship lead.
“Because I have been so consistent it means I have been able to drop a race and still be in the championship lead and other people that have dropped races seem to be a bit further behind in the standings.
“So it has given me the confidence that we are up there, and we can race there.
Do you find travelling long distances to places like Barbagello (as a Victorian) tough, or do you enjoy it?
“Travelling is a part of it really – it would be nice if Australia was a little bit more like Europe and had more quality tracks closer together, but it is what it is, and it is part of racing in Australia.
“It’s a bit of a burden but if the series continues the way it’s going and continues getting more support, it will make it more financially justifiable.
Do you think finishing off the series in Tasmania then at Phillip Island will be an advantage for you?
“I need to be within touching distance come the final round at Phillip Island.
“I knew that Morgan Park and Symmons Plains would most likely be my worst rounds because of the style of the tracks and because of how bumpy Morgan Park was.
“I actually thought Morgan Park would be my worst round of all, but to win races and come away with the lap record means on the whole we took a huge amount of positives out of the weekend.
“To come to a track like Barbagallo that really suits my style and should be pretty comfortable, and then to head to Phillip Island in the last round, means I can make a solid charge at it and we will see where we can end up.”
How have you found the championship so far this year?
“This year I think that the ASBK has come on leaps and bounds.
“The amount of exposure that we have had this year and the number of riders that are getting involved is phenomenal.
“To have Honda come on board and support our class is a big step – it’s a big jump for us as a class and a community.
“It’s great to have older guys in our class as well – I think I am getting older than some of the younger guys that are coming through and to have guys like Brian (Houghton) and Tom (Bramich) who’s 18, to have the older guys there to face against gives the class a bit more credibility.
“It’s not a big class and we’re on a par with the Superbikes and the 600’s, it’s just that we’re a smaller capacity.
“With the Superbikes if you do well in Australia you are eligible for a Wildcard, 600’s if you do well in Australia you are eligible for a Wildcard and Moto 3 if you do well in Australia you are eligible for a Wildcard.
“We’re on par with that level now I think, and we’re only going to grow – especially this weekend having 18 entries is going to be pretty awesome, and pretty spectacular for the fans to watch.”
Thanks for your time – good luck this weekend!
“No worries – see you there.”
