ASBK is already three rounds into the 2023 season, with Phillip Island, Sydney Motorsports Park, and Queensland Raceway in the books. Americans get to watch for free on youtube. Josh Waters and Troy Herfoss are pulling away, but the season still has 4 rounds to go and plenty of downtime before they conclude in December. Defending champion, Mike Jones, is currently in 5th position.
2023 Australian Superbike Season
- Thread starter mylexicon
- Start date
Joined Mar 2023
1K Posts | 1K+
Australia
I'm wondering why there are so few Ducati's in ASBK. Would be that as many of the riders are effectively paying the costs of racing its a case that other brands are cheaper?
Also noticing that Anthony West isn't racing round 1. Has he dropped out? I know he had budget issues having a support crew of 1. I heard he was driving trucks as a living. Its a big drop from being a MotoGP rider
Also noticing that Anthony West isn't racing round 1. Has he dropped out? I know he had budget issues having a support crew of 1. I heard he was driving trucks as a living. Its a big drop from being a MotoGP rider
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In one of the broadcasts, I think either Round 4 or Round 5, the announcers mentioned that there were homologation issues with the Ducati. The ASBK homologation rules are unfamiliar to me, but it sounds like Australia may not have had enough of the new 2023 bikes to field ASBK entrants because the season starts in February. Ducati probably prioritized markets in Europe and North America, and they were not ready for the start of the ASBK season in February.
Ant West is still racing. He was top-10 in both races at Morgan Park. It is strange to think that he was a MotoGP rider, and now he's scraping together top-10s in ASBK, but sponsor money rules racing. If you don't have people boosting you into the rider conversation, you've got to do it the hard way. He seems like a gritty guy. Not surprised he is still going for it.
While the gritty privateer (dreamer) is often tragic in GP racing, it's supposed to be the backbone of Superbike racing. I appreciate what West is doing. It reminds me of another gritty Aussie who races stateside, David Anthony. Somehow they just keep everything moving forward against the odds.
Joined May 2009
6K Posts | 4K+
Shovel's Club
Ant West is very active on social media. He puts it all out there. I followed his time when he bought a truck to deliver things across Australia to fund racing. He lives at his fathers farm. Its a gorgeous farm which appears to raise exotic birds and other animals. I would love to visit. He talks about the fact his team isn't on par with the top bikes in ASBK and they are always striving to be better. He also does 12 hour races in Maylasia. Ant West is one of my favorite people. He lives to races and races to live. He loves it. It is who he is. I wish the best for him. Follow him on instagram if you want to see everything from racing to him petting his dog at the farm.
