 British racer Dean Ellison moved to World Superbikes for the start of the 2007 season, after spending several years in British Superbikes. This year he is aboard a Ducati riding for Team Pedercini. Damon caught up with him to find out how things were going, two races into the new season.
So firstly Dean, how are you finding racing in World Superbikes? Is it a big jump?
It's not big at all; BSB is full of world class riders and obviously World Superbikes is full of world class riders so the actual championship and depth of it isn't that much different. It's just the fact that I'm at circuits that I don't know. You know, I'm learning new circuits on the Friday practice and that's where it comes home really. I'm setting off down pit lane, not a clue where I'm going or how fast to go into the turns, how fast I can come out of the turns, and most of the other guys have been there two or three times this year already and they've raced there for the last ten years as well. That's the thing that really makes a difference, so right now I'm just working at getting the bike a bit more comfortable because I'm not quite settled on it yet. There are still a few issues with the front end, and I feel once I get that sorted and when I go to these new tracks it should be a whole lot easier.
You find that a major disadvantage, having to learn the tracks when you've got people, like Corser, who have been there for years and really got a handle on the tracks?
Yes, of course it is. It's just a huge difference. I think james Toseland, when we went to Philip Island, by his second lap was running half a second off the lap record. That was his second lap. By my second lap I just about knew that it was a left hand turn coming up next, or a right hand turn, so yeah it's a big difference. You know, he went out there, his bike was already set up because he's tested there and he's been round the track a thousand times and he knew exactly where he was going. For me, I was just finding my feet, so it is a big difference.
I guess, by this point, you'll be looking forward to Donington Park, the next circuit - a circuit that you're actually familiar with?
That's it. I mean, the two weekends at Qatar and Philip Island were pretty good. There were a lot of positives that came out of them, although the end result wasn't brilliant. We just about scraped a point to come back with, which is good for the team, but not really good for me. I feel I need to be doing a lot better. So, we've got Valencia next week, we've got two days there, which is ten hours on track. I've been to Valencia a couple of times now, so I know where I'm going and I know where I'm going with the bike so we'll work our way from there. We should have a better bike and we're going to Donington, which I know like the back of my hand, so that should help.
You say you should have done better, or you wanted to do better. It must have been good for you, in your first race, to pick up a point and know that you can run with these guys?
Yes, of course. I mean, the hardest thing in racing is to go faster than people. If you're doing a similar lap speed as someone else you can have a race with them and maybe pip them at the end of the race, last lap or last corner. But when you've dropped back through going in the gravel, like I did at Qatar, or starting from pit lane like I did in race one, then you have to go faster than the guys that you've been struggling to keep up with all weekend. I suppose I had to dig deep and force myself to go a lot faster than I felt comfortable with, with the bike, just to catch the group up and try and have a race. I suppose in one way it was pretty positive.
How would you say that World Superbike differ from British Superbikes?
Well, there's the weather for one! We start earlier [in the season], which is good so it means we get to test a lot earlier. I think it was the first week in January that I had the first go on the bike and the British guys are just about going out now for their first tests. Obviously it happens a lot earlier and ends about the same time so we have a longer season and a better season really. The tracks, to me, I'm not saying they're necessarily safer, they're just better. They're all big wide tracks. They all seem to have a bit of history with them as well.
They're world class tracks.
They're world class, yes. I mean Qatar's got millions of corners in it and it take two minutes to get round whereas we raced at Knockhill which takes forty seven seconds to get round! That's the difference; the circuits are fantastic. There's the Championship as well. I suppose because there aren't as many classes there, it's a little bit more relaxed. If there's an oil leak in the Supersports, which there has been at the last two races, then it doesn't matter. They'll just tidy it up and get the job done properly, because we don't have to cram a mass of classes in. The whole thing's just nice and relaxed and I enjoy it.
Are there any particular circuits that you're looking forward to visiting?
All of them! I like the circuits in Italy. I've been to a couple there, but I haven't been to any that I'm going to race at, apart from Vallelunga, which has now changed. I like the Italian way, the Italian lifestyle, so I'm looking forward to going out there. Should be good.
Is there anything in particular that you're missing from the British Superbikes?
Just all the people that I know. Obviously I've been in BSB for many years. I've got some good friends, and also some good sponsors who are also going to be there this year. I'll be doing my best to get to some races.
 What would be your main aims for the season?
Realistically, by mid season, I want to always be in the top fifteen and qualifying in Superpole, whether it be the back end of Superpole. By the end of the year I really want to be in the top ten, dipping my toe in the top ten. A genuine top ten though, you know, nobody falling off, nobody pulling out. That's my goal and that's where I think I can be, and where the bike can be. The bike is going to be the limiting factor. It's fast as anything, it's really powerful but everybody seems to have these fancy electronics which just seems to make a little bit of difference. More than anything with tyre choice. They can run three compound softer tyres because the traction control looks after it.
You're not using traction control?
No, we're not running it. I mean, for me, for this year I'm not bothered. I don't really want it. I've go to learn the circuits, I've got to learn the Championship, get a feel for the tyres, a feel for the bike and learn the language. The team are looking at 2008 when hopefully, if the rules get changed, we can all have the same bikes.
As one of only two Brits on the grid, have you been able to get any advice from Toseland?
I know James on a professional note; you see him at the meetings, a media event, a bike show or something and just have a five or ten minute chat. He's been good. He's offered to give me any advice, walk round the circuit with me. If I need any help he's more than willing to help me. So, that's pretty good for me and also there's Craig Jones. He had a year out there and he's in the Supersports. The last couple of circuits I've walked with him, he's given me some good advice. It's good, it's good to have the other Brits out there for a helping hand.
I imagine you'll have spoken to your brother too [James Ellison] as he will have obviously raced on a number of the circuits during his time in MotoGP.
Yes, he has, and he does offer some good advice. The problem is, if you take advice from too many people you get lost. I'm one of these that's quite happy to go out, especially for my first one, and just find out for myself what the problems are. Then, if I need advice I'll pick up the phone and ask somebody. The hardest thing really is just getting to grips with the circuit, and how fast you can takes the turns and where you can brake. It doesn't matter what other riders tell you, you can't really describe how to do it straight away, you have to find out yourself.
How is James [Ellison] getting on in America?
He's doing alright, steady progress. The bike's new and it's built like no other bike and they've got a real good engine - I think it's an HRC engine and they've given him free run on the chassis so basically they're starting from scratch. The tests they've had have been rained off, so he hasn't really had a god start to the year. He's qualified fourteenth and from what he was saying he hasn't touched a qualifier - he's been doing it all on race tyres whereas most of the guys in front have just been banging qualifiers in left, right and centre, just to get up the timesheets. Providing he gets a good start, after the fifteen lap race he should be right up there. I think, come the end of the season, he will be on the rostrum and next year he'll be winning races.
This year we, as a country, have been quite fortunate to be hosting three of the World Superbike rounds which will be a bit of an advantage to you as you know the tracks. But again as one of only two Brits on the grid you'll be looking forward, I imagine, to a lot of home support?
Yes. People think you go faster at home because of the support and I suppose you do. You come back and just feel a lot more comfortable. A lot more people are aware of who you are, so you do get the support walking through the paddock, people pass on their compliments or give you a bit of a gee up. It's going to be nice, but for me I'm just finding my feet. JT's [James Toseland] the man at the moment - he's leading the Championship, he's flying the flag for Britain and he's really capable of doing the double at all the British rounds. I'm just hoping to have better results because I know the tracks and I'm a bit more comfortable with my surroundings.
Do you think the support will add pressure, or will it help?
No, it helps.
 When you're racing, can you actually hear the crowd?
I did the wildcard in 2003 and 2002 at Brands Hatch. 2002, I think, was 120,000 [fans] and '03 was 130,000. Just towards the end of the race you could hear the airhorns. Other than that, any other circuit, you can't hear a thing - you're just that focussed on what you're doing. Unfortunately you can't hear the support and you don't look for the support because all you're doing is looking at the guy in front, or looking at your pit board, looking at your lap times. You're just that focussed on what you're doing that nothing else around you matters. Then, after the chequered flag, you're aware of how many are there, people cheering you on.
Away from World Superbikes, obviously you'll be paying close attention to AMA this year, are there any other series' that you follow, any battles you'll be paying particular attention to?
Yeah, I'll be looking at everything really. I'm always on the internet checking out the lap times, test times, checking out the gossip. Obviously I'll be interested to see how Bradley Smith and Danny Webb are doing in the 125s, Eugene Laverty in the 250s - he's hot property at the minute, and it'll be nice to see him progress throughout the year. It's going to be hard for him at the start, getting on the 250 and doing what I'm doing; learning the tracks. Once he gets more comfortable, he'll be fighting up there, I think, and top fifteen very soon. Then Jeremy [McWilliams] in the MotoGP obviously, and then just looking at the British Superbike Championship because that's always going to be interesting. It's nice to see Chris Walker back in it, and Rae up at the front. I'll just be watching everything!
And finally, away from racing, what do you get up? How do you relax?
How do I relax? Just get jet lag! I don't really relax to be honest. I mean this week I caught a bug on the plane on the way back [from Philip Island] and it's just done me over. As soon as I got back I had a couple of sponsorship things to do. I had a media launch down in London the other night, which was a late one, it was about one thirty when I got back in. So I just feel terrible. This is my only relaxation and it's because I'm ill! Other than that, I'm cycling or I'm in the gym. My usual routine is two trips to the gym a day; one in the morning and then back in the afternoon. Really that takes up my day. I'll just sit down, do my emails, any work I need to do on the computer at night. I suppose that's my relaxation - sat with a cup of tea on the computer doing my bits and bobs.
Well, thanks for your time Dean, and good luck for the season.
No problem, cheers. |