Editor

Talented Australian Bryan Staring is finding his first season in the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup tougher than expected. The reigning Australian Superbike Champion, in his first season with the Kawasaki*Pedercini team, began the year as a wild-card entrant at the opening WSBK round at Phillip Island with the Italian squad, finishing 15th in race 2, but when his European Superstock 1000 season got underway a promising fifth place at Assen was followed by a hard knock at Monza when he high-sided on the opening lap. A few mechanical issues and a drop in confidence have done the rest but with a summer break and a trip home freshening the reigning Aussie ASBK champ up, Staring is ready to get onto the podium in 2011.
Bryan, tell us how your season went from top five positions, looking good for a podium or even win, to mid pack almost overnight?


"It's hard to pinpoint one specific reason as there really could be a number of reasons to our performance slump. Since our best result of fifth we have had lots of different problems. Engine failure and chatter have been our main problems and a few big crashes probably knocked my confidence a bit. But when the bike has had trouble I feel like I have done my best but sometimes when the bike has been good I've made a mistake in a race, qualifying lap or a crash in a session that has put me behind. There is a big difference between SST and SBK in the amount of track time available."


How has this affected your confidence as a rider?


"Well, no rider ever wants to say they're unconfident but it has been the case for me in some situations. Confidence can be a funny thing. I always put my 100% in, but when you're completely comfortable and confident you seem to make it happen and I just haven't been making it happen like I have the last few years."


Have you settled in to European lifestyle yet?


"I am really enjoying life in Europe or Italy, especially where I live. For me, the best part is the cycling. Cycling is more than just a tool for training. It's my whole lifestyle. I live near Verona/Lake Garda and the cycling scene there is huge, with so much different landscape to ride it's still new and exciting for me. And it's been great to see the rest of the tourist things with my girlfriend Emma also. The other side of the world is an interesting place."


You've been on a steep learning curve this year. Are you looking forward to 2012 being your second year on the Team Pedercini ZX-10R Ninja and having all of that experience up your sleeve?


"For me it's really comforting and satisfying to know I will be with the same crew, bike and class again next year. It's exactly what I need to move forward. Stability. I hope we can get the results we deserve next year and fight for the championship. Time will tell."



Source: World Superbike

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