ASBK 2025
Pre-season interview with Ben Henry
DesmoSport Ducati
We already had a extra formal conversation with Craig McMartin, Crew Proprietor of defending champions McMartin Racing, with Josh Waters. Attributable to conflicting schedules, that was primarily carried out over e mail and is thus fairly concise. In distinction, that is extra of a freewheeling chat syle of interview with Ben Henry, Crew Proprietor of DesmoSport Ducati.
Like Craig (McMartin), Ben additionally has an excellent racing resume as a rider. Battling for Australian Superbike podiums at instances, on bikes he had ready himself, going again to the Dice Racing days with Kawasaki. Ben then went on to discovered DesmoSport Ducati with Troy Bayliss in 2016. The workforce received the Australian Superbike Championship with Mike Jones in 2019.
With Oli’s (Bayliss) profession taking him abroad in recent times, Troy has stepped again from the workforce, and it’s now all right down to Ben.
The Western Australian has been primarily based in Queensland for some years now. Ben operates Dice Efficiency Centre, simply south of the Gold Coast. A Ducati specialist, but in addition servicing and race getting ready all method of bikes when known as upon to take action.
Trev and Ben go manner again. Each are Western Australians. Trev was readily available at Wanneroo Raceway when a teenage Ben had his first-ever observe day, and went on to witness just about each highway race Ben has contested. Which then continued into the current period with Ben on the reins of the DesmoSport Ducati squad.
Trev – G’day Ben, I perceive it has been fairly a busy low season for you within the workshop, and likewise making an attempt to sew collectively sufficient sponsorship to proceed at a excessive stage for season 2025. I perceive a few of these costly preparations went up in smoke at a Phillip Island Journey Day just lately…
Ben – “Lengthy story quick, the bike caught fireplace and bloody burned to the bottom. Actually, It’s not going once more, and it received’t be going once more for the primary spherical. I can’t see it. That bike was Broc’s Marelli bike. The boys had a MoTeC bike and Marelli bike every, which was useful as a result of we may again to again them and simply try to emulate what we have now achieved on the Marelli bike. Yeah, anyway, so I can’t say for certain if it’s (the burned bike) positively not going to go. We’ll simply see the way it unfolds within the subsequent little bit.”
Trev – Sounds as if not an excessive amount of was salvageable…
Ben – “Like clearly the wiring loom is gone and you realize, it wasn’t a giant crash, it’s simply that it caught fireplace in a giant manner… The wheels are all proper, the swing-arm, the suspension and the body and all that stuff, it’s simply extra of the plastic issues, something plastic has actually gone, the loom and all that kind of stuff, so yeah, it’s actually not best. Nonetheless, I’ll put it this fashion, if it (the burned bike) was all I had and I used to be completely strung out for the primary race then it’d be on the grid. what I imply.. However because it stands, I’m working actually laborious on the opposite bikes, so it’s not too large of an issue proper now.”
Trev – And Troy Herfoss will line up considered one of your bikes this season however in a satellite tv for pc workforce of kinds with Penrite backing?
Ben – “Yeah, that’s principally it. I imply, actually, it’s so near the season and I don’t precisely know the agency particulars on precisely the sponsorship on that bike, however the lengthy story quick and the place the cash comes from and the stickers which are on it’s, I suppose, not my enterprise on that bike. It’s considered one of my workforce bikes and it’s all the identical and et cetera, et cetera. However yeah, the funding’s coming from successfully his previous workforce in ER (Deon Coote’s Elite Roads) Motorsport, they’re sorting the finance to run it. Yeah, we’ll kind of depart it at that basically, that’s the underside line.
“So far as the personnel and the employees go, it’s actually a little bit of a blended bag for the time being and clearly Charlie’s with us however up to now it’s most likely simply been kind of Charlie working with Troy after which simply my workforce, you realize what I imply. In order that’s just about the way it’s unfolded for now. I do know we’re just a few weeks out from the race however I’d say on the race they’ll have a bit extra assist and it’ll be extra alongside these traces.”
Trev – After we spoke beforehand, you had been not sure of the place M.A. was going with ASBK in regard to electronics. The beforehand accredited Ducati package deal’s homologation was set to run out, and also you had been not sure of whether or not it will be renewed, and that was one of many causes that you simply had began to experiment with MoTeC. Are you able to mirror in your experiences up to now there?
Ben – “Yeah, it’s been a studying curve and I’m actually having fun with it. It’s been a manner larger undertaking than I anticipated and I can see why there’s just one bike on it within the subject and I can see why so few have gone and finished it. It’s actually a manner larger undertaking than you’d count on and that’s most likely additionally why M.A. haven’t pushed it too laborious…
“I don’t know what their (M.A.) duty is as a sequence to supply what they’ve to supply to get the bikes going, however I suppose I can say that what we acquired as a package deal within the MoTeC, wouldn’t have been aggressive sufficient to go racing on because it was. And that’s probably not anybody’s fault. It’s only a state of affairs as a result of not many individuals are utilizing it. It’s an Aussie product and we’re Aussies and we are able to get some fairly good folks round it. So I’m fairly completely happy and I’m actually lucky. I’ve acquired some actually, actually good guys round me for the time being and yeah, we’re marching on with it.”
Trev – My subsequent query was going to steer into the first execs and cons between MoTeC and the Magneti Marelli system that you simply and different Ducati opponents have used efficiently in latest seasons. However I suppose you’ve half answered that by by saying that how a lot work there may be to do to to stand up and working to a aggressive stage with Motec. Is that proper?
Ben – “Actually, the professionals and cons…. you converse to the blokes in Europe and that they like Marelli. And then you definitely converse to the Aussies and Aussies want MoTeC. Effectively, there’s two bikes which are utilizing it, the 2 Yamaha’s (In 2024 Max Stauffer and in latter a part of the season Arthur Sissis), and properly each of them have been on the rostrum this 12 months. So you realize, it’s positively acquired its execs. It’s positively good.
“The cons with Marelli are that, we simply aren’t in Italy and we simply can’t get the assist that we want once we want it. And the opposite factor is, is that they’re not making that ECU anymore and so they turn into a little bit bit unreliable. And when one thing breaks, it’s actual laborious to get them fastened. And clearly, with I presume a brand new V4 coming, I suppose it’ll come on the finish of this 12 months for the following season, then, you realize, the Marelli received’t be homologated once more. I don’t know that, however you merely can’t get that ECU any extra. So what are they gonna homologate? , it’s a no brainer what’s gonna occur. In order that’s that’s one other factor that’s gone by my thoughts as to why I’m making all the trouble now… I’m spending twice the cash on electronics for the 2 totally different set-ups. I’ve acquired two units of race bikes, which is loopy. It’s simply loopy cash and stress to attain that… Effectively, that’s why it’s as a result of I wish to construct one thing that I can successfully transfer on to with my subsequent race bikes and do an excellent job on.
“Simply going again a step, the opposite factor that I discover an issue with Marelli, and it’s with with each the Ducati’s on Marelli, is that it’s not constant, it’s simply not the identical on a regular basis and we wrestle with it and clearly you realize outcomes clever… Josh (Waters – McMartin Racing), did higher than us final 12 months, clearly, he received the championship, however man they’re as inconsistent as we’re, for my part… There are the tracks that they’re good at, after which the tracks that they’re not good at, and it’s the identical yearly, the identical circuits, the identical or totally different riders, it’s the similar consequence… We’re the identical, like we have now totally different riders and we’ll go to Philip Island or no matter and we’re not as aggressive, though Troy wasn’t unhealthy there just lately, however then we go to the tighter stuff and we go good at these these occasions…
“It’s a humorous factor…. Such as you make a chassis change and you must change, I really feel, like you must change the electronics to match it on a regular basis, and if you happen to don’t actually have an understanding of what you wish to change… Outdoors of the the 2 races you’ve acquired seven classes, 4 practices, two quick Q’s and a warm-up… Jeez it’s actual simple to search out your self going out the again door making an attempt to chase electronics simply since you wish to do one thing with the chassis…
“Whereas it looks like in some areas the MoTeC will not be as superior, however no less than you realize what you’re going to get, and the riders like that, riders don’t need stuff that modifications on a regular basis, they get confused and that simply doesn’t work for them… that’s the cons, that’s the sort of factor I’m making an attempt to get away from. Inconsistency is my foremost drawback. Nonetheless with the Marelli we do have sector primarily based tuning which is beneficial, we are able to arrange ten sectors for energy supply, and ten for engine braking, however we are able to solely do it distance primarily based as M.A. eliminated the performance for it to be finished routinely, in order that does constrain its true potential to some extent, however we do nonetheless have sector primarily based traction and engine braking with it. The MoTeC system does have sector primarily based tuning because it comes off the shelf, however M.A. selected to take away that performance within the ASBK accredited firmware, so we do lose that performance when utilizing MoTeC.”
Trev – You stated one of many riders prefers one (MoTeC) and one of many riders prefers the opposite (Marelli). Are you simply going to place each of them on MoTeC and make that dedication now..?
Ben – “No, it’s not 100 per cent, it’s nonetheless up within the air. Like, if we get to some extent the place they each wish to experience the Marelli bike, simply to be protected, as in then they know we’re towards what we had earlier than and so forth so forth, and towards what the opposite guys are on, then I’ll be scratching myhead making an attempt to attain two bikes for them. However the lengthy story quick is that Broc is the king of the fortress and Broc will get what Broc wants, as a result of Broc is racing the entire championship. If that’s what Broc desires then that’s what he’ll get, and that’s how that’s, the truth that Broc crashed and it’s set on fireplace oh that sucks, however that’s that’s probably not Broc’s drawback. Broc’s drawback is he wants to show up for the race and try to win it.”
Trev – And does Broc favour the the Marelli or Motec, what’s he going to begin on?
Ben – “I reckon he’s a bit eager on the on the MoTeC.”
Trev – And the way has pre-season testing been going…?
Ben – “Actually pre-season up to now this 12 months Harry Voight’s (McMartin Ducati) been actually quick actually, actually quick. And it’s what it’s, however yeah we had been nowhere close to that. However we had Senna Agius simply experience the bike final week at Phillip Island and he went quicker than anybody else has gone pre-season this 12 months, on the Motec bike. Simply on that, far out that child is unreal, Jesus he’s good, simply the best way he’s and the best way he processes stuff and driving the bike, you possibly can see he’s spent quite a lot of time with quite a lot of good guys, and he’s tremendous spectacular far out. I haven’t seen actually many individuals like that like that child, he was unreal.. However in the long run anyway look he was actually quick and yeah nobody else has been as quick as that. There was that financial institution of kind of 5 days the place everybody rode there the Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, after which we rode Monday and Tuesday, on the two experience days, and yeah I don’t suppose anybody went as fast as him so...”
Trev- What are you speaking… Zeros or one thing…?
“Nobody else that I’ve seen has been within the 31s, besides Harry (Voight), Harry was doing 31s no worries, and he did a 30 on a mushy tyre I believe, yep he’s on a mushy tyre and on the race tyre he was doing 31 s, may very well be mid may very well be excessive I don’t know, and Senna was across the similar tempo. However I didn’t see anybody else do a 31 over the 2 days, and once I had watched the timing from the race weekend nodoby appeared at that tempo. I believe their first follow, earlier than it warmed up, a couple of had been going fairly fast, however not close to the tempo of Harry and Senna. So hopefully I’m fairly certain I’ll ship the bike again down once more quickly, and I’ll have one other world stage man on it and getting some extra laps and extra information, flogging that factor into the bottom, Charlie can be taking care of it. Simply one other two days with an excellent rider, along with his suggestions, I believe it’s value doing. My boys can’t experience that near the spherical, simply extra information, extra laps on the best tyre…
“Man I’m desparate to get again to profitable… That stated, we did win no less than on race in every of the three remaining rounds of the 12 months. Troy (Herfoss) at The Bend, Broc (Pearson) at One Raceway and likewise at Phillip Island. So I suppose it’s laborious to say we’re not constant, when we have now been profitable, nevertheless it’s two totally different riders and so forth so forth.. It’s simply I can keep in mind instances going to the circuit understanding that if all of it went to shit we might most definitely nonetheless be on the field, and I’m not in that boat proper now. Like, that was a good time as again within the day with Jonesy and stuff, you sort of take it as a right even when issues sound shit, it’s nonetheless on the field right here.”
Trev – “You’re speaking in regards to the days of the massive twin now…
Ben – “Yeah, it was good man, it was actually good, nevertheless it was a distinct period, like, there’s a lot, it’s simply modified, it’s not like that for the time being. However I can’t say anybody’s in that boat actually of being assured outcomes even when issues go pear formed proper now. I don’t know.. I suppose I’m reflecting a bit, like, I’m saying we weren’t constant, however we’re on the rostrum as a workforce just about each single spherical final 12 months…So most likely not that inconsistent. I simply suppose we’re not, I simply wish to win, principally, I simply wish to fucking win.”
Trev – I additionally perceive you constructed a V2 Panigale able to go in Supersport spec’, so you could have additionally dabbled with Mectronik {hardware} and software program. From the just lately launched Homologated Bike Mannequin Checklist put out by Motorcycling Australia, it appears as if we’re persevering with with the earlier Supersport competitors. I do know some riders needed to marketing campaign a Ducati in Supersport this 12 months, and one other had constructed some Triumphs able to race underneath the Subsequent Era guidelines getting used worldwide, however not right here. What’s your ideas on the topic?
Ben – “I sort of thought it was a given… Like they’ve been racing in New Zealand and like all over the place on the planet now, they only race them all over the place and so they’ve acquired a kind of method that’s working, and why we didn’t undertake that I simply don’t perceive. I actually don’t perceive that. I don’t suppose it was from M.A. to be trustworthy with you..however no matter mate, like, I ain’t the brains belief there, however I’ve now acquired a extremely costly bike that I’ve by no means ridden…”
Trev – Some modifications within the guidelines have been promulgated for 2025, together with a new single-bike rule. What are your ideas on this transformation?
Ben – “It’s probably not a single bike rule… You’ll be able to nonetheless have one within the truck able to go and if you happen to’re getting into your one properly then Should you can’t repair the opposite one… What constitutes you possibly can’t repair the opposite one? I haven’t acquired sufficient blokes to repair it? I haven’t acquired sufficient spare elements? Like I don’t understand how that’s going to go. Nevertheless it’s not like single bike, single bike, if you realize what I imply, it’s not what I anticipated out of a single bike rule if you happen to can simply park one up within the truck, as I suppose that’s what everybody will do, however I received’t be, as a result of I received’t have two of the identical bikes… I suppose we’ll work it out once we get there…At the least they’re having a go at it.”
Trev – I believe there’ll be a transition interval for certain, and possibly a couple of teething issues, however anyway, we’ll see how that shakes out. On to a different topic… In latest seasons there was quite a lot of downtime for the Superbike class on Saturday. A single morning follow session then a quick-fire Q1/Q2 within the afternoon. The schedule is filled with assist courses, however there are only a few laps turned by the principle attraction on Saturday. Would you be in favour of a Superbike race on Saturday? Clearly, there are execs and cons, dangers and potential rewards on provide. Prices additionally should be thought of, however when you’ve gotten already transported bikes, riders, workforce personnel and encountered all of the logistical prices for a race weekend, are two quick races sufficient to try this justice?
Ben – “It doesn’t really feel like there’s not a lot happening within the field at any level… Far out…It’s busy. You’re simply full fuel on a regular basis I’m not, I’m positively not sitting there on a Saturday twiddling my thumbs. I can let you know that. So I don’t sit there wishing the bike was working extra. I don’t really feel I haven’t ever considered that on a Saturday. What I’ll say is that I actually just like the two-day occasions. Yeah I do like them. We are able to squeeze it in, and it sucks if it’s going unhealthy for you, however I actually didn’t thoughts it. That will kind that out… Perhaps possibly that’s my reply, to say I want a two-day occasion, that might maintain it busy on Saturday, and yeah you get a good bit busier, however you get it finished mate, it’s all good…“
Trev – Our Superbike race lengths are in regards to the shortest seen anyplace on the planet, a lot shorter than even the Purple Bull Rookies or JuniorGP youngsters bouts. Even the 14-year-olds within the Asia Expertise Cup contest race distances for much longer than our Superbike class, not to mention the shorter races in our Supersport class and even shorter once more Supersport 300 bouts. Do we have now it proper? Are our tracks that abrasive and our tyres lower than longer race distances? Or do we have to get higher at organising the bikes to take care of their tyres, and our racers be taught higher tyre administration methods all through the races? Craig (McMartin) prompt that we would wish to permit bigger gas tanks if we had been to run longer distances at some tracks. Would you be in favour of one thing like this?
Ben – “We may most likely do yet one more lap…. Um, however yeah, if we’re going an excessive amount of additional than that we want larger tanks.”
Trev – Would you be in favour of that?
Ben – “Yep, bloody oath, completely, an extended race is an effective race...”
Trev – Are you pleased with the race calendar this 12 months?
Reply – “I’m actual pleased with, as a result of I’m in Queensland.. I’m residence from March.. All the best way to September.. I’ve acquired a household and a enterprise, extra so about household, finest 12 months ever. The one factor to make it higher is that if we went over to Perth and did a couple of laps, I’d be cheering, however actually, for me, it’s implausible.. Should you’re in Sydney you’d additionally most likely be completely happy sufficient, however if you happen to reside exterior of that, then it most likely wouldn’t be that good for you.“
Trev – Effectively us Perth boys do like going again residence for a go to don’t we, and don’t want a lot of an excuse to take action…
Ben – “I’m tempted to return for the Motorcycle Racing Club of WA 70th birthday event, Denise (Stronach from MCRCWA) invited me the opposite evening… I’d have been in for certain if I hadn’t busted my shoulder… I’d race that three hour occasion they’re placing on for certain, 100 per cent I’d. I wouldn’t thoughts having a experience someplace to see if I can get my shoulder to come back good, if it does I’ll race it. I really like going residence, it’s good. I’ve bought considered one of my V2s to a man over there and I may go there and race it. I’d simply like to have a go round there and simply see everybody once more, however my shoulder…”
Trev – We’ve got already gone on a bit longer than deliberate, however the rest you want to cowl…?
Ben – “I don’t have an excessive amount of extra to say however, on the constructive. I believe M.A. are doing a good job with the younger folks, there’s some younger guys coming by and that’s nice. That’s actually good. However I’m a little bit bit frightened in regards to the sport. Everybody’s positively struggling. Like we’ve misplaced some actually large sponsors this 12 months. The game simply can’t maintain the massive bucks. Like I can’t ask the massive bucks as a result of i’m simply not value it, the game is simply not large enough, not sturdy enough.”
Trev – None of us have a magic bullet for that drawback. We are able to’t stroll as much as M.A. poke a finger within the chest and say ‘you have to be doing this’ and the whole lot can be hunky dory, it’s not fairly that straightforward… However it’s at all times value having conversations like this…
Ben – “No, I’m not. I positively don’t have the shits on, it isn’t that. However I can say that this 12 months goes to be an actual laborious one for me… In brief, yeah, it’s simply, I simply can’t give, I can’t compete within the company world towards the Porsches and the Supercars, principally. That’s the lengthy story quick. And our sport as a sport is superior. However on the company standpoint, we are able to’t compete towards these guys and I don’t actually know what the reply is, however fuck, there’s gotta be one someplace.”
Trev – Thanks for the chat Ben. Thanks to your insights. I’ll see you in a few weeks, if not earlier than…
Ben – “See you, man. Take it simple. Cheers. Thanks, man. Ciao.”
2025 Australian Superbike Championship Calendar
- Spherical 1: Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC Feb 21-23
- Spherical 2: Sydney Motorsport Park, NSW Mar 28-29
- Spherical 3: Queensland Raceway, QLD Could 2-4
- Spherical 4: Morgan Park Raceway, QLD Jun 13-15
- Spherical 5: Queensland Raceway, QLD Aug 8-10 (Superbike Solely)
- Spherical 6: Phillip Island GP Circuit, VIC Sept 6-7
- Spherical 7: One Raceway, NSW Oct 3-5
- Spherical 8: The Bend, SA Nov 7-9
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