Grid Talk – Seth Crump

Why have you stuck with KTM for another season when just about everyone else is on Yamaha’s R3?

Because KTM is sticking with me! I think the RC 390 suits my style and I’m really comfortable riding it.

Isn’t it difficult not having another KTM team around to compare notes with?

I don’t think so as most riders have their own preference to the way their bikes are set up.

How do you feel after the first round at Phillip Island (Seth qualified sixth, then finished fourth, 10th and ninth in the three races to finish sixth in the points)?

It was a bit disappointing, especially after being fastest in the pre-season test on the same circuit (Seth’s best lap was 1m49.249s). But we had some technical issues and being a support class to WSBK meant there wasn’t the track time to overcome them and get the best out of the bikes.

Tell us about the team. How big is it?

We don’t have a team. It’s just my family, dad (Jason Crump) and mum (Melody) and my sister (Mia) also gets to most of the rounds. Other family members come and help sometimes. We have three bikes, two in race set-up and one standard to use as spares. Our major sponsors are KTM Australia, Rock Oil, Blair Build, M&C Plant Hire, Alpine Stars, Shoei, Gas Imports, Regina Chains, Rapid Bike, Racebolt and John Titman Racing.

How do you cope with the media pressure of being described as a “star of the future” and “son of a three-time world speedway champion”?

I don’t pay much attention to that. I’m just enjoying racing.

What’s the long-term ambition; the end game?

To have fun and see how far I can go. (Seth is at school in Year 11)

How did you get involved in tarmac racing?

I’m friends with Broc Pearson and Oli and Troy Bayliss. They were all riding at the time on track so I decided to have a go with them on one of Broc’s old 250s. After some time riding with them at a local go-kart track, our family bought an RC 390 and I did a few club rounds before my first ASBK round in August 2017. (Seth finished seventh overall in a field of future stars such as Tommy Edwards and Tom Bramich.)

Name a few highlights of the past couple of seasons.

Probably the biggest is winning two races and the round at Darwin last season but it was also pretty cool to have a win in the MotoGP support races at Phillip Island in 2017 and 2018. (Seth won in the wet in 2017 and followed that up last year by winning the Saturday race). The event is awesome to be part of because the crowd is so much bigger than ASBK and the best riders in the world are riding the same track on the same weekend as us.

The Supersport 300 class is pretty competitive. Ever been run off the track?

No. But you do get a few elbow nudges now and again! The bikes are pretty much at the same pace so slipstreaming is important. If you get caught up in a big bunch of riders it’s very difficult to ride a fast pace due to the amount of overtakes going on.

So now it’s another big trip down south from Queensland to the second round?

Yes, but it’ll be good to get to Wakefield Park and see how I go (at the test).

Interview HAMISH COOPER