Marcus Hamod – the 2023 ASBK Supersport 300 champ and European R3 Cup young gun – tells us about his amazing ’23 season and what's in store for 2024.
Revolving Racer column from AMCN Vol 73 No 13: My parents run MotoCity in Wollongong and my dad bought me my first dirtbike for Christmas when I was 10 years old. I fell I love with it straight away – I felt that connection. We rode to have fun but eventually I wanted to race. I remember being in dirtbike gear on the startline at Kembla Grange for the first time and absolutely loving it, and then in 2020 I began on my first roadbike, which led to competing in the Oceania Junior Cup.
Now I’ve wrapped up a great two years in Supersport 300, capped off by winning the ASBK Supersport 300 title for 2023 after a nail-biting final round at The Bend. I’ve learned so much about racing in these few years – carrying corner speed, racecraft, body positioning – it’s a long list. You definitely get the full experience when you’re riding a little bike.
As the season progressed Marcus Hamod gained in confidence, determined to finish higher and higher up the order
It was a slow start to the 2023 season, though. The first two ASBK rounds didn’t really go to plan. Queensland Raceway is where I really started to piece things together. I love my right handers and I’ve done a lot of testing there – it’s one of my favourite tracks – not my local, but somewhere I still call home.
Taking my first victory in race one was very emotional, but it also meant my confidence and self-belief really hit another level – I felt much more comfortable running at the front and going for wins. That result also increased my desire to win and I started to train off the bike more often.
An impromptu burnout after The Bend finale to celebrate a hard-fought championship title
I started to work hard on my running with SAVVY Fitness in Wollongong and also the F45 gym at Bulli. As well as the gym I also cycle. The idea was to gain a little muscle but not too much. I also train at Kembla Grange go-kart track on the motard and Ohvale, and I find that helps particularly when there are breaks between rounds.
After the Morgan Park round I was lucky enough to get the call-up from Yamaha Australia which led to riding in the European R3 Cup Superfinale in Portimao. With riders from so many different countries and backgrounds, I was able to fine tune my racecraft, specifically how I approached taking corners and overtaking.
It’s hard to beat that winning feeling, especially after considering all the hard work that’s put in off the track to ensure peak performance when it counts
That second half of the year my determination increased to the point where I wasn’t happy with a top five finish, I wanted to be on the podium in every race. My thought process in the lead-up to race weekends had changed and it felt amazing to be so filled with motivation.
The final round at The Bend where I clinched the title was filled with hard racing. I definitely want to say that I’m sorry about the way things worked out with the Supersport 300 title in regards to Cameron (Swain). Being up in race control with him, it was really hard to process and I’d hate a friendship to end that way. It was particularly difficult not having the situation resolved after race two and I personally think Cameron was right. If he had known the outcome of the protest sooner he would have definitely fought harder in race three. It’s also a tough lesson for all of us that you have to fight hard in every single race. My respect for Cam is certainly very high and I hope we can put it behind us.
Cameron Swain leads Hamod at the Phillip Island round
Now, we make the jump to Supersport on a Honda CBR600RR. I’m really excited about the project and I’ve been lucky enough to spend a lot of time training on that bike during 2023, although the machine we race in 2024 will be a completely new model.
The intention is to complete the St George Summer Night Series and then prepare the new model to take on ASBK Supersport in February. I’ll be the sole Honda rider in Supersport and that really motivates me. Watching Senna Agius get results on the CBR600RR has inspired us. He rode the wheels off that bike and I hope I can do the same… maybe inspiring some riders younger than me.
Although we will treat next year as a learning year, I’m 16 now and I feel like it’s the right time to move up. Thanks to everyone for the support. We’ll see you at Phillip Island!
PHOTOS ROB MOTT