Troy Corser (52) is looking for a younger version of himself / World Superbike Championship

Troy Corser competed in the World Superbike Championship until 2011. After the 377 race started, the Australian hung up his helmet and leather suit and since then has been just riding his motorcycle to pass the time. The two-time world champion (1998 on Ducati and 2005 on Suzuki) returned to Wollongong, where he grew up, a few years ago and is making himself instrumental in developing young talent.

He discovered Cameron Swain, who sees great potential in him. ««Swain is from Queensland, where Michael Doohan and Troy Bayliss are also from. Like me, Gardner is from Wollongong; “We got to know each other before we started the race,” explained the 52-year-old. “At that time it was still a small town and now it’s almost a suburb of Sydney.”

After winning the Australian R3 Series last year, Swain will compete in the Yamaha R3 World Cup in 2024. Corser accompanies his compatriot and was seen regularly in the cup paddock tent.

In his first outing in Barcelona, ​​the 15-year-old finished fifth in Superpole, but failed in both races. In Assen, the Australian qualified second on a wet Superpole. In the first race he finished seventh, 4.5 seconds behind the winner. He finished the second race on Sunday in tenth place in a competitive group.

Troy said: “Let’s not forget that some of his opponents have been there for the second or third year and have more experience of how to live in a crowded field. “We’re working on that,” Troy said. “Because he was out twice in Barcelona, ​​once for his own fault because he ran behind an opponent, but the second time he was disqualified. That’s why the goal here in Assen was to finish both races. He managed to do that, but you can to see for yourself that he is not happy with the result. After the race we go home to Australia because there is a long break before Misano. Of course we would find a place for him here in Europe so that he does not fly back and forth.

Corser protégés did not experience the Australian era in racing. When Casey Stoner became the last Australian to win the MotoGP world championship in 2011, Cameron was just two years old. “Of course I can’t remember that,” said the tall Swain with a smile, “but I follow the race now, but I’m a big fan of Marc Marquez, and Dani Pedrosa was also my idol.”

Cameron got his first dirt bike at the age of four and enjoyed it for three years. When he was nine years old, he rode a mini bike for the first time and switched to asphalt. Cameron: “My dad rode off-road himself, so it was only natural that I got a dirt bike first. When I was nine years old I sat on a mini bike for the first time and riding on the trail was a challenge for me. My goal is to finish the tenth year of school this year and then I would like to come to Europe and ride for a whole season. What kind of class it is in doesn’t matter to me, the main thing is here. But of course, first I have to defend myself in this cup.”