A SUCCESSFUL first season of the Australian Supersport Championship has come to an end for young Furner motorcycle racer Dallas Skeer.
Skeer jumped aboard a 600cc Suzuki this year, after previously piloting 125cc and 250cc machines and settled into the extra size, power and pace of the competition well.
Approaching the season Skeer hoped for a top 10 finish, which he achieved after rounding out the year at Phillip Island on the weekend.
The final round threw up plenty of challenges for the young rider, where he struggled to maintain grip and pace to keep up with the front runners.
However, he did set a personal best time in practice, but could only manage to qualify in 18th position for the first race of the weekend.
The final results showed personal-best times for the circuit, with 16th place finishes.
That was good enough to finish 10th in the championship, a huge effort for the young rider, who only turned 16 years of age a week before the season kicked off.
Skeer said he was pleased with the overall result, which placed him well for his next tilt at the championship in 2019.
He said he did not know what to expect going into the season, but settled in well.
“We did not know how the first round would go, so we played that as we went,” he said.
“Rounds two, three and four I got quicker and quicker.
“I was moving up places every race and in Round 4 I was top six after the weekend.
“Overall it went better than I thought.”
Skeer said a completely different approach was required, compared to the previous seasons he had competed on smaller machinery.
“The first thing I realised in the races was the aggression,” he said.
“You have to be aggressive, so that is something I made sure I did.
“Now that is just how I ride, because when you are racing in ASBK (Australian Superbikes) you have to have that aggression to make passes.”
Those early rounds saw plenty of improvement from the young rider.
Suddenly he was sitting inside the top 10, but then the chance to finish towards the front of the field took on a whole new spin, with fractions of seconds needed to progress further.
“That half a second at any track is hard when you are already on your limit,” Skeer said.
“The last three rounds for us did not go how we wanted to, but the times I got down to I was happy with in my first year.”
Before the season Skeer’s aim was to finish top 10.
Mid-way through it appeared he might finish inside top 10.
As the season progressed it was his consistency which set him up to achieve that goal.
“I think everyone in the class had at least two crashes,” Skeer said.
“I only dropped it once at the start of the year.
“I did not finish in the top 10 in the races at Winton, but I finished ninth overall because different people in front of me were crashing out.
“I finished 18th in the last round at Phillip Island, but I was consistent earlier in the season which kept me in 10th place overall.”
For such a young rider it is certainly and impressive result.
Skeer said he plans to remain in the Supersport 600cc class for another two years at least, which should provide plenty of time to hone his craft.
By then he will still be only 19 years of age, with the plan to step up to the Superbike class.
But for now he is building a brand new 600cc Suzuki for an assault on next year’s championship.
He certainly seems to have no plans to slow down.
“It has been the most fun I have ever had on a motorcycle,” Skeer said.
“The biggest thing for me is the challenge of riding a 600.
“The front wheel is lifting out of every corner – the smaller bikes you just open the throttle, but these you really have to man-handle them around.
“It is the challenge of having to stay fit and stay on the bike, to ride it properly.
“Those challenges are what brings the fun into it.”
As an added bonus Skeer was able to share the experience with his father Michael, with memories he said would last a lifetime.
“We always say we can look back and say we had a go,” he said.
“We can have all these memories.”
Skeer also pushed his Suzuki to the limit in the Master of Mac Park series here in Mount Gambier just a few weeks ago, with a third place finish behind a pair of 1000cc Superbikes, which he was pleased with.
And he has one more goal yet to achieve.
He currently holds a 20-point lead in the South Australian Road Racing Championships, a series where he missed one round, but is now in the box seat to claim the honours.
That would cap off what has certainly been an impressive season for the young rising star.
