TOM HAYES
MOTORSPORT
By TOM HAYES THE story of Glengarry’s Ben Currie is one that has been closely watched over the years, and now he can finally call himself a champion, after taking out the British Supersport Championship. Currie ventured to the UK a decade ago and set out on a journey of ups and downs, all leading him to this point. He rode and raced dirt bikes from the age of eight, doing so up and down Australia at regional, state and national levels until 16 years of age. In fact, his move to Glengarry was mainly because of his dirt biking progression, as he built a track there to practice on. Before an eventual move to the UK, Currie gave it a go on the tarmac, racing road bikes and his display of skill was enough to earn him the call to go to the UK. At the flick of a switch, Currie went from living at home with his family, to pursuing a dream on the other side of the world, living alone and away from his loved ones, he found this challenge as a real learning curve. “This is actually my 10th season in the UK, so I came over here 10 years ago as a young fella, 17-years-old, just starting the journey in the British Superbike Championship,” he said. “From Junior Superstock, I sort of just navigated my way through those first years, trying to learn my craft, keeping the dream alive. “I managed, in my third year of trying, finished runners-up in the National Junior Superstock Championship, and then managed to progress into British Supersport (Championship), where I did a few years of that.” The British Supersport Championship is where Currie took his racing to the next level, but it didn’t come easy, starting once again at the beginning of the road. “I finished second and third in different seasons … never quite got that title. But, managed to step up into the Superbike class – sort of as a gift from Kawasaki for doing such a great job for them in the Supersport class,” he said. Despite the number of injuries he suffered, he never took his eyes off of the prize, constantly fixated on completing the goal he set out to do as a teenager. And although his debut season in the Superbike class didn’t go to plan due to another injury, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. “I unfortunately got a big injury and I had to come back down to the Supersport class where I had to grind out a couple of years getting back from my injury. I managed to finish runners-up again in the British Supersport Championship,” Currie said. His mentality is one thing that didn’t go unnoticed and displayed a sign of resilience that got him to what he has achieved this year. “I think, just never giving up and just always having the bit between the teeth to want to come back and race, not wanting to throw the towel in,” Currie said. “Last year I got signed up to go to the Supersport World Championship.” The Supersport World Championships ride in the same class as the British Supersport Championship, but ultimately is a step further, travelling the world rather than being supressed to the UK. “I did my debut in the World Championship, but unfortunately again I was struck with a big injury. I broke my back in Spain, in Barcelona,” he said. “Broken back, broke both of my feet, did my ACL, so I really at no point wanted to throw in the towel and I had to prove to myself that I could do the job and pushing as hard as I can and enjoying the process. “It has ultimately springboarded me into my best season ever after my worst season ever.” Currie entered 2023, back in the British Supersport Championship, one that he had competed in many times. “I came back to (the UK) again, back into the trusty-old Supersport – Ducati signed me – their first year there in the championship for like 20 years,” Currie explained. “For me, at the start of the season, because it was a new project on the Ducati, I had to develop a lot, we had to work hard on those early races to keep in the championship fight. “I would say at the halfway point of the season, I was so close to the championship lead and I couldn’t really believe it to be honest because I had not really shone yet. I hadn’t had a win to my name. “We arrived at Thruxton (Round 7 of 11), hadn’t had a win, had a few podiums, was solid, and I think I was the championship leader. “Then we went on a crazy run and won four in a row, and I arrived at the third-last round of the season at Oulton Park (Round 9) with quite a good points lead. During the first race of Round 10 in Donington Park National, Currie won his fifth race from his last seven starts after sweeping Rounds 7 and 8, sealing the championship then and there. “I managed to create history with (Ducati) and win their first British Supersport title,” he said. “(I was) absolutely over the moon, incredible season to date, my best season to date. Ten years of ups and downs, good times, bad times along the way have all led to this moment. “It was really nice to finish the season with the last three races with the golden Number 1 on the plate.” Currie got his final race win of the season during the second race at Donington Park National, to make it six wins from his last eight starts. He felt a plethora of feelings upon his championship win, starting with realisation that he was champion and letting that sink in, to a newfound hunger to go again and looking forward to the 2024 season. “The British (Supersport) Championship is the strongest championship in the world and to be able to call myself a British Supersport Champion is pretty amazing. That was the goal and I’ve got other goals now, I’m gonna reset and get into place and I want to go and try and achieve them,” Currie said. “I know roughly what I want to do. I want to get back-to-back championships, I’d love to do that.” Currie’s journey is not done yet, and although this might be the biggest achievement of his to date, he believes there is more to unlock in the coming years. “Getting the job done is like a weight off my shoulders, like ‘I’ve finally done it’, you do question sometimes and ask ‘Will I ever become champion?’, but now that I’ve done it, it sure does feel good,” he said. “This is the top level of racing in Europe, to do this is obviously a dream come true, I’ve had many great moments in my career but this is the number one, this is the top of the list for sure, and I’ll remember this one forever.”
