Top turn for racer

By Bridget Brady
WORKING your way to the top is no mean feat, just ask Wayne Maxwell.
In the riding world, it requires years of hard work before you can make the most of good quality equipment, he says, meaning you have to “punch above your weight” for a while.
But the Cranbourne West resident has done the hard yards, breaking into Australia’s top level in 2001, and now hopes to propel his riding career further.
Maxwell, 27, won the opening round of the 2010 Australian Superbike Championship on the weekend ahead of fellow Honda rider Bryan Staring, and hopes to take out the overall title for the year.
“I couldn’t be happier with our weekend. This is a new team so to be able to pull off really a perfect round so early into the season is very confidence inspiring.”
Maxwell finished third in last year’s championship, crashing out in the final round.
He said he needed to win that last race to take out the championship.
“It was a pretty good crash. It was very disappointing and that is good motivation for me now.”
Originally from Wollongong in New South Wales, Maxwell moved to Cranbourne West about four years ago and said his ultimate goal was to race in the world championships.
“There is a lot of hard work and training on your own. It is demanding, but it’s rewarding in the end when you get some results and recognition.”
Maxwell has been around bikes his whole life, and felt good about the sport after his first race. Now, he reaches speeds of up to 305km/h.
“I enjoyed it and then I pretty much stuck at it.”
Maxwell is now gearing up for the second round at Darwin in April.
“The next round at Darwin should be interesting as the circuit is new to most of the riders. The conditions will also have a big part to play in who can win so I’ll be training as much as possible in the lead up.”