Broc Pearson Asia Dream Cup Endurance Race Report
14-year-old Gold Coast based rider Broc Pearson has taken on the challenge of competing in the hotly contested Asia Dream Cup this year. Broc was teamed up with Japanese rider Kazuki Tomita for a two-hour Endurance race staged in conjunction with the Asia Dream Cup round at Suzuka last weekend. Pearson and Tomita finished eighth overall and in second place to be on the podium amongst the regular Asia Dram Dream Cup competitors.  He tells us the story of his big weekend below…
Broc Pearson
It was a very eventful weekend at the Suzuka circuit for Rd.3 of the Asia Road Racing Championship for the Asia Dream Cup 2 Hour Endurance Race.
I was paired with local Japanese rider Kazuki Tomita, we were a great match, both having consistent times, no accidents, smooth sessions and having almost the exact same setup to feel comfortable with as we shared the supplied CBR250 race machine from Asia Dream Cup.
The Asia Dream Cup endurance was a 2 Hour Endurance Race shared by 2 riders and with a Le Mans start.  The race consisted of 10 Asia Dream Cup teams and 35 other local teams making for a massive turnout of 90 riders and 45 teams.
Myself and 15 other Asia Dream Cup riders attended the SRS riding school at the Suzuka circuit on Thursday which was a great day to get comfortable with the bike setup to suit the track and learn many things about the high speed circuit.
On Friday, I was the rider to go out in Free Practice 1 on wet tyres, as the track was very wet and slippery from the rain overnight. It was the first session of the weekend to get serious so while I made many improvements, I was cautious in the tricky conditions and put in a couple good laps, I was happy to finish the session in 14th position.
It was awesome to have Australian Honda rider Josh Hook come out and give me some tips and support the Australian riders who are all trying to follow in his foot steps!
Kazuki had a difficult session in Free Practice 2 as he entered the track with wet tyres as the track started to dry up, it was a difficult session for him as the tyres burned out straight away, but he did a good job to stay on such consistent times at the pace he was running as he adapted to the machine quickly. Kazuki also brought along a couple of great mechanics who worked very well with my mechanics, which included my father and a friend of his who done an awesome job with the bike, and set it up for myself and Kazuki to put in some solid sessions!
Kazuki and I shared the bike for Free Practice 3 and managed to finish well, it was great to see the improvements and consistency of us both. I was also very happy with how good we were getting along and making decisions and strategies for the 2 Hour endurance race.
Saturday was a massive improvement for myself and Kazuki. Qualifying went really well, it was another rainy day and as the best lap time from each rider was added together, Kazuki and I came in very strong to start on the grid in 14th position. kazuki and I put in great times and we were very happy with the result, it was a very difficult qualifying for me as it started raining on the first lap and we had dry tires which made it very slippery but I had a great feel for the bike and enjoyed sliding around. We were also very impressed to finish 4th position in qualifying out of the Asia Dream Cup teams, and only 0.004 behind third.
Kazuki was the rider to kick of the 2 Hour race. Once again it was a very wet and slippery track as we once again ran the wet tyre. As the red light extinguished, Kazuki did a great job to get from his chair to the bike so quickly. I held the bike and had my body as far back as I could so Kazuki could get on the bike easily and get a good start and that is what he did. Instantly jumping into 8th position with a flying start, he got shoved around on the first lap and was shuffled back to 15th, before making up to around 12th position where he stayed for his hour on the bike. Kazuki was doing very consistent laps, not making any big mistakes and did a fantastic job, we couldn’t of been happier.
Kazuki pitted at 1hour and 3 minutes, at that stage, it was time for rider change and refuelling which we did sensationally fast and I was straight on the track. Kazuki had done a great job and I knew I couldn’t let this great race go, so I put the hammer down, entering the track in 19th position, lap by lap I was moving up the order, running fast and consistent times and getting around riders ahead of me.
I remember looking up with about 15 minutes left of the race and seeing my number in 10th position outright, and 3rd in Asia Dream Cup. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing because the whole race I had just been focusing on one rider at a time and nothing else, seeing this was an awesome motivation, and I was also being spurred on by the support from the Australian riders there for the 600cc Supersport races, cheering me on from the side.
With three laps to go, I made a pass on the inside of Indonesian rider Yogha Dio for 2nd position in Asia Dream cup and 10th overall, with three laps to go, I made my final sprint and put my head down, by the finish I had pushed my way into 8th position overall and 2nd for Asia dream cup behind Japanese pair Yusuke Nakamura and Hiroki Nakamura, who finished 6th overall and first in Asia Dream Cup, I was so happy with my result and how good myself and Kazuki had done and what we accomplished.
It was an awesome weekend and got some valuable points in the championship, the track was amazing and so was the people around us. I am loving the Asia Road Racing Championship and I am overwhelmed with the support and improvements I am making. Massive shout out to Asia Dream Cup for having me aboard, my beautiful family and friends for their ongoing support and making this happen for me, my amazing coach Bernie Hatton who has got me so far, starting from nothing and now getting a podium in an overseas championship. Now it’s time to get back to Australia, train harder, work harder, get fitter and faster and come back to Thailand and push for another podium!
Well done to all riders from Suzuka who participated in the event and to all the Australian riders competing in the Asia Road Racing Champiosnhips. I fell that I am going in the right direction and that this is only just the beginning.
Next stop Thailand!
Broc Pearson
