Mark Chiodo talks the step up to Superbike with Suzuki

Mark Chiodo on the step from Supersport to Superbike for ASBK 2018

For 2018 Team Suzuki Ecstar Australia will be running a two-rider line-up, with defending champion Josh Waters joined by Mark Chiodo as the young Victorian graduates to the Superbike ranks.

Trev caught up with Mark ahead of this weekend’s season opener at Phillip Island.

So Mark you’ve cut a few laps on the GSX-R1000R now, how’s it gone hanging onto the big girl?

Mark Chiodo : “Yea I’ve had a few days on it now, and getting more used to it which is good, with the [Team Suzuki ECSTAR Australia] team with Wazz, Tiger and Phil, and all them, and Josh helping as well, it’s been awesome to adapt, and I think so far we’ve been doing good.”

Mark Chiodo's Suzuki GSX-R1000R — Mark Chiodo’s Suzuki GSX-R1000R – Mark at the front of the machine while Tiges changed his tyre and Warren Monson looks on

Your 675 triumph wasn’t exactly slow, but jumping on the GSX-R1000 is a whole different world, so try and explain to the casual punter what it’s been like to try and hang onto that bike with all that horsepower and torque, coming onto the gas out of the turns.

MC: “Well to be honest compared it doesn’t feel overly powerful, the way that Phil has tuned it, I mean I rode a standard version and it felt a bit over powerful, but the race bike that PTR has prepared, it’s just the throttle connection is so smooth, that it actually feels more like a 600, but handles like a superbike.”

Mark Chiodo - TBG Image — Mark Chiodo – TBG Image

Funny you say that, I did ride one – well I wouldn’t’ describe what I did as riding, but I did wobble around Phillip Island on the 218 rear wheel horsepower PTR GSX-R1000 that Wayne Maxwell won on, and it brings back to me what you said then, that the power delivery was so beautifully creamy smooth, and you could really get on the gas hard and the throttle to rear wheel connection was perfect, even the gear change was like a bolt action rifle, so short and positive, so much better than a standard bike. No doubt when you’re going as fast as you are then it gets a whole lot more physical, so have you had to up your training for that? Have you done race distance?

MC: “I actually haven’t had any issue with it at the moment, I haven’t changed anything in my training, but I actually haven’t been able to train much, because I’ve had a few little injuries. But the bike actually feels really easy to ride, because it just seems to plow through the wind, where on the 600 you’re always getting blown around. On the superbike it just powers straight through, and you can just take the same lines every time you go out on track, whereas on the 600s you’re always having to adapt to which way the wind is going, and getting pushed around a bit more. So I seem to get a bit more tired on the 600 than the superbike.”

Mark Chiodo - Image by TBG — Mark Chiodo – Image by TBG

What about when it comes to battling in close quarters, and perhaps you’re up the front with blokes like Herfoss, Maxwell and Allerton, and they start shoving an elbow in here and there… will you give it back as hard as you get it?

MC: “I think I’ll be shoving the elbow in first *laugh’s* and they’ll be giving it back! No, it’ll be definitely good to just be up there at some point in the season, and mixing it up with those guys, and yeah I hope I can do that. I’m sure that the bike is capable, with what Josh has shown, and with the team around me, I’m sure we’ll be able too, which is good.”