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Levi Day on track for success

Posted on May 8, 2009, 9:09am and updated on May 8, 2009 at 10:30 am

Levi Day
An increased focus this year is sure to see Mount Gambier motorbike young gun Levi Day noticed on the national and international scene.

In just his third year of serious racing, the 19-year-old is on a mission to race and beat the best in a bid to compete in the 125cc World GP at Phillip Island later this year.

Saddled on a brand new Honda RS125 specially built and prepared by Raceworx in Melbourne, Day has already put his new ride to the test in the first round of the Australian Superbike 125 Championships at Simmons Plains, Tasmania, placing sixth in his first race.

The round was cut short due to a fatal accident just before Day’s second race, but he was able to take plenty of positives away from his solo effort.

“A few of the guys I’m racing against have spent over $100,000 on their bikes and I beat two of them,” Day said, having spent less than half that amount on his Honda.

To reach his goal and gain a wildcard entry to the World GP at Phillip Island, Day must finish in the top five in the championships.

Although conceding these expectations are high given this is his first year of competition, Day believes it is well within reach.

Day’s love of motorbikes stemmed from a young age, when he would watch his father Robert race classic motorbikes.

“He was pretty good, he won a couple of national and state championships. I’m just trying to follow in his footsteps and make him proud,” Day said.

“Ever since I was a little kid I always wanted to race; he was the reason I got into it (racing).”

At 15, Day started on an early model Honda RS125 and spent over a year participating in track days and practices too hone in his skills.

When Day finally stepped up to racing at McNamara Park, he didn’t have much luck.

“I crashed on Friday and again on Saturday, it was a pretty average weekend,” Day said.

Now entering his third year of serious racing, Day returned from Phillip Island last week where he finished first, second, third and fourth.

The highlight of his career also came at the internationally renowned circuit.

Second place in the 125 support class during the 2007 MotoGP left Day ecstatic and gave him the confidence to believe he could succeed on the national stage.

“To finish second out of everyone in Australia was amazing,” he said.

While there have been many highlights, there have also been a number of disappointments which include a round at McNamara Park where Day crashed in all three races over the weekend, leaving him disheartened.

But like all good riders, Day recovered and has since gathered a number of sponsors, enabling him to compete across Australia.

Henri Post Jewellers, owned by Day’s father Robert, has been a major contributor along with Bakers Delight, Trident Tyre Centre, Laurie Fox Motorcycles and Ron Baker, Les Baker, Angelo Gueli and Jesmond Catania of Raceworx in Melbourne.

Day said the sponsorship was a great help, especially considering the constant travel.

“We do a fair few kilometres in a year, but it’s definitely worth it,” he said.

Having spent more money to help him compete this year, Day has taken the responsible step of prioritising his life.

An accomplished drummer, Day recently left Mount Gambier metal band Beneath Dying Skies and has limited his services with upcoming band Neck Deep.

Day also has cut back on socialising to spend more time training.

“I used to jam (with the bands) twice a week and go out and drink, but I don’t any more. I’m training two to three hours a day,” he said.

While Day is making his rivals and sponsors take notice on the track, he has managed to receive a bit of attention off the track.

“When I went to Phillip Island I had people coming up asking me if I was Casey Stoner, and people have also said I look like Valentino Rossi,” he said.

“I don’t understand, they look nothing alike, but apparently I’m both.“
Day hopes to get through 2009 with some strong results and is unsure whether he will compete in 125cc next year or step up to 600s.

“I’d like to move to Europe. There is a heaps bigger fan base over there and full factory riders don’t need to have day jobs like they do in Australia,” he said.

Day will head to Queensland at the end of the month to contest the second round of the Australian Superbike 125 Championships, keen to impress and make it to the World GP later in the year.

BRETT KENNEDY

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