JOSH OWENS BSB 2022 PREVIEW
After a positive start to 2021 Josh Owens suffered a freak accident at Knockhill that curtailed his season. He was able to get back on a bike, but a horrific hand injury needed more time to heal. However, as BSB 2022 is about to kick off, the Aintree lad has that firmly in the rear view mirror, and after finishing P10 on the combined time at Silverstone, he’s going into this season with new found self belief.
Rapid CDH Racing’s Josh Owens, up and running with new belief for 2022.
On paper this is Josh Owens’ fourth season on a superbike. But, in reality, he’s only now going into what he feels is his first full year, and he makes a convincing case for it.
“2019 was my first year,” he explains, “But I was new to a superbike, it was the team’s first year in superbike. Then 2020 was a six-round, Covid-affected year and I missed at least half of last season with the injury.”
Valid point. And this year Owens feels he’s in a much better place physically, and also mentally.
“The hand’s not bad at all now. It can get a bit sore but once I start using it it loosens off. The best thing I can do with it is keep using it, so I did a lot of mountain biking over winter, I rode some enduro, and, really, it’s hard to notice when I’m riding.
“I do have to use my wrist and arm and open the throttle in a different way. The initial crack of the throttle is fine, when I’m feeling for grip, but for big throttle openings I have to use my arm more than my wrist, and pull on it more. But I’ve ridden enough like it now, so I don’t think about it, it’s not much of a hindrance and it doesn’t affect me riding the bike.”
Anyone who has been around racing long enough knows that it’s not just being physically fit and well that’s important. A happy rider is a fast rider, and having your head in a good place is equally important, something Owens admits to struggling with in the past.
“It can be easy to let things get on top of you, and to put too much pressure on yourself. Over the last three years there have been times where I’ve questioned if I belong in BSB, if I’m good enough. It can happen in harder periods. It’s something I’ve struggled with before. For example, on the Moto2 bike, I’d catch riders in practice or in races and not pass them because I thought they were faster than me, and I’d just sit behind them. I’ve done it on the superbike, too.
“Now, I think I’m in a good place. I even passed Tom Sykes in testing! I’ve had to remind myself that I have achieved stuff in my career [Josh won the 2015 British 125cc championship and 2018 British GP2 crown] as I think we’ve been flying under the radar a bit. But I feel like I’m on the right path now with a good team around me, and I know I belong here.”
While Owens admits to doubting whether he belongs in BSB, the team behind Rapid CDH Racing have not, and further evidence to his talent was on show at the recent Silverstone test, ahead of this weekend’s season-opener, where he finished 10th on the time sheets.
It was the culmination of a positive preseason - despite challenges with the weather - with Owens also setting a PB around Snetterton, following a change to Öhlins suspension on his Kawasaki ZX-10RR.
“Testing was really good,” he reflects. “You’re always nervous and apprehensive when getting back on the bike, wondering if you’ll be able to do it, will I be as fast, will my hand be okay, but at the end of day one I was buzzing.
“The team’s done a mega job with the bike. We’ve changed a few things, the biggest probably being the switch to Öhlins, and at Snetterton I think I went a couple of seconds faster than I’ve ever gone around there. The biggest difference is the Öhlins gives a lot more feedback from the front when you’re up to speed. You can have the front tyre folding underneath you on corner entry but you can feel where it is and know what it’s doing.
“At Silverstone the weather was a bit of a pain but, again, the bike felt good. We’ve a few things left to try at round one, with a bit of work on geometry, but the bike was good, I felt good, and we ended the two days in P10.
“I know it’s only testing but everyone is still trying. No one goes out and says ‘I’m not going to try this session’ because you’re always pushing. If you’re not then what are you testing? You’ll get into a race and the bike will feel completely different because you weren’t riding at that pace in the test. So, it is only testing, but it’s still heartening.”
Though every racer puts pressure on themselves, Owens insists his new mentality means he’s a lot calmer going into round one.
“The aim for Silverstone is to finish all three races, not do anything stupid, and pick up some good points. If we can float around or get inside the top 10, that would be great. But if that doesn’t happen I’m not going to let it get me down. We’ll regroup and go again at the next round and just keep building.
“I’m enjoying my riding again, I think I’ve found that happy medium between enjoying it and putting too much pressure on myself. I’m in a good team with a good relationship with Colin [Hipwell - crew chief], it’s a good environment, and I’m genuinely just excited to go and race my motorbike.”
The opening round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship takes place on the Silverstone National circuit on 15-17 April.