TEN MINUTES WITH...OWEN JENNER THE CHEEKY CHAMP

With a cheeky smile, rapid bike piloting skills and a penchant for dungaree-themed leathers, Owen is succeeding as a privateer in the changing pace and face of the BSB paddock.

-  LARA SMALL

We caught up at the Krämer stand at Motorcycle Live, with Owen looking to capitalise on his Pirelli National Junior Superstock Championship 2023 win with his a fresh ride for the 2024 season, a Krämer 890-GP2RR.

I'd met Owen before our chat in the congested halls of Birmingham's NEC. In the warmth of the Andalucia sun in early 2022, he had blitzed past me in 'Ronnie Mac 69'-themed leathers on his stock Yamaha R6. It's easy to think you're punching on a trackday until BSB talent apexes so effortlessly that you both admire and detest in equal measure. Owen was there for pre-season testing but that's a smidge formal for Team Smiler', where Owen's family head out to ride in the sun for a few days and feast on Spanish steaks.

Back in the NEC, we add some more greasy fingermarks to the Krämer display bike and I ask Owen about his GP2 aspirations. "I can't wait to get stuck in because GP2 hasn't quite got the recognition that Supersport gets. I think I'd have to win outright on it to get the same recognition I would if I got a top three in Supersport. I'm super confident it can do, and that I can do on it. I can see good top-speed trap results as I'm only 60kg.

"I think it would be better for me to step through to British GP2 and Supersport and then straight to Superbike, because trying to win Superstock would be a little tricky against people like Billy McConnell and Alex Olsen. It would be a big transition from stock 600s and then racing against competitors who have been doing it for 15 years! I think I'd get more recognition when I'm beating people like Ben Currie and Luke Stapleford. It would be a bit surreal, but I think I'd enjoy it; in fact, I don't think I'd enjoy it, I definitely would!"