MCNews.com.au caught up with Wayne Maxwell after he topped Friday’s combined times, recording a 1m51.686 ahead of Yamaha privateers Arthur Sissis and Daniel Falzon. DesmoSport Ducati’s Oli Bayliss ended Friday in fourth just ahead of MotoGP star Jack Miller.
Trev: Wayne, P1 on Friday obviously it’s a big weekend for you, everybody is on the Miller train with Jack, but you have a championship on the line this weekend. Obviously you’ve gone a bit quicker than maybe most would have expected, how much did you have it on the line to do that time today?
Wayne Maxwell: “Pretty much every lap I ride Trev, (Laughs), I like to ride it to the limit. It’s pretty good to be able to do that and fastest without really running wide or making mistakes all day, just working up slowly as you can probably see by the time-sheets. Improving the bike, I was having a bit of trouble early on with stuff, cause we came with a plan that’s worked in previous years but that was two years ago on totally different bike, so look it didn’t really work so that set up back a little bit, but we arrived at P1 which was what we wanted.”
Wayne Maxwell
Trev: Looking at tomorrow you’ve got a pretty handy lead in the championship, something really has to go wrong really for you not to be the champ on Sunday. This is racing, shit does happen – we all know it, but if it comes to the race and you’re at the front battling with the likes of Jack, it’s gotta be hard, you wanna beat him, but you don’t wanna risk that championship…
Maxwell: “He’s only going to get better as the weekend goes on, so I might have a chance on Race 1 (grins), but no it’s a hard one. I won’t do anything stupid, my ego has well and truly been parked up mate, years and years ago. If people haven’t worked out I can ride well by now they never will, I have nothing to prove. If there’s a path to be had and I can wheel the Ducati down the inside I might have a look at it.”
Trev: All the best for Sunday and have a safe weekend, we’ll see who comes out on top!
Local South Australian guns Arthur Sissis and Daniel Falzon had topped FP1 but Jack Miller managed to best both of them with his last flying lap in FP2 to move to the top of the time-sheets.
While most competitors had been locked out of South Australia throughout the plague local riders Arthur Sissis and Daniel Falzon do have the advantage of being able to test at the circuit in the lead up to this event. That said, both of them are privateer efforts, Sissis with his Unitech Racing band of supporters, while Falzon’s effort is essentially an all family affair.
Arthur Sissis – Image RbMotoLens
The bike Jack is riding is an ex DesmoSport Ducati Australian Superbike. In place of the race kit Marelli electronics set-up is the standard Panigale V4 R electronics. The standard Ducati set-up is still better than the electronics kit being used by most ASBK competitors, and was good enough to set lap records in recent seasons. Jack is not allowed to use the Marelli race kit due to restrictions placed on MotoGP riders in regards to the specification of bike they are allowed to ride, outside of official MotoGP Tests.
The move to the 25k WorldSBK level kit for the Ducati only happened here in last year’s COVID interrupted season. Penrite Honda riders also subsequently made the move to WorldSBK spec’ electronics but the rest of the field is on essentially track day level electronics.
In many other Superbike series around the world their race bikes would be modified in many other ways that would also prevent any MotoGP rider from legally being able to ride them at all, let alone race them. But luckily, ECU aside, our ASBK Superbikes are otherwise so standard that Miller can race here without breaking the MotoGP testing rules that only allow competitors to ride production bikes with minimal changes. And that, essentially, is what an Australian Superbike is. Our Superbikes are more standard than most Superstock categories around the world, let alone a British Superbike or World Superbike.
Josh Hook is getting accustomed to the Michelins and the Penrite Honda – Image RbMotoLens
Josh Hook is getting to terms with the 4.95-kilometre, 18-turn venue. His guest ride on the Penrite Honda starting strongly with a 1m52.726 good enough to match ASBK Championship leader Wayne Maxwell right down to the thousandth! The pair recording identical times to finish FP2 in P4 and P5.
Hooky is obviously getting his head around the Michelins that he rode on for the first time only a week or so ago, but he did say they are perhaps more similar in their characteristics to the Bridgestones he uses in World Endurance, which have a very different feel and construction in comparison to Pirelli.
In recent years Pirelli has been the dominant tyre in Australian Superbike with Michelin only coming back into the game recently and scoring some great results with Troy Herfoss.
Glenn Allerton – Image RbMotoLens
Lachlan Epis had been the quickest BMW in P6 but Glenn Allerton was confident of regaining the BMW honours come this final session after some gearing and other changes to the new M 1000 RR.
Cru Halliday had been picking up pace on the YRT machine and was P7 ahead of Oli Bayliss. Halliday the leading Dunlop runner. Oli was struggling to get the bike stopped in FP2 and the team have made some changes to try and get him more comfortable to push harder under brakes.
Oli Bayliss – Image RbMotoLens
It was all pretty close at the top across FP2 though, with the top nine all covered by nine-tenths across what is quite a long lap.
The track and ambient temperatures had dropped a few degrees by the time FP3 came around at 1625 and Arthur Sissis wasted no time in taking the battle back up to his old sparring partner Jack Miller, dropping in a 1m52.041 to go back to the top of the time-sheets as FP3 got underway.
Then everyone was in the dark…
The ever reliable Computime systems that we have come to rely on for over 20 years had a hiccup that saw all live timing across the circuit fail to update for over 20 minutes…
When it came back on line it was still showing Sissis on top after lowering his marker further to 1m51.877 and Daniel Falzon was up to P2 on the back of a 1m52.143, while Oli Bayliss had obviously found an answer to his problems and moved up to P3 with a 1m52.237.
Wayne Maxwell then dropped in a 1m52.249 to go P4, pushing Jack Miller back to P5 on combined times. Sissis then went quicker again, a 1m51.717 with five-minutes remaining the new target for the others to beat.
And beat it Wayne Maxwell did! The championship leader putting in a 1m51.686 to push Sissis out of top spot with four-minutes left on the shot clock.
Wayne Maxwell – Image RbMotoLens
Maxwell ends day one on top from Sissis and Falzon while Oli Bayliss moved up to P4. Jack Miller failed to improve on his FP2 time and sits fifth on combined times. Josh Hook also failed to improve on his FP2 marker, as did Lachlan Epis who suffered a crash at turn six.
Glenn Allerton ended the day as lead BMW in P6 after finding some more speed while Cru Halliday also found more pact on the YRT bike to move into P7 ahead of Josh Hook and Troy Herfoss.
The Australian Superbike action starts to get a little more serious tomorrow, Saturday, with a 40-minute Timed Practice session schedule to start at 1040 local time. The top nine in that session will graduate straight through to Q2. The remainder of the field will first have to contest a 15-minute QP1 session at 1520, the top three in which will join the top nine from practice in the Q2 session that will decide the grid for Sunday’s pair of 11 lap races. While that is less than half the race distance Jack is accustomed to racing at , imagine how short it will feel for Hooky who is used to doing 24 Hour races!
Qualifying lap record holder Mike Jones is not present at the event due to his choice not to get vaccinated. His pole lap had come on the Ducati 1299 Panigale Final Edition. ASBK rules had been opened up to allow the big-banger to compete in Superbike when Troy Bayliss made his return to racing. The 1299 displayed a distinct top speed advantage against the 1000 cc four-cylinder competition. Mike Jones also holds the race lap record on the 1299 at 1m52.875 and his pole record is 1m51.220. That year, 2019, tyre wear was dramatic and it saw Bryan Staring come from behind on the Dunlop shod BCperformance Kawasaki to win all three races. The Dunlops displayed a significant advantage on the abrasive surface but Pirelli and Michelin are confident they have closed that gap and now have tyres that will go the distance come race day.
Bryan Staring is not racing here this weekend due to the withdrawal of the BCperformance Kawasaki squad but the Western Australian was expected to test with the DesmoSport Ducati squad here on Monday after signing to compete with the team in ASBK 2022. But with Bryan residing in Western Australia, if he comes across the border they will likely never let him back in to the hermit kingdom that the W.A. Premier has made them in to, so those testing plans have now been shelved.
Anthony West has just returned from Europe but is on a very under prepared bike. His team is short-handed and Westy was not confident that they will be able to get the bike into a performance window that would allow him to compete on Sunday. But this afternoon they did make some progress and if they can improve the bike more tomorrow Westy might be able to show a little more of his potential.
ASBK Friday Combined Times (TBC)
Wayne Maxwell – Ducati V4 R – 1m51.686
Arthur Sissis – Yamaha YZF-R1 – 1m51.717
Daniel Falzon – Yamaha YZF-R1 – 1m52.143
Oli Bayliss – Ducati V4 R – 1m52.237
Jack Miller – Ducati V4 R – 1m52.331
Glenn Allerton – BMW M 1000 RR – 1m52.401
Cru Halliday – Yamaha YZF-R1 – 1m52.491
Josh Hook – Honda Fireblade SP – 1m52.726
Troy Herfoss – Honda Fireblade SP – 1m52.774
Lachlan Epis – BMW M 1000 RR – 1m52.820
Anthony West – Yamaha YZF-R1 – 1m52.900
The Bend Motorsport Park
There are numerous different lay-outs used here at The Bend Motorsport Park but it is the 4.95 kilometre ‘International Circuit’ is the one used for ASBK.
The 4.95 kilometre ‘International Circuit’ lay-out is the one used for ASBK at The Bend Motorsport Park
The South Australian venue have courted Dorna officials in a quest to lure international events to the circuit, which has already held a round of the Asian Road Racing Championship. Circuit owners have expressed interest in trying to bring World Superbike, World Endurance and even MotoGP events to the circuit in coming years. In full length form the circuit measures 7.77-kilometres in what they call the GT Circuit. This is shown in the lightly shaded areas of that circuit map above.
Onboard lap of The Bend
This video was taken on the first day that ASBK ever visited the South Australian venue for a test session three years ago. Times have tumbled since this 1m55 lap but it will give you a good idea of the circuit lay-out.
Australian Superbike Entry List
No
Rider
Make
Model
1
Wayne Maxwell
Ducati
V4R
2
Markus Chiodo
Yamaha
YZF-R1
3
Jed Metcher
Yamaha
YZF-R1
5
Josh Hook
Honda
CBR1000RR
13
Anthony West
Yamaha
YZF-R1
14
Glenn Allerton
BMW
M1000RR
16
Luke Jhonston
Yamaha
YZF-R1
17
Troy Herfoss
Honda
CBR1000RR
25
Daniel Falzon
Yamaha
YZF-R1
28
Aiden Wagner
Yamaha
YZF-R1
32
Oli Bayliss
Ducati
V4R
37
Michael Edwards
Yamaha
YZF-R1
43
Jack Miller
Ducati
V4R
51
Chandler Cooper
Honda
CBR1000RR
60
Ben Burke
Kawasaki
ZX-10R
61
Arthur Sissis
Yamaha
YZF-R1
65
Cru Halliday
Yamaha
YZF-R1
78
Nathan Spiteri
BMW
M1000RR
83
Lachlan Epis
BMW
M1000RR
92
Jack Davis
BMW
S1000RR
98
Evan Byles
Kawasaki
ZX-10R
ASBK Superbike Championship Points
Pos
Rider
Total
1
Wayne MAXWELL
132
2
Troy HERFOSS
106
3
Glenn ALLERTON
100
4
Cru HALLIDAY
88
5
Oli BAYLISS
87
6
Bryan STARING
87
7
Mike JONES
74
8
Arthur SISSIS
71
9
Jed METCHER
70
10
Josh WATERS
53
11
Anthony WEST
52
12
Matt WALTERS
/
The Bend ASBK Schedule
Saturday 4th December
9.00
9.20
Dunlop Supersport 300
Q1
20 mins
9.30
10.00
Motorsports TV Supersport
Q1
30 mins
10.10
10.30
Yamaha Finance R3 Cup
Q1
20 mins
10.40
11.20
Alpinestars Superbike
Practice
40 mins
11.30
11.50
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
Q1
20 mins
12.00
12.20
Dunlop Supersport 300
Q2
20 mins
12.20
13.00
Lunch – ASBK Pillion Rides
40 mins
13.00
13.20
Yamaha Finance R3 Cup
Q2
20 mins
13.30
14.00
Motorsports TV Supersport
Q2
30 mins
14.10
14.30
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
Q2
20 mins
14.40
14.50
ASBK TV Track Time
Media
10 mins
14.50
15.10
Dunlop Supersport 300
R1
7 Laps
15.20
15.35
Alpinestars Superbike
Q1
15 mins
15.35
15.50
ASBK Promotional Session
Promotional
15 mins
15.50
16.05
Alpinestars Superbike (Top 12)
Q2
15 mins
16.15
16.35
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
R1
5 Laps
16.45
17.05
Yamaha Finance R3 Cup
R1
6 Laps
Sunday 5th December
8.30
8.35
Dunlop Supersport 300 & Yamaha Finance R3 Cup
WUP
5 mins
8.45
8.50
Motorsports TV Supersport
WUP
5 mins
9.00
9.05
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
WUP
5 mins
9.15
9.25
Alpinestars Superbike
WUP
10 mins
9.35
9.55
Yamaha Finance R3 Cup
R2
6 Laps
10.05
10.35
Motorsports TV Supersport
R1
9 Laps
10.45
11.05
Dunlop Supersport 300
R2
7 Laps
11.15
11.55
Alpinestars Superbike (Replayed at 1230hrs)
R1
11 Laps
12.05
12.25
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
R2
5 Laps
12.25
13.10
Lunch – ASBK Pitlane Walk
45 mins
13.10
13.30
Dunlop Supersport 300
R3
7 Laps
13.40
14.10
Motorsports TV Supersport
R2
9 Laps
14.20
15.00
Alpinestars Superbike
R2
11 Laps
15.10
15.30
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
R3
5 Laps
15.40
16.00
Yamaha Finance R3 Cup
R3
6 Laps
After Race
16.15
17.00
ASBK 2021 Champions Photo Shoot
Straight
17.30
18.30
ASBK 2021 Awards Ceremony
Building
ASBK TV and LiveStream Schedule
For fans unable to make it to The Bend this weekend (and there’s still time, tickets and championships-to-be-decided reasons to go!), we have options…
ASBK fans from all over the world can enjoy all the live racing action from the comfort of their own home this weekend from the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul Grand Finale at The Bend Motorsport Park.
ASBK TV official Free-to-Air broadcast partner SBS have stepped up to provide ASBK fans the opportunity to catch the livestream action from Saturday via their exclusive broadcast platform SBS On-Demand.
SBS has long been the home of great motorsport and in 2021 they have again provided ASBK race fans with both Live Free-to-Air coverage and the opportunity to catch all the action via SBS On-Demand after each round. At no cost to join, ASBK fans simply need to jump on and subscribe to SBS On-Demand.
The ASBK Championship comes to massive conclusion on Sunday and ASBK TV have all the angles covered with Free-to-Air coverage on SBS HD, SBS On-Demand or via Fox Sports Australia from 12.30pm – 3.30pm (Australian Central Daylight Times).
New Zealand race fans can catch the action on Sky Sport NZ who continue to broadcast every round of ASBK to fans across the ditch.
From the comfort of home, or on mobile devices, SBS will provide free to air coverage, and Fox Sports Australia and Sky Sport NZ will ensure pay TV viewers won’t miss a minute of the action.
Live race coverage will include the Alpinestars Superbike, Motorsports TV Supersport, Dunlop Supersport 300, Yamaha Finance R3 Cup and the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup, plus race fans will get no shortage of behind the scenes features.
Fans across the nation and around the world can also go to www.asbk.com.au and watch up to the live ASBK TV Live Stream on Sunday.
Exclusive Live telecast of the Grand Finale of the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul, can be seen:
Saturday 4th December ASBK Livestream Telecast 10.30am – 5.00pm (ACDT = SA time)
Exclusive telecast on SBS On-Demand
Sunday 5th December ASBK Live TV Telecast 12.30pm – 3.30pm (ACDT = SA time)
SBS HD
Fox Sports Australia
Sky Sport NZ
SBS On-Demand
Sunday 5th December ASBK Livestream Telecast 9.30am – 4.00pm (ACDT = SA time)
Check your local guides for times and more information.
Keep up to date with the latest news on the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul via www.asbk.com.au and following ASBK on Facebook and Instagram.
The FP1 session had seen our guest stars Jack Miller and Josh Hook turn their first laps of The Bend but local riders Daniel Falzon and Arthur Sisses were the early pacesetters ahead of ASBK Championship leader Wayne Maxwell, DesmoSport Ducati’s Oli Bayliss and Maxima BMW’s Glenn Allerton. Please go back and read our report from FP1 for some good background not only on Jack Miller’s bike, but also various other interesting tidbits that we covered in our yarn from the morning session.
Wayne Maxwell is riding the Boost Mobile Ducati around the South Australian venue for the first time this weekend but the team’s base set-up was good enough for the championship leader to finish the opening session third quickest, behind the local pacesetters.
It was much the same story for the majority of the BMW runners, with the likes of Allerton and Epis never before riding the new M 1000 RR around The Bend. The teams tell us the M bikes is nothing remotely like the previous bike, thus all previous set-up data is of no use.
For much of FP2 it was still the two South Australians at the top of the time-sheets, both lowering their morning markers by a tenth or two in the first half of the session.
Jack Miller then started to get wound up after getting accustomed to his new mount and what was a completely new track for him to join the local boys in the 1m52.6s and push himself between them and up into P2, Sissis still on top.
Josh Hook then started to show his potential by dropping in a 1m53.065 to push Wayne Maxwell back to P5 with 11 minutes remaining in the session. Like Miller, this was Hooky’s first taste of The Bend.
The track temperature was now nudging 50-degrees but in some sections of the circuit that would have been much cooler due to a stiff breeze blowing across the circuit.
Arthur Sissis then lowered the benchmark to 1m52.4 then lower still to 1m52.338 before returning to the pits.
Jack Miller exited pit-lane again with a couple of minutes left in the session and put in a 1m52.864, a couple of tenths from his best and it seemed that in comparison to Sissis the MotoGP star was losing time between sectors one and two, but then was on his pace through the final sectors. He found that time on his final flying lap though to go top of the timesheets with a 1m52.331, on his final lap of the session, which is also only his 26th lap around The Bend. Miller recorded the highest top speed of the session at 305 km/h.
Arthur Sissis finishes FP2 a strong second place after putting in quite a few fast laps, the best of which was only 7-thousandths off Jack Miller. The last time Jack Miller and Arthur Sissis went head to head was in the 2014 Moto3 World Championship. Sissis was also in the Red Bull Rookies Cup with Josh Hook in 2010.
Daniel Falzon P3 ahead of Josh Hook and Wayne Maxwell, that latter pair neck and neck with identical 1m52.726 laps.
Lachlan Epis was also in the 52s and lead BMW with a 1m52.820 while Cru Halliday was starting to find some speed on the YRT bike to push up to seventh quickest ahead of Oli Bayliss.
The final 35-minute practice session for today is scheduled to take place at 1625 local time.
ASBK FP2 Results
Pos
Rider
Bike
Lap
Speed
1
Jack MILLER
Ducati V4R
1m52.331
305
2
Arthur SISSIS
Yamaha YZF-R1
1m52.338
303
3
Daniel FALZON
Yamaha YZF-R1
1m52.656
298
4
Joshua HOOK
Honda CBR RR
1m52.726
303
5
Wayne MAXWELL
Ducati V4R
1m52.726
301
6
Lachlan EPIS
BMW M RR
1m52.820
295
7
Cru HALLIDAY
Yamaha YZF-R1
1m53.021
299
8
Oliver BAYLISS
Ducati V4R
1m53.064
306
9
Glenn ALLERTON
BMW M RR
1m53.278
295
10
Aiden WAGNER
Yamaha YZF-R1
1m54.449
295
11
Troy HERFOSS
Honda CBR RR
1m55.213
295
12
Jed METCHER
Yamaha YZF-R1
1m55.242
293
13
Anthony WEST
Yamaha YZF-R1
1m55.475
290
14
Mark CHIODO
Yamaha YZF-R1
1m56.003
294
15
Luke JHONSTON
Yamaha YZF-R1
1m56.843
290
16
Nathan SPITERI
BMW M RR
1m58.177
283
17
Jack DAVIS
BMW S RR
1m58.267
291
18
Benjamin BURKE
Kawasaki ZX10RR
1m59.003
299
19
Evan BYLES
Kawasaki ZX10R
1m59.937
281
20
Chandler COOPER
Honda CBR RR
2m00.019
296
21
Michael EDWARDS
Yamaha YZF-R1
2m01.436
283
The Bend Motorsport Park
There are numerous different lay-outs used here at The Bend Motorsport Park but it is the 4.95 kilometre ‘International Circuit’ is the one used for ASBK.
The 4.95 kilometre ‘International Circuit’ lay-out is the one used for ASBK at The Bend Motorsport Park
The South Australian venue have courted Dorna officials in a quest to lure international events to the circuit, which has already held a round of the Asian Road Racing Championship. Circuit owners have expressed interest in trying to bring World Superbike, World Endurance and even MotoGP events to the circuit in coming years. In full length form the circuit measures 7.77-kilometres in what they call the GT Circuit. This is shown in the lightly shaded areas of that circuit map above.
Onboard lap of The Bend
This video was taken on the first day that ASBK ever visited the South Australian venue for a test session three years ago. Times have tumbled since this 1m55 lap but it will give you a good idea of the circuit lay-out.
Australian Superbike Entry List
No
Rider
Make
Model
1
Wayne Maxwell
Ducati
V4R
2
Markus Chiodo
Yamaha
YZF-R1
3
Jed Metcher
Yamaha
YZF-R1
5
Josh Hook
Honda
CBR1000RR
13
Anthony West
Yamaha
YZF-R1
14
Glenn Allerton
BMW
M1000RR
16
Luke Jhonston
Yamaha
YZF-R1
17
Troy Herfoss
Honda
CBR1000RR
25
Daniel Falzon
Yamaha
YZF-R1
28
Aiden Wagner
Yamaha
YZF-R1
32
Oli Bayliss
Ducati
V4R
37
Michael Edwards
Yamaha
YZF-R1
43
Jack Miller
Ducati
V4R
51
Chandler Cooper
Honda
CBR1000RR
60
Ben Burke
Kawasaki
ZX-10R
61
Arthur Sissis
Yamaha
YZF-R1
65
Cru Halliday
Yamaha
YZF-R1
78
Nathan Spiteri
BMW
M1000RR
83
Lachlan Epis
BMW
M1000RR
92
Jack Davis
BMW
S1000RR
98
Evan Byles
Kawasaki
ZX-10R
ASBK Superbike Championship Points
Pos
Rider
Total
1
Wayne MAXWELL
132
2
Troy HERFOSS
106
3
Glenn ALLERTON
100
4
Cru HALLIDAY
88
5
Oli BAYLISS
87
6
Bryan STARING
87
7
Mike JONES
74
8
Arthur SISSIS
71
9
Jed METCHER
70
10
Josh WATERS
53
11
Anthony WEST
52
12
Matt WALTERS
/
The Bend ASBK Schedule
Friday 3rd December
7.15
7.30
Riders Briefing (SSP300, R3 Cup, OJC)
Briefing 1
15 mins
7.35
7.50
Riders Briefing (SBK, SSP)
Briefing 2
15 mins
8.30
8.50
Yamaha Finance R3 Cup
FP1
20 mins
9.00
9.30
Motorsports TV Supersport
FP1
30 mins
9.40
10.05
Dunlop Supersport 300
FP1
25 mins
10.15
10.50
Alpinestars Superbike
FP1
35 mins
11.00
11.20
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
FP1
20 mins
11.30
11.50
Yamaha Finance R3 Cup
FP2
20 mins
12.00
12.30
Motorsports TV Supersport
FP2
30 mins
12.30
12.50
Lunch – ASBK Pillion Rides
20 mins
12.50
13.15
Dunlop Supersport 300
FP2
25 mins
13.25
14.00
Alpinestars Superbike
FP2
35 mins
14.10
14.30
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
FP2
20 mins
14.40
15.00
Yamaha Finance R3 Cup
FP3
20 mins
15.10
15.40
Motorsports TV Supersport
FP3
30 mins
15.50
16.15
Dunlop Supersport 300
FP3
25 mins
16.25
17.00
Alpinestars Superbike
FP3
35 mins
17.10
17.30
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
FP3
20 mins
Saturday 4th December
9.00
9.20
Dunlop Supersport 300
Q1
20 mins
9.30
10.00
Motorsports TV Supersport
Q1
30 mins
10.10
10.30
Yamaha Finance R3 Cup
Q1
20 mins
10.40
11.20
Alpinestars Superbike
Practice
40 mins
11.30
11.50
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
Q1
20 mins
12.00
12.20
Dunlop Supersport 300
Q2
20 mins
12.20
13.00
Lunch – ASBK Pillion Rides
40 mins
13.00
13.20
Yamaha Finance R3 Cup
Q2
20 mins
13.30
14.00
Motorsports TV Supersport
Q2
30 mins
14.10
14.30
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
Q2
20 mins
14.40
14.50
ASBK TV Track Time
Media
10 mins
14.50
15.10
Dunlop Supersport 300
R1
7 Laps
15.20
15.35
Alpinestars Superbike
Q1
15 mins
15.35
15.50
ASBK Promotional Session
Promotional
15 mins
15.50
16.05
Alpinestars Superbike (Top 12)
Q2
15 mins
16.15
16.35
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
R1
5 Laps
16.45
17.05
Yamaha Finance R3 Cup
R1
6 Laps
Sunday 5th December
8.30
8.35
Dunlop Supersport 300 & Yamaha Finance R3 Cup
WUP
5 mins
8.45
8.50
Motorsports TV Supersport
WUP
5 mins
9.00
9.05
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
WUP
5 mins
9.15
9.25
Alpinestars Superbike
WUP
10 mins
9.35
9.55
Yamaha Finance R3 Cup
R2
6 Laps
10.05
10.35
Motorsports TV Supersport
R1
9 Laps
10.45
11.05
Dunlop Supersport 300
R2
7 Laps
11.15
11.55
Alpinestars Superbike (Replayed at 1230hrs)
R1
11 Laps
12.05
12.25
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
R2
5 Laps
12.25
13.10
Lunch – ASBK Pitlane Walk
45 mins
13.10
13.30
Dunlop Supersport 300
R3
7 Laps
13.40
14.10
Motorsports TV Supersport
R2
9 Laps
14.20
15.00
Alpinestars Superbike
R2
11 Laps
15.10
15.30
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
R3
5 Laps
15.40
16.00
Yamaha Finance R3 Cup
R3
6 Laps
After Race
16.15
17.00
ASBK 2021 Champions Photo Shoot
Straight
17.30
18.30
ASBK 2021 Awards Ceremony
Building
ASBK TV and LiveStream Schedule
For fans unable to make it to The Bend this weekend (and there’s still time, tickets and championships-to-be-decided reasons to go!), we have options…
ASBK fans from all over the world can enjoy all the live racing action from the comfort of their own home this weekend from the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul Grand Finale at The Bend Motorsport Park.
ASBK TV official Free-to-Air broadcast partner SBS have stepped up to provide ASBK fans the opportunity to catch the livestream action from Saturday via their exclusive broadcast platform SBS On-Demand.
SBS has long been the home of great motorsport and in 2021 they have again provided ASBK race fans with both Live Free-to-Air coverage and the opportunity to catch all the action via SBS On-Demand after each round. At no cost to join, ASBK fans simply need to jump on and subscribe to SBS On-Demand.
The ASBK Championship comes to massive conclusion on Sunday and ASBK TV have all the angles covered with Free-to-Air coverage on SBS HD, SBS On-Demand or via Fox Sports Australia from 12.30pm – 3.30pm (Australian Central Daylight Times).
New Zealand race fans can catch the action on Sky Sport NZ who continue to broadcast every round of ASBK to fans across the ditch.
From the comfort of home, or on mobile devices, SBS will provide free to air coverage, and Fox Sports Australia and Sky Sport NZ will ensure pay TV viewers won’t miss a minute of the action.
Live race coverage will include the Alpinestars Superbike, Motorsports TV Supersport, Dunlop Supersport 300, Yamaha Finance R3 Cup and the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup, plus race fans will get no shortage of behind the scenes features.
Fans across the nation and around the world can also go to www.asbk.com.au and watch up to the live ASBK TV Live Stream on Sunday.
Exclusive Live telecast of the Grand Finale of the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul, can be seen:
Saturday 4th December ASBK Livestream Telecast 10.30am – 5.00pm (ACDT = SA time)
Exclusive telecast on SBS On-Demand
Sunday 5th December ASBK Live TV Telecast 12.30pm – 3.30pm (ACDT = SA time)
SBS HD
Fox Sports Australia
Sky Sport NZ
SBS On-Demand
Sunday 5th December ASBK Livestream Telecast 9.30am – 4.00pm (ACDT = SA time)
Check your local guides for times and more information.
Keep up to date with the latest news on the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul via www.asbk.com.au and following ASBK on Facebook and Instagram.
The excitement around the final round of the Australian Superbike Championship has been dramatically boosted by the entry of Jack Miller. The Factory MotoGP star shocked many when he announced his intention to compete in the ASBK finale, and even more still when we revealed that he had bought his own motorcycle and that, due to MotoGP testing restrictions, he woud have to run a standard ECU.
The bike Jack is riding is an ex DesmoSport Ducati Australian Superbike. In place of the race kit Marelli electronics set-up is the standard Panigale V4 R electronics. The standard Ducati set-up is still better than the electronics kit being used by most ASBK competitors, and was good enough to set lap records in recent seasons.
The move to the 25k+ WorldSBK level kit for the Ducati only happened in last year’s COVID interrupted season. Penrite Honda riders also subsequently made the move to WorldSBK spec’ electronics but the rest of the field is on essentially track day level electronics. 2018 World Endurance Champion Josh Hook is riding a Penrite Honda this weekend alongside a ginger looking Troy Herfoss, who is making an earlier than expected return from injury in an attempt to race this weekend.
The Yamaha competitors are particuarly hamstrung by their kit electronics and for YZF-R1 riders the rules being opened up to allow MoTeC can not come soon enough.
We also believe the root of the problems that beset BCperformance Kawasaki largely stemmed from them failing to get to grips with their electronic package, and that ultimately saw Kawasaki withdraw their support and the team are not taking part in this weekend’s racing.
FP1 was essentially a shakedown for many but the local boys, South Australia’s Arthur Sissis and Daniel Falzon, were quick to show their form on home turf. Throughout the COVID period where people from interstate have not been allowed to enter South Australia, the likes of Sissis and Falzon have been able to turn plenty of laps around The Bend.
Qualifying lap record holder Mike Jones is not present at the event due to his choice not to get vaccinated. His pole lap had come on the Ducati 1299 Panigale Final Edition. ASBK rules had been opened up to allow the big-banger to compete in Superbike when Troy Bayliss made his return to racing. The 1299 displayed a distinct top speed advantage against the 1000 cc four-cylinder competition. Mike Jones also holds the race lap record on the 1299 at 1m52.875 and his pole record is 1m51.220. That year, 2019, tyre wear was dramatic and it saw Bryan Staring come from behind on the Dunlop shod BCperformance Kawasaki to win all three races. The Dunlops displayed a significant advantage on the abrasive surface but Pirelli and Michelin are confident they have closed that gap and now have tyres that will go the distance come race day.
Bryan Staring is not racing here this weekend due to the withdrawal of the BCperformance Kawasaki squad but the Western Australian was expected to test with the DesmoSport Ducati squad here on Monday after signing to compete with the team in ASBK 2022. But with Bryan residing in Western Australia if he comes across they will likely never let him back in to the hermit kingdom that their premier has made them in to so those testing plans have now been shelved.
Anthony West has just returned from Europe but is on a very under prepared bike that he managed to complete only a couple of laps on in the session. His team is short-handed and Westy is not confident that they will be able to get the bike into a performance window that will allow him to compete on Sunday.
Daniel Falzon topped the opening session with a 1m52.786 ahead of fellow South Aussie Arthur Sissis. Third was championship leader Wayne Maxwell but he is half-a-second off Falzon’s P1 time.
Oli Bayliss was fourth quickest ahead of Glenn Allerton on the BMW M 1000 RR and Cru Halliday on the YRT bike.
Jack Miller completed 14 laps for a best of 1m53.975 and P7. Miller clocked 304 km/h down the chute, second only to fellow Ducati Panigale V4 R rider Bayliss who hit 305 km/h.
Lachlan Epis was P8 with the new BMW Alliance Racing squad ahead of Herfoss. The Honda rider treading carefully as he gets comfortable on the bike following the massive injuries he sustained in Darwin and putting ten laps down for a best of 1m54.900 to just pip out his guest team-mate for this weekend, Josh Hook. The F.C.C. TSR Honda World Endurance rider is, like his good mate Jack Miller, experiencing The Bend for the first time and rounded out the top ten.
I expect to see times tumble this afternoon and a few riders perhaps dipping into the 1m51s, and 1m50s are not out of the question before this day is out.
Conditions this morning were just about perfect as the ambient nudged past 20-degrees and the track temperature headed towards 40-degrees. It will be warmer this afternoon with the ambient heading towards 30-degrees which will likely see track temps get up around 50-degrees at times, but a breeze is also expected this afternoon which might take some of the heat out of the track and keep it a level conducive to fast times. We expect similar conditions on both Saturday and Sunday.
There are numerous different lay-outs used here at The Bend Motorsport Park but it is the 4.95 kilometre ‘International Circuit’ is the one used for ASBK.
The 4.95 kilometre ‘International Circuit’ lay-out is the one used for ASBK at The Bend Motorsport Park
The South Australian venue have courted Dorna officials in a quest to lure international events to the circuit, which has already held a round of the Asian Road Racing Championship. Circuit owners have expressed interest in trying to bring World Superbike, World Endurance and even MotoGP events to the circuit in coming years. In full length form the circuit measures 7.77-kilometres in what they call the GT Circuit. This is shown in the lightly shaded areas of that circuit map above.
ASBK FP1 Results
Pos
Rider
Bike
TIme
Speed
1
Daniel FALZON
Yamaha YZF-R1
1m52.786
298
2
Arthur SISSIS
Yamaha YZF-R1
1m52.843
301
3
Wayne MAXWELL
Ducati V4R
1m53.261
297
4
Oliver BAYLISS
Ducati V4R
1m53.539
305
5
Glenn ALLERTON
BMW M RR
1m53.723
297
6
Cru HALLIDAY
Yamaha YZF-R1
1m53.954
299
7
Jack MILLER
Ducati V4R
1m53.975
304
8
Lachlan EPIS
BMW M RR
1m54.433
291
9
Troy HERFOSS
Honda CBR RR
1m54.900
294
10
Joshua HOOK
Honda CBR RR
1m55.111
300
11
Aiden WAGNER
Yamaha YZF-R1
1m55.190
296
12
Jed METCHER
Yamaha YZF-R1
1m55.371
291
13
Mark CHIODO
Yamaha YZF-R1
1m57.482
291
14
Luke JHONSTON
Yamaha YZF-R1
1m58.564
293
15
Jack DAVIS
BMW S RR
1m59.266
289
16
Nathan SPITERI
BMW M RR
2m00.166
280
17
Chandler COOPER
Honda CBR RR
2m00.443
297
18
Anthony WEST
Yamaha YZF-R1
2m00.555
285
19
Evan BYLES
Kawasaki ZX10R
2m01.148
283
20
Michael EDWARDS
Yamaha YZF-R1
2m01.995
281
21
Benjamin BURKE
Kawasaki ZX10RR
2m08.291
238
Onboard lap of The Bend
This video was taken on the first day that ASBK ever visited the South Australian venue for a test session three years ago. Times have tumbled since this 1m55 lap but it will give you a good idea of the circuit lay-out.
Australian Superbike Entry List
No
Rider
Make
Model
1
Wayne Maxwell
Ducati
V4R
2
Markus Chiodo
Yamaha
YZF-R1
3
Jed Metcher
Yamaha
YZF-R1
5
Josh Hook
Honda
CBR1000RR
13
Anthony West
Yamaha
YZF-R1
14
Glenn Allerton
BMW
M1000RR
16
Luke Jhonston
Yamaha
YZF-R1
17
Troy Herfoss
Honda
CBR1000RR
25
Daniel Falzon
Yamaha
YZF-R1
28
Aiden Wagner
Yamaha
YZF-R1
32
Oli Bayliss
Ducati
V4R
37
Michael Edwards
Yamaha
YZF-R1
43
Jack Miller
Ducati
V4R
51
Chandler Cooper
Honda
CBR1000RR
60
Ben Burke
Kawasaki
ZX-10R
61
Arthur Sissis
Yamaha
YZF-R1
65
Cru Halliday
Yamaha
YZF-R1
78
Nathan Spiteri
BMW
M1000RR
83
Lachlan Epis
BMW
M1000RR
92
Jack Davis
BMW
S1000RR
98
Evan Byles
Kawasaki
ZX-10R
ASBK Superbike Championship Points
Pos
Rider
Total
1
Wayne MAXWELL
132
2
Troy HERFOSS
106
3
Glenn ALLERTON
100
4
Cru HALLIDAY
88
5
Oli BAYLISS
87
6
Bryan STARING
87
7
Mike JONES
74
8
Arthur SISSIS
71
9
Jed METCHER
70
10
Josh WATERS
53
11
Anthony WEST
52
12
Matt WALTERS
/
The Bend ASBK Schedule
Friday 3rd December
7.15
7.30
Riders Briefing (SSP300, R3 Cup, OJC)
Briefing 1
15 mins
7.35
7.50
Riders Briefing (SBK, SSP)
Briefing 2
15 mins
8.30
8.50
Yamaha Finance R3 Cup
FP1
20 mins
9.00
9.30
Motorsports TV Supersport
FP1
30 mins
9.40
10.05
Dunlop Supersport 300
FP1
25 mins
10.15
10.50
Alpinestars Superbike
FP1
35 mins
11.00
11.20
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
FP1
20 mins
11.30
11.50
Yamaha Finance R3 Cup
FP2
20 mins
12.00
12.30
Motorsports TV Supersport
FP2
30 mins
12.30
12.50
Lunch – ASBK Pillion Rides
20 mins
12.50
13.15
Dunlop Supersport 300
FP2
25 mins
13.25
14.00
Alpinestars Superbike
FP2
35 mins
14.10
14.30
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
FP2
20 mins
14.40
15.00
Yamaha Finance R3 Cup
FP3
20 mins
15.10
15.40
Motorsports TV Supersport
FP3
30 mins
15.50
16.15
Dunlop Supersport 300
FP3
25 mins
16.25
17.00
Alpinestars Superbike
FP3
35 mins
17.10
17.30
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
FP3
20 mins
Saturday 4th December
9.00
9.20
Dunlop Supersport 300
Q1
20 mins
9.30
10.00
Motorsports TV Supersport
Q1
30 mins
10.10
10.30
Yamaha Finance R3 Cup
Q1
20 mins
10.40
11.20
Alpinestars Superbike
Practice
40 mins
11.30
11.50
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
Q1
20 mins
12.00
12.20
Dunlop Supersport 300
Q2
20 mins
12.20
13.00
Lunch – ASBK Pillion Rides
40 mins
13.00
13.20
Yamaha Finance R3 Cup
Q2
20 mins
13.30
14.00
Motorsports TV Supersport
Q2
30 mins
14.10
14.30
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
Q2
20 mins
14.40
14.50
ASBK TV Track Time
Media
10 mins
14.50
15.10
Dunlop Supersport 300
R1
7 Laps
15.20
15.35
Alpinestars Superbike
Q1
15 mins
15.35
15.50
ASBK Promotional Session
Promotional
15 mins
15.50
16.05
Alpinestars Superbike (Top 12)
Q2
15 mins
16.15
16.35
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
R1
5 Laps
16.45
17.05
Yamaha Finance R3 Cup
R1
6 Laps
Sunday 5th December
8.30
8.35
Dunlop Supersport 300 & Yamaha Finance R3 Cup
WUP
5 mins
8.45
8.50
Motorsports TV Supersport
WUP
5 mins
9.00
9.05
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
WUP
5 mins
9.15
9.25
Alpinestars Superbike
WUP
10 mins
9.35
9.55
Yamaha Finance R3 Cup
R2
6 Laps
10.05
10.35
Motorsports TV Supersport
R1
9 Laps
10.45
11.05
Dunlop Supersport 300
R2
7 Laps
11.15
11.55
Alpinestars Superbike (Replayed at 1230hrs)
R1
11 Laps
12.05
12.25
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
R2
5 Laps
12.25
13.10
Lunch – ASBK Pitlane Walk
45 mins
13.10
13.30
Dunlop Supersport 300
R3
7 Laps
13.40
14.10
Motorsports TV Supersport
R2
9 Laps
14.20
15.00
Alpinestars Superbike
R2
11 Laps
15.10
15.30
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
R3
5 Laps
15.40
16.00
Yamaha Finance R3 Cup
R3
6 Laps
After Race
16.15
17.00
ASBK 2021 Champions Photo Shoot
Straight
17.30
18.30
ASBK 2021 Awards Ceremony
Building
ASBK TV and LiveStream Schedule
For fans unable to make it to The Bend this weekend (and there’s still time, tickets and championships-to-be-decided reasons to go!), we have options…
ASBK fans from all over the world can enjoy all the live racing action from the comfort of their own home this weekend from the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul Grand Finale at The Bend Motorsport Park.
ASBK TV official Free-to-Air broadcast partner SBS have stepped up to provide ASBK fans the opportunity to catch the livestream action from Saturday via their exclusive broadcast platform SBS On-Demand.
SBS has long been the home of great motorsport and in 2021 they have again provided ASBK race fans with both Live Free-to-Air coverage and the opportunity to catch all the action via SBS On-Demand after each round. At no cost to join, ASBK fans simply need to jump on and subscribe to SBS On-Demand.
The ASBK Championship comes to massive conclusion on Sunday and ASBK TV have all the angles covered with Free-to-Air coverage on SBS HD, SBS On-Demand or via Fox Sports Australia from 12.30pm – 3.30pm (Australian Central Daylight Times).
New Zealand race fans can catch the action on Sky Sport NZ who continue to broadcast every round of ASBK to fans across the ditch.
From the comfort of home, or on mobile devices, SBS will provide free to air coverage, and Fox Sports Australia and Sky Sport NZ will ensure pay TV viewers won’t miss a minute of the action.
Live race coverage will include the Alpinestars Superbike, Motorsports TV Supersport, Dunlop Supersport 300, Yamaha Finance R3 Cup and the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup, plus race fans will get no shortage of behind the scenes features.
Fans across the nation and around the world can also go to www.asbk.com.au and watch up to the live ASBK TV Live Stream on Sunday.
Exclusive Live telecast of the Grand Finale of the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul, can be seen:
Saturday 4th December ASBK Livestream Telecast 10.30am – 5.00pm (ACDT = SA time)
Exclusive telecast on SBS On-Demand
Sunday 5th December ASBK Live TV Telecast 12.30pm – 3.30pm (ACDT = SA time)
SBS HD
Fox Sports Australia
Sky Sport NZ
SBS On-Demand
Sunday 5th December ASBK Livestream Telecast 9.30am – 4.00pm (ACDT = SA time)
Check your local guides for times and more information.
Keep up to date with the latest news on the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul via www.asbk.com.au and following ASBK on Facebook and Instagram.
Testing the 2022 Husqvarna Norden 901 in the Azores, Portgual. (Photo by Marco Campelli)
We test the 2022 Husqvarna Norden 901, a new adventure bike based on the KTM 890 Adventure platform. It’s powered by a 890cc parallel-Twin that makes 105 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and 74 lb-ft of torque at 6,500 rpm at the crank (claimed). MSRP is $13,999.
With styling nearly identical to the popular concept Husqvarna showed at EICMA in 2019, the Norden 901 has a rally-style fairing with a round headlight and integrated fog lights. Positioned between the KTM 890 Adventure and 890 Adventure R, the Norden 901 is aimed at adventure riders who want to travel long distances but not sacrifice off-road capability.
The Norden 901 is equipped with ride modes (Street, Offroad, Urban, and optional Explorer), ABS (Road and Offroad modes), lean-angle-sensitive Motorcycle Traction Control, an up/down quickshifter (Easy Shift), and cruise control. The wide, flat seat height adjustable (33.6/34.4 in.). It’s equipped with adjustable WP Apex suspension, with 8.7/8.5 inches of front rear travel, and its 21-inch front and 18-inch rear tubeless wheels are shod with Pirelli Scorpion Rally FTR tires.
We subjected the 2022 Husqvarna Norden 901 to two days of on- and off-road testing on to São Miguel, a wet, foggy island in the North Atlantic Ocean that’s part of the Portuguese Azores archipelago and is crisscrossed with roads and tracks covered in pavement, cobblestones, gravel, mud, and sand.
Ducati’s Panigale V4 platform has been pushing the superbike segment forward with cutting-edge tech since it debuted in 2018. The Bologna, Italy, marque hasn’t grown complacent during that time either, revising the flagship sportbike with minor adjustments over the years. The 2022 Ducati Panigale V4 and V4 S receive the most thorough update yet, with revisions to the engine, chassis, electronics, aero, and ergos.
2022 Ducati Panigale V4 S
The Panigale’s MotoGP-derived Desmosedici Stradale engine maintains it’s 1,103cc capacity in 2022, but a new torque management system and dedicated mapping bump the V4 to 210 horsepower at 12,500 rpm and 90.6 lb-ft of torque at 11,000 rpm. Ducati’s new SBK gearbox helps deliver that power to the back wheel thanks to the lengthened 1st, 2nd, and 6th gear. As a result, the Panigale V4 said to deliver slow-speed cornering, harder corner-exit acceleration, and a higher top speed.
The V4’s updated electronics put the Panigale’s power parameters at the user’s fingertips with new Power Modes. In Full Power Mode, riders can access the motorcycle’s full potential, with no electronic filters dulling the engine’s torque curves (except in 1st gear). High and Medium Modes gain a refined throttle-by-wire map management system, which optimizes thrust upon open throttle. Low Mode limits the Desmosedici Stradale to 150 horsepower while a more manageable throttle response maximizes road riding comfort and enjoyment.
2022 Ducati Panigale V4 S
In addition to the Panigale’s Power Modes, the four Riding Modes (Race A, Race B, Sport, Street) also change the superbike’s personality. The reworked dashboard communicates all those settings with new external lights and functions. At the suggestion of Ducati MotoGP riders, technicians developed a new Track Evo info mode. By shifting the tachometer bar to the top of the display, the gear indicator at center, and the rider aids along the right side, the new layout provides the ideal screen legibility for racers and track riders.
2022 Ducati Panigale V4 S
Ducati’s MotoGP team is known for its aerodynamic packages and the 2022 Panigale V4 lives up to that reputation. The new double-profile winglets are thinner, more compact, and more efficient, but still provide 81 pounds of downforce at 186 mph. Of course, V4 engines are known to generate heat, and additional air-extraction gills on the lower fairing enhance cooling. Rider comfort also improves due to a flatter seat. The grippy seat cover also helps lock the rider in place during hard braking while a reshaped fuel tank offers a better anchor point for the user’s legs.
2022 Ducati Panigale V4 S
While the Panigale V4 and V4 S share much of the same equipment, the up-spec S model features electronically controlled Öhlins suspension, with an NPX 25/30 fork, TTX36 rear shock, and steering damper. And it rolls on premium forged aluminum alloy wheels shod with Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP tires. The standard V4, on the other hand, opts for a fully adjustable Showa Big Piston fork, Sachs rear shock, Sachs steering damper, and cast aluminum wheels.
2022 Ducati Panigale V4
While the two chassis may employ different suspensions and wheels, both boast premium Brembo braking systems. Each superbike now benefits from a higher swingarm pivot, which increases the Panigale’s anti-squat characteristics under acceleration. Ducati modestly updates the superbike’s cosmetics as well, with both variants featuring the brand’s signature red fairings and new black Ducati logos. However, the V4 S also gains a two-tone seat and red wheel tape.
Available in February, the 2022 Ducati Panigale V4 retails for $23,295 while the 2022 Ducati Panigale V4 S goes for $29,995.
For more information or to find a Ducati dealer near you, visit ducati.com.
They will include these results in their helmet comfort rating system.
The survey asks riders to rate helmets on seven factors:
Visor’s ability to resist fogging up
Ability to seal out moisture
Noise inside helmet
Ventilation inside helmet
Aerodynamic neck loading (a wind tunnel test)
Helmet weight
Peripheral view
CRASH is run by a consortium of government agencies, insurance companies and the Australian Motorcycle Council to provide riders with independent and consistent information on the levels of protection from injury in a crash provided by motorcycle helmets and the comfort level of the helmet.
It is similar to the comprehensive British SHARP helmet safety scheme which has tested and rated hundreds of helmets.
But they don’t rate comfort which can be just as important as safety because a helmet that is not comfortable can be a distraction that could cause a crash.
Of particular interest in Australia is the ability to keep your head cool in our oppressive summer heat and humidity.
Sadly it is nearly impossible to test the comfort of a helmet in a shop.
You only get to test that once you buy the helmet and ride with it for several hours. And then it’s too late if you discover painful pressure points, or noise, aero and ventilation issues.
Perhaps we need testing rooms at motorcycle shops where you can try on a helmet and sit on a couch for an hour with a fan blowing hot air at your head!
Meanwhile, an independent helmet comfort rating system is a good guide.
So get cracking and fill in the survey now by clicking here. It only takes seconds.
But be quick as the survey closes on 13 December 2021.
Rossi vs Lorenzo, Doohan vs Criville and more – have a look at some classic teammate battles for the World Championship
In motorsport, they say your first rival is your teammate. Same team, same equipment, equal playing field. So we thought it would be good to take a little trip down memory lane to have a look at some Grand Prix rivalries between riders competing inside the same garage.
Doohan vs Criville (500cc) – 1996
The Repsol Honda Team pairing enjoyed many a great battle during their time together as teammates at HRC. The 1996 Spanish Grand Prix, Criville’s home race at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto, was a major flashpoint. At the final corner on the last lap, Criville and Doohan went head-to-head for victory, but the Spaniard’s race ended with him highsiding. Spielberg and Brno also hosted a couple of classics between the duo.
1996: Doohan vs Crivillé ⚔️
The pair enjoyed many duels during their stint together at @HRC_MotoGP!
Jerez produced the biggest flashpoint 25 years ago, while Brno and Spielberg also played host to classics later that season! ???? pic.twitter.com/lxXNKiH3ue
One of the great 250cc showdowns was an all Tech3 Racing affair in 2000 between Olivier Jacque and Shinya Nakano. Victory at the final race of the season, held at Australia’s classic Phillip Island, handed Jacque the title, as the teammates finished 0.014s apart across the line – and just seven points apart in the overall standings.
Talmacsi vs Faubel (125cc) – 2007
The 2007 125cc World Championship fight between Gabor Talmacsi and Hector Faubel was one of the classic lightweight class battles. It all came down to a Valencia final day showdown. Faubel won the race but second place for Talmacsi was enough to see the Hungarian win the title, as the top five crossed the line just 0.8s apart. Talmacsi claimed the crown by five points over teammate Faubel.
Rossi vs Lorenzo (MotoGP™) – 2009
A simply unforgettable rivalry between two of MotoGP™’s greats. Factory Yamaha teammates Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo were just at the beginning of their premier class scrap, with the most famous head-to-head in 2009 coming at the Catalan GP. Final corner, last lap, after a race-long fight, Rossi came out on top. The Doctor won the title later that year, with Lorenzo second.
Rabat vs Kallio (Moto2™) – 2014
Marc VDS teammates Tito Rabat and Mika Kallio fought it out for the Moto2™ World Championship title in 2014. Between them, they claimed 10 victories and four 1-2s, as Rabat became a World Champion for the first time.
Lorenzo vs Rossi (MotoGP™) – 2015
A season that will never be forgotten. A Valencia GP that will never be forgotten. Lorenzo held his nerve to become a five-time World Champion, as that elusive 10th world title slipped away from Rossi’s grasps.
Gardner vs Fernandez (Moto2™) – 2021
Red Bull KTM Ajo’s magical pairing of Remy Gardner and Raul Fernandez dominated the intermediate class World Championship in 2021. 13 wins were collected between the two of them, rookie Fernandez picking up eight of those, but it was Australia’s Gardner who won the title at the final race of the season in Valencia. Both now get ready to be teammates again, this time at Tech3 KTM Factory Racing in MotoGP™.
Where will the next teammate title tussle come from? Here’s hoping there’s plenty more on the way very soon.
Every practice session, qualifying battle and race, exclusive interviews, historic races and so much more fantastic content: this is VideoPass!
The 660 Factory is distinguishable at first glance by its black paint scheme and single-seat configuration, though it also comes with a two-up saddle. (Aprilia/)
The pint-size Tuono 660 enjoys an elaboration on its semi-naked theme with the Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory, which makes its world debut at EICMA 2021. Rather than boosting the 659cc parallel twin (which produces the same 100 hp/49 pound-feet as the standard Tuono), Aprilia focuses its efforts on enhanced handling. Yes, the Noale manufacturer also claims a more potent power-to-weight ratio, but that’s simply due to a new lithium battery which shaves around 4.4 pounds, trimming the curb weight to 399 pounds. Also aiding acceleration is a 16-tooth final drive pinion gear, creating a shorter ratio for more urgent thrust from the engine.
The biggest news with the Tuono 660 Factory is the fully adjustable suspension, which adds spring preload while maintaining the standard model’s preload and compression settings. (Aprilia/)
The big news comes in the form of a fully adjustable 41mm Kayaba fork, which as before can be set for compression/rebound damping, but now adds a spring preload setting as well. At the tail, a remote-reservoir Sachs shock offers similar adjustability, adding spring preload to the arsenal. Unlike the standard Tuono 660, the Factory model packages the six-axis inertial platform as standard. The system uses accelerometers and gyroscopes to enable wheelie control to be operated independently of traction control, as well as bending lights and lean-angle-sensitive ABS. Aprilia’s multi-map cornering-ABS system capitalizes on an algorithm that monitors front brake lever effort, lateral acceleration, and lean/pitch/yaw angles. The APRC package also includes cruise control, a quickshifter, adjustable engine-braking, and engine mapping to adjust different ride modes. Those settings are individually customizable into five modes: three for road use, and two for the racetrack.
The Factory model includes the same double fairing design as the standard Tuono 660, which channels air to optimize high-speed stability while drawing hot air from the engine. (Aprilia/)
The Aprilia Tuono 660 should open more possibilities for streetbike riders seeking a canyon-carving machine with sharper handling. Combining its upgraded suspension with the Tuono’s characterful 270-degree firing pattern, this middleweight brings Italian flavor to a field dominated by Japanese contenders. The powerplant is optimized as a load-bearing element, and utilizes its rear section for housing the aluminum swingarm. The bike’s shorter final drive should also make it more entertaining in straightaways, aided by the fact that 80 percent of peak torque is available from 4,000 rpm. However, while many might be swayed by the Factory’s spicy twin, more sophisticated suspension, and singular looks, shoppers will likely find it spendier than its competitive set: Pricing hasn’t yet been announced for the factory model, but the standard-issue Tuono 660 starts at a not-inconsiderable $10,499.
The standard Tuono’s colorful TFT display offers a wealth of information, as well as customizable views and shift lights atop the screen. (Aprilia/)
When the Tuono 660 Factory hits roads stateside, this spinoff version will be visually set apart by its so-called Factory Dark graphics and its single-seat tail fairing, distinguishing it from the two-up Tuono 660. Social riders need not worry, however: every Tuono 660 Factory will also come with a passenger seat.
The single-seat saddle offers limited options, but sure looks cool with its aeronautics-style setup. (Aprilia/)
2022 Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory Technical Specifications and Price
41mm Kayaba inverted, fully adjustable; 4.7 in. travel
REAR SUSPENSION
Sachs, remote reservoir, compression, rebound, and spring adjustable; 5.1 in. travel
FRONT BRAKES
Brembo 4-piston, dual 320mm discs w/ ABS
REAR BRAKE
Brembo 2-piston, 220mm disc w/ ABS
WHEELS, FRONT/REAR
5-spoke cast aluminum; 17 x 3.5 in. / 17 x 5.5 in.
TIRES, FRONT/REAR
120/70-17 / 180/55-17
RAKE/TRAIL
23.9°/3.9 in.
WHEELBASE
53.9 in.
SEAT HEIGHT
32.5 in.
FUEL CAPACITY
3.8 gal.
CLAIMED CURB WEIGHT
399 lb.
Pricing has yet to be announced for the Factory edition Tuono 660, but estimate a premium over the standard Tuono 660’s $10,499 starting MSRP. (Aprilia/)
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