Image: Russell Colvin.

Yamaha Racing Team’s Daniel Falzon has set the pace in Friday practice at The Bend Motorsport Park’s third round of the 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK), leading the field into tomorrow’s qualifying sessions.

The South Australian has displayed inspiring form at his home circuit so far this weekend, leading the way in this afternoon’s timed practice with a 1m52.769s, placing him 0.174s ahead of Mike Jones (DesmoSport Ducati).

A strategic Falzon completed just two laps in the entire 30-minute session, despite this morning’s outing being rain-affected, with few riders going out in those conditions. The top nine from this afternoon’s session transfer directly into Q2, with the rest to vie for position in Q1 tomorrow.

Half a second from the pace of Falzon and also behind Jones, in P3 was Wayne Maxwell (Team Suzuki Ecstar), also completing minimal mileage, as Bryan Staring (Kawasaki BCperformance) and second Suzuki Josh Waters filled the top five.

In sixth came reigning champion and last year’s winner at The Bend, Troy Herfoss (Penrite Honda Racing), as the top 10 was completed by points-leader Cru Halliday (Yamaha Racing Team), Mark Chiodo (Penrite Honda Racing), Glenn Allerton (Maxima BMW) – the final rider through to Q2 – and Alex Phillis (Team Suzuki Ecstar).

More to follow.

Detailed results