2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship
Winton Motor Raceway – Round 5 Preview
Mike Jones has announced he’s all set for the return of the Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship to Winton Motor Raceway next weekend (September 6-8), where the rider will be looking to extend his one-point championship lead on the DesmoSport Ducati, with three remaining rounds left to run.
Mike Jones currently sits on 184-points, a point ahead of Cru Halliday, while Bryan Staring sits in third on 176-points. Troy Herfoss currently sits fourth with 169-points, with Wayne Maxwell a further 11-points behind completing the top five, with Josh Waters a single point further back.
Mike Jones – 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship
Championship leader Jones is upbeat heading into Round 5 at Winton, sharing, “I’m riding better than I ever have.” Here’s what he had to say ahead of Round 5.
What’s been the reasons behind your good form that sees you sitting atop the ASBK Championship table?
MJ: It’s a combination of things, but it’s mostly down to DesmoSport Ducati team’s effort because I’ve got a group of guys who are just as committed and passionate as I am. I think I’m riding better than I ever have and I put that down to the past two seasons riding in the Spanish Championship. It’s helped me develop as a rider and I’m at the top of my game. Additionally, in my opinion, I believe I’m on the best bike in the field.
How tough has the competition been in the ASBK Championship in 2019?
MJ: It’s the toughest it’s ever been! I didn’t foresee the Championship being so close and it’s one of the closest Championships we’ve had in Australian Superbikes. It’s great for the riders, and the spectators, too.
Mike Jones – 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship
What do you need to do well for the remainder of the season to give yourself the best chance of winning the Championship?
MJ: I just need to be on top of my game every time I hit the track because everyone is really racing well. Both the team and I need to give 100 per cent, and I believe we’ve done that, so we’ll just keep doing what we’re doing.
What does the future hold for you?
MJ: Ultimately, my goal is to race in the World Superbikes, and it’s been a goal since I was a kid. Winning the Australian Championship is very beneficial for assisting me to get a ride overseas. Right now, though, the market is very tough over there and there’s not a lot of positions available, so I’m just taking one step at a time. The way I’m riding in ASBK I’m very comfortable here in Australia, but we’ll see what the final result is in the Championship. We’re in a results-based industry, so we’ll see how we go at the end of the year.
Mike Jones – 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship – Image by Rob Mott
What do you do away from the track in your personal time?
MJ: When I’m away from the track my focus is still heavily on racing. I spend my time training on a bicycle and at the gym trying to stay fit. I also love to have fun with my girlfriend, family and friends because they ease my mind and take my entire focus off the motorbike.
Tickets are now on sale for Spokes.com.au presents Round 5 of 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship at Winton Motor Raceway from September 6-8. Head to ASBK.com.au (link) for more info or to purchase.
Mike Jones – 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship – Image by Rob Mott
2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championships Calendar
Round 5: Winton Motor Raceway, VIC – 6-8 September 2019
Round 6: Phillip Island GP Circuit, VIC – 4-6 October 2019
Round 7: Sydney Motorsport Park, NSW – 1-3 November 2019
Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship Standings
If you’re keen to share the full Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship experience, the series heads into Morgan Park next week for the fourth round of the 2019 championship, of July 5-7. But don’t worry if you can’t make it, you can still curl up on the couch or invite your mates over to stream all the action, or watch it on TV!
For those going in person, there’s plenty of opportunities to really get to know what the ASBK is all about and here’s five of the best ways you can get up close and personal at Morgan Park for Round 4.
Go for a grid walk at Morgan Park
With engines revving and thousands of horsepower about to be unleashed, the start is one of the most exciting moments of any ASBK race, and you’ve got the chance to experience some of that excitement and nervous energy firsthand.
There’s a chance to win grid access at Morgan Park
The ASBK is offering some lucky fans the chance to be on the grid just before the start of Kawasaki Superbike Race 2 for Round 4 at Morgan Park, where they’ll get the chance to walk amongst the teams and riders as they make their final preparations to do battle. All you need to do is head online and purchase a Weekend Adult Ticket or Weekend Concession Ticket (if eligible) and you’re in the draw to win!
Grab an autograph or a selfie
If you’re not one of the lucky ones to score a spot on the grid, then don’t worry! You’ve still got a chance to get up and close to the stars of the ASBK with an autograph session!
Meet the stars for an autograph or selfie!
Times are posted on Facebook and Instagram in the lead up to the weekend, so lock them in the diary and come and say hello! You’ll find plenty of ASBK Champions, some ex-MotoGP riders, many more with other international experience, and maybe even some future international stars…
Wander the paddock
If you’re unfamiliar with the ASBK, the paddock is a great place to get up close and personal with the teams, riders, and bikes. Wander between the marquees and check out the impressive team transporters. Marvel at these cutting-edge racing machines up close and see for yourself just how impressive these machines are.
Check out the paddock!
Or if you’re keen to re-live your favourite racing memories, step back in time in the Superbike Masters paddock, where you’re able to get up close with some of the hero machines of yesteryear. The owners of these timeless machines are always up for a chat! Then go and wander the aisles of Trade Alley and kit yourself out like the pros!
The action doesn’t stop once the racing is over, head over to the ASBK podium to see the winners get presented with their trophies- just watch out for the champagne! And forget about F1-style exclusive paddock access, at Morgan Park access to the paddock is free with your ticket!
Go for a pillion ride
For the ultimate in up-close-and-personal experiences, you can’t beat flying through the scenery at over 200km/h on the back of a Superbike! Let former FIM Endurance World Champion Steve Martin be your guide as you get every sensation a real Kawasaki Superbike racer feels on one of these road-going missiles!
There’s a chance to win a pillion ride at the track!
A money can’t buy experience, you can win your way in by following ASBK on Facebook and keeping your eye out for our competition posts. You could be selected as the lucky winner!
Come and give motorcycling a try with bLU cRU Mini Moto!
Give the youngsters their chance to ride a motorcycle just like their ASBK heroes! bLU cRU Mini Moto Come n’ Try provides a safe space for kids to jump on a motorcycle for the first time and give the sport a go in a fun, safe and supervised environment.
The kids can strap on the provided safety gear including boots, goggles and helmets before throwing their leg over a Yamaha and cutting a few laps of the Come n’ Try area. You’ll give them a memory they’ll never forget!
bLU cRU Mini Moto Come n’ Try
2019 ASBK – Round 4
Morgan Park
Round 4 of the 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) hits Morgan Park from 5-7 July 2019 for a fantastic weekend of motorcycle racing at the challenging Southern Downs circuit. Battling it out for supremacy across the weekend will be Australia’s fastest and most fearless motorcycle racers, riding some of the most highly-tuned motorcycles in the country.
ASBK Superbikes at Morgan Park
The circuit at Morgan Park is a 2.9km squiggle of tarmac draped across a Southern Downs hillside just outside of Warwick in Southern Queensland. The track dishes out quite a number of challenges, not least the elevation changes, the bravery-testing back straight kink, and the infamous Turn 3 wall that sees riders playing chicken with a solid slab of concrete.
Queensland local Mike Jones is one of the riders who knows the circuit best, having taken two races from two when the ASBK visited in 2015, and testing there regularly with his Desmosport Ducati team.
Mike Jones
“Morgan Park is unique, the undulations and elevation changes add to the technicality of the circuit, not only for the rider but also for the team in being able to set the motorbike up. Because there’s physically less room on the track, the rider needs to be aggressive, and definitely an elbows-out attitude that’s for sure!”
Mike Jones – Image by TBG Sport
Jump on board with Mike as we take a ride around the Morgan Park circuit:
Morgan Park Track Guide
Turns 1 and 2 – Morgan Park
“You want to try and combine those two corners, just make it one big sweeper. Decelerate all the way through the first turn, right until the middle of Turn 2, and from that point on focus on driving the bike through the exit to go up the hill towards Turn 3.
“It’s quite hectic going into the first couple of turns straight off the start. There’s a bunch of bikes trying to go into the same bit of bitumen and it’s all very tight there. The riders are on edge, the adrenalin’s high, hearts are pumping and blood’s rushing through the body. It’s quite an exhilarating feeling going through turns one and two at the start of the race.”
Morgan Park ASBK Race One
Turn 3 – Morgan Park
“This corner is probably the most exciting corner on the whole circuit, it’s a blind left-hand turn because of the wall on the inside of the corner. You want to be as close as possible to the wall on the inside of the track for the fastest line, but be very careful that you don’t go too close and rub your head or your shoulder up against it.
“Everybody’s a little bit different, but my approach is to build into it- Friday practice in the first session we won’t be going as close to the wall immediately but come race time we’ll be hard up against it!”
Turns 4, 5 and 6 – Morgan Park
“Turn 4’s a really a good opportunity for overtaking. It’s a heavy braking zone into a really tight right hander, so it’s quite an action-packed part of the track. In practice on the Friday you’re trialling the tighter lines to practice overtaking other riders in the race.
“There’s a couple of different ways to approach the complex, and my preference is to exit Turn 4 on a really tight line which will allow me to get a better attack angle for the long sweeping left hander at Turn 5. Drive the bike really hard into 5 and just as you arrive at maximum lean angle, hard on the brakes again for Turn 6. You start to apply brake pressure while the bike is more or less on maximum lean angle, and then pick the bike up and change direction into the right hander at Turn 6. It’s quite a tricky and challenging part of the track.”
Bryan Staring and Wayne Maxwell a Morgan Park- Image by Half Light
Turns 7, 8 and 9 – Morgan Park
“Turn 7 is crucial, and in my opinion one of the most difficult corners on the whole track. It’s tight, and quite deceiving as there’s not a lot of reference points when you enter the corner so it’s hard to consistently get the right line. But it’s one of the most important corners as it leads onto the fastest section of the track: the back straight, down the hill and through the fast turns 8 and 9. This section is very high speed and you can make up a lot of time with a good exit.
“Accelerate through turn 8 at maximum throttle in fifth gear. It’s a wild ride as the track undulates and the bike bucks underneath you, so try to let the bike dance by standing on the footpegs and raising yourself out of the seat ever so slightly. All the while being at full throttle at over 200km/h through the left hander! To anyone that hasn’t experienced that sort of thing before it’s hard to comprehend how full-on it is through that part of the track.
“Into the right hander at turn nine, decelerate slightly as you lean the bike over, and immediately back onto the gas as you head towards Turn 10.”
Josh Waters at Morgan Park in 2017 – Image by HalfLight
Turns 10, 11 and 12 – Morgan Park
“Turn 10 is quick. It’s got a lot of banking, so you can run the bike in with a lot of entry speed. It’s a good overtaking opportunity because the banking makes it easier to go up the inside. Fire yourself out of there as hard and as fast as you can, towards the last chicane that leads to the end of the lap.
“The last chicane is tricky: there’s a couple of different ways you can ride it. You could enter really quickly and make up a lot of ground on entry, but then you have to slow up as you change direction while still trying to get good drive out onto the main straight. My approach is to slow the entry up a little, get a really good line as you change direction from the right to the left and focus 100 percent on the drive out of the last part of the chicane up onto the main straight. This helps keep the motorbike stable as you come up onto the main straight, because there’s a crest in the road and it unsettles the bike a bit. So if you’ve got the motorbike stood upright, it allows you to track over the crest with a little bit more ease and be able to be full throttle down the rest of the straight.”
Meet your ASBK heroes!
But forget inaccessible, F1-style paddock clubs, at the ASBK we’re a little different! You’ve got plenty of opportunities to meet these gladiators of the bitumen for an autograph or a selfie across the weekend.
The action isn’t just confined to the track this weekend! A slew of your favourite riders and their machines will hit Rose City Shoppingworld in Warwick on Thursday, July 4, to say hello, take some selfies and sign some autographs!
The Meet ‘n Greet at Rose City Shoppingworld, Palmerin St, Warwick QLD will take place from 6-7PM on Thursday 4 July, in front of Coles Supermarket.
Meet the stars for an autograph or selfie!
ASBK Autograph Sessions
When you’re at the track, you can meet the ASBK heroes at two designated autograph sessions across the weekend. The autograph sessions take place at the ASBK podium, where all the riders will hope to be spraying champagne later on that day! Autograph sessions begin at 12:30pm on Saturday and Sunday at the ASBK podium.
bLU cRU Mini Moto Come N Try
If you’re going to give motorcycling a go for the very first time, you may as well learn from the best! Some of Yamaha’s top motorcycle racers will be at the bLU cRU Mini Moto Come N Try stand in Trade Alley, standing by to help the little ones take their first steps to becoming motorcycle champions in their own right!
bLU cRU Mini Moto Come N Try
bLU cRU Mini Moto Come N Try inflatable in Trade Alley will be operating from 10am-3pm on Saturday and Sunday. ASBK riders will be at visiting from 12:20 to 12:40 Saturday, and 12:30 to 12:50 Sunday.
Make sure to get your ticket for Round 4 of the 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship at Morgan Park, 5-7 July 2019.
Make sure to get your ticket for Round 4 of the 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship at Morgan Park, 5-7 July 2019. For more updates and to purchase, head to ASBK.com.au.
It’s fair to say that the Maxima BMW team hasn’t quite exactly had the start to its 2019 Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) season that the squad had hoped for.
As a result, the Victorian based team decided to use the Pirelli Masters of Morgan Park race meeting – hosted by The Motorcycle Sportsmen of QLD – as a ‘shake down’ test ahead of the fourth round of the ASBK series which takes place at the Queensland circuit on the first weekend of July.
2019 Masters of Morgan Park – Aaron Morris – Image by Russell Colvin
However, due to both Glenn Allerton and Ted Collins being injured at The Bend, the team enlisted 27-year-old Aaron Morris to step in and give the Next Gen Motorsports team some feedback.
The weekend saw Morris, who has previously raced in the Australian Superstock 600, Supersport and Superbike Championship, faced with the task of learning the technical Morgan Park layout, as well as a new bike and team.
The weekend proved positive which has given the team a good direction for the upcoming ASBK round. According to Morris, who dominated races one, two and three, from pole, the biggest hurdle of the weekend was getting his head around the 2.967km circuit, which is not the easiest track to learn.
For reference, the lap record at Morgan Park is 1min12.645s put down by Troy Herfoss on his way to victory at the 2.1-kilometre circuit last year on the Penrite Honda. Cru Halliday set the qualifying record there in 2017 at 1min12.808s on the YRT YZF-R1M.
Morris got down to a best of 1min14.744s during his time on the bike at the circuit over the weekend. Glenn Allerton did not race the BMW at Morgan Park last year but the team’s young Superbike rider Ted Collins recorded a best of 1min14.777s on his way to a pair of top-ten finishes.
2019 Masters of Morgan Park – Aaron Morris – Image by Russell Colvin
Aaron Morris
“Firstly I would like to thank both Wayne and Shane for giving me the call to fill in for both Glenn and Ted. It’s been a great few days, While the circuit has been challenging to learn, the Maxima BMW S 1000RR has been great to ride. Every change we have made to the bike has been a positive change and it’s a credit to Shane and Wayne in terms of how they work and understand what I’m asking for. On top of that, hats off to the Pirelli tyres, as the tyres handle this circuit extremely well. With twelve months off a Superbike, fitness wasn’t my strong point. Once again, I would like to thank both Wayne and Shane for having me over the weekend.”
Aaron Morris – Image by Russell Colvin
Wayne Hepburn – Maxima BMW Team Manager
“Overall, we could not have asked for any more in terms of what Aaron has done over these last three and a half days. It was always going to be an unknown heading into this test and Aaron has quite simply impressed me with his overall speed and feedback which he has been able to give us. We are planning to have Glenn and Ted fit enough to test later at Morgan Park in June, if fit enough. However, for the time being it has been an absolute pleasure having Aaron on board with us here. I would like to thank Aaron for his time and professional valuable input.”
2019 Masters of Morgan Park – Aaron Morris – Image by Russell Colvin
Thirty-three days between events doesn’t seem such a long time, but thankfully we are now on the verge of the third round of the ASBK at The Bend Motorsport Park (SA) this weekend. It’s going to be a tremendous event – dubbed the “International MotoFest” – as we hook up with the Asian Road Racing Championship (ARRC) for the second year at the new venue.
The Bend in 2018
From a spectator perspective it is an excellent venue to see the majority of the track, as well as the world class facilities of a GP standard international circuit. As an added attraction to local race fans a number of Australian riders will be competing in the new Asian Road Racing Championships Superbike class, led by Broc Parkes.
The “new” venue is an unknown quantity this weekend, albeit a bit better than the first visit. A little over a year ago, the ASBK was the first major motorsport competition to take advantage of the facility. Back then the track was green and the infrastructure was about 90 per cent completed, the rest of the venue was brand new and there had been a reported $1 million of grass seed planted – as being on the edge of a desert, the surrounds tend to be dusty and bone dry.
ARRC returns alongside the ASBK to The Bend Motorsport Park in 2019
Besides making it aesthetically more impressive, it serves the purpose of keeping the dust down – somewhat – from the winds that blow off the desert. Hopefully these pristine autumn conditions will continue for the coming weekend with next to no wind, but the forecast contradicts what we wish for with very cool morning temperatures and gusty winds of up to 30 km/h predicted for the weekend…
Tory Herfoss holds the lap record on the championship winning Penrite Honda, but with only three ASBK races held here before, no doubt this will be blown away this weekend, with the dust adding another element to the grip problems that many are talking about.
Herfoss leading Falzon and Maxwell from Bayliss at The Bend in 2018
The recent test had the dynamic Team Ecstar Suzuki duo of Wayne Maxwell and Josh Waters ascend to the top of the time sheets. However as far as working out a favourite for this weekend, that time sheet will be about as meaningful as reading the TAB form guide the day after a hay burner race meeting.
Herfoss dominated Wakefield
At the previous round of the Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championships at Wakefield Park, in March, there were surprises, disappointments, season ending incidents, successes and lap records lowered. However the one constant that stood head and shoulders above all the proceedings was the continued dominance of the “Guvna of Goulburn”, Troy Herfoss on the Penrite Honda.
Troy Herfoss claimed the Wakefield win – Image by TBG
Simply irrepressible.
For the fourth year in a row, the defending Australian Superbike Champion ruled the roost on race day as he smacked all opposition to take the double win in the Kawasaki Australian Superbike Championship races, and lowering his own lap record in the closing laps of the opening leg.
The only thing that he didn’t achieve was extending his run of three consecutive pole positions. That honour (and the $500 Elite Roads Pole award), went to re-born Superbike rider, Cru Halliday. He claimed the top spot with the fastest ever lap by a motorcycle at the circuit.
Troy Herfoss in the lead – Image by Rob Mott
With a brace of impressive second place finishes Halliday confirmed he is a true dark horse for the title after his consistency across the opening two rounds.
Halliday leads the championship from Herfoss as we head to South Australia, with the new draftee into the DesmoSport Ducati Team, Mike Jones, a further eight-points adrift in third.
Aiden Wagner out with injury
Before the weekend at Wakefield Park really got into its stride, it lost a massive amount of gloss and oomph that had had the paddock salivating after the controversial opening round at Phillip Island in February.
A repeat action of Aiden Wagner’s air-to-ground strafing and bombing attack aboard the Landbridge Racing Yamaha R1 failed to eventuate when the pilot crashed in the opening practice session and severely damaged his starboard wing.
Injured Aiden Wagner tried to hold it together for the opening Superbike race at Wakefield – Image by Rob Mott
Wagner valiantly gritted his teeth and battled through with a severely damaged shoulder that kept popping out of its socket while he was riding the bike. It even popped out at night while he was sleeping.
It’s not the first time he has had trouble. He has had three shoulder reconstructions and this latest incident will ensure it is operation number four and he will, more than likely, be out for the season. It is a body blow to the intrigue of the title as he had brought an exciting element of mongrel to the championship. And in a lot of people’s eyes the ASBK needs a bit of that mongrel.
Aiden Wagner’s big off – TBG Image
It was saddening to see the Queenslander, sitting dejected during Sunday’s lunchtime Pit Lane Walk, trying to put on a brave face as he autographed his posters for the many fans in attendance. Luckily he is left-handed. You have to shake your head in bewilderment and respect for what many motorcycle racers put themselves through for their chosen sport.
Troy Herfoss – Penrite Honda Racing
While it was a disappointment to see the slow and painful, demise of Wagner’s season, it was refreshing to see “The Guvna” walking around the Goulburn paddock, a spring in his step that was definitely missing at Phillip Island, a few weeks previously where he had an absolutely wretched week splitting his time between WSBK and ASBK fields.
Troy Herfoss had a renewed spring in his step after Wakefield, after a less than stellar start to the season – Image by TBG
The less that is said about the WSBK challenge the better, and in the domestic races he finished with 9-6-7 results to be in sixth place in the championship coming into Wakefield.
The spring in his step and the confidence in his voice became more apparent as the weekend went on. Back on his home track was the best medicine to get his title defence heading upwards. Being in front of a very healthy bunch of locals could only but lift him to another level as he attempts to be the first rider since Jamie Stauffer, in 2006-07, to successfully defend his title.
Anyone who discounts that he cannot do the double better have a dozen eggs at the final round at Eastern Creek in early November.
There was no denying Herfoss. He again demonstrated his affinity for tight, twisty and challenging tracks. He may have qualified third fastest beside Halliday and Wayne Maxwell (who has quickly acquainted himself with the Team Suzuki Ecstar GSX-R1000R), but he was still on the all-important front row.
Herfoss and Halliday dueling it out at Wakefield – Image by Rob Mott
Herfoss has a secret groove around the tight, twisty and at times bumpy 2.2 km layout. More akin to a “Scalextric” groove. If he gets in front, put down the glasses. He also has a unique setup by holding one gear from turn two all the way to the final turn, that allows him to keep the bike settled and really attack the laps on what he calls a real rider’s track.
It’s not only Wakefield’s tightness that Herfoss excels in. Take last year for instance. Herfoss reigned supreme at Morgan Park to take the double (to follow up on from his win in the second race at the previous round at Hidden Valley in Northern Territory), and then wrapped up the title in 2018 with a win in the first race at Winton a few weeks later to record four wins in a row on his way to a second title in three years.
But the weekend wasn’t all about the dominance of Herfoss and the demise of Wagner’s title assault. There were plenty of subplots to keep the cauldron bubbling away, with a two-pronged attack coming to the fore.
Troy Herfoss took the overall round win from Wayne Maxwell and Daniel Falzon at The Bend in 2018
After a dominant display at Wakefield last year, Herfoss went on to win the round taking out two of the three races at The Bend as well as the lap record. He was never headed in the championship lead for the remainder of the year.
While Herfoss may have the historical consistency going into the third round, the man leading the title and undoubtedly supremely determined to keep it will be Cru Halliday on the Yamaha Racing Team R1M. As I have stated a few times this year, he is my true dark horse for the title and I reckon this weekend the track may well play into his hands.
Cru Halliday – Yamaha Racing Team
Last year, Halliday continued his domination of the Supersport field at The Bend and this experience should hold him in good stead. While he changed his riding style last year for the Supersport bike, this in turn has changed his language on the Superbike. His lines are a little different, as he incorporates a bit of what he learned being back on the Supersport machine. With 18 corners on the undulating surface of The Bend, he may just have the ingredients to even increase his title lead.
Halliday scored the $500 cheque from Elite Roads for taking pole position at Wakefield
Halliday has won Superbike races before – as a factory rider and as a privateer (2017). Now back on a fully supported ride in the premier class he has brought some of that refinement with him and is carrying more corner speed than the majority of the field.
You only have to go out trackside to do some corner split times to see that. Halliday is riding with the confidence that comes with winning and with such a dominant performance in last year’s Supersport title, he has brought his A-game to the premier class.
Mike Jones – DesmoSport Ducati
Mike Jones is proving again that he has what it takes. In recent years he has been an occasional visitor to the ASBK, as he predominantly chased his dreams to compete overseas and get back to where he was; racing in MotoGP and other top level competition in Europe.
This year, the opportunities were evaporating and he borrowed a bike off Matt Harding to compete in the opening round. It garnered impressive results including a new lap record – the first ASBK rider to dip into a 1:31 lap at Phillip Island.
Mike Jones kicked off the season on the Mike Harding Kawasaki- Image by Rob Mott
Every cloud has a silver lining and this is true for the Troy Bayliss/Ben Henry owned team. Bayliss’ championship aspirations evaporated in the second race of the year at Phillip Island when he suffered his second huge crash of the weekend, damaging the ring finger on his right hand so badly that it required surgery.
It was another blow to the championship as Troy has his own fair share of mongrel, and he appeared to be in the frame of mind and fitness to really take it to his younger rivals. Hopefully, he will make a return at the next round at Morgan Park aboard the new V4.
With the unfortunate withdrawal of Troy Bayliss from the second round, a ride on a top flight team was presented to Jones on a plate. He grabbed the plate and devoured the contents.
Mike Jones joined the DesmoSport Ducati for the season after Bayliss was injured
From the outset of Friday practice Jones looked comfortable as he became reacquainted with the bike and the team he last rode for in 2016. Jones also claimed the 2015 title on a Kawasaki, at that time the championship was at its nadir with no factory participation, as instead the majority of top flight teams were participating in Terry O’Neill’s Australasian FX Superbike Championship.
In just two rounds this year, Jones has demonstrated that he has the ammunition to reclaim the title, and this time around it would no doubt be so much sweeter for the depth of this field is so much deeper than in 2015. No doubt the overseas experience has been of a benefit ,but his pedigree in Australian racing is very impressive.
Mike Jones – TBG Image
It is a much needed boost for Jones as the opportunity he was looking for in Europe failed to materialise, so it opens the way for him to make a huge impact on the domestic scene, as well as keeping his name in the frame for future overseas forays.
Ben Henry – DesmoSport Ducati
“We’re looking forward to racing this weekend. It’s a challenging track, and the surface means the winner this weekend might not be the outright fastest, but instead, the rider that can be consistently quick while preserving grip in the Pirelli’s throughout the race. Mike hasn’t raced here before, but he rode well in the test, and looked really comfortable on-track, so together with Troy (Bayliss) and Paul (Free), I’m looking forward to helping him get some more strong results.”
Mike Jones – Wakefield Park – TBG Image
Troy Bayliss will not be on track but will be at the track.
“It was great to finally get the V4R out for a shakedown during testing for this weekend’s racing.” Said Troy. “It was a really good first impression, and I’d love to see it on-track this weekend, but with only one bike and still some work to do on settings, it’s just not quite ready to race yet. Mike had a solid test on the Panigale FE and with his style and feedback, will be in contention again as we chase the 2019 ASBK Championship.”
Wayne Maxwell – Team Suzuki ECSTAR
Discount any rider at your peril but Maxwell will be geed up for a stellar performance. He needs to pulls back points on the leaders after that much well publicised incident with Wagner at Phillip Island in February damaged his points tally.
Aiden Wagner – Maxwell tumbles – Image Rob Mott
With the tightness of the championship a rider can really only afford one bad race result throughout the year, if he is going to stay in contention Maxwell is hoping that his misfortune is behind him.
Ones that will be equally determined to get their title chase back on track will be three-times champions, Josh Waters and Glenn Allerton.
Josh Waters – Team Suzuki ECSTAR
Josh finished third overall at the opening round but in reality his results are only a poofteenth off securing a better result, such is the level of competition and the depth of talent in the field. In the opening round he finished third overall, stating that he was happy with the 5-3-5 results.
Josh Waters – TDJ Image
His then new team-mate, Maxwell, led him home in the opening leg, however he was in front until that incident in leg two. In the final race for the weekend Waters did beat his team-mate, but Maxwell was pretty well battered and at the finish line the gap between the pair was just 0.085 second, and Josh’s fastest lap in that race was just 0.082s faster.
In the other two races a fit Maxwell also carded the fastest lap times of the pair. They might have been only a tenth or so quicker but to a top line rider, the difference doesn’t matter. It’s the fact that his team-mate is faster and higher up the leader board.
The positive foundation of the opening round was negated at Goulburn as he could only manage a brace of sixth-place finishes. More worrying was the gap as in race one he was a massive 13-seconds behind the race winner, and in leg two over eight-seconds behind after 13 laps – a similar gap to leg one at the same distance…
Josh Waters – Image by Rob Mott
As we head west to South Australia Josh is running fourth in the title, only 16-points off the title lead and in front of his team-mate.
Last year at the Bend was where Waters’ title aspirations were derailed somewhat with electronic glitches in the Gixxer and brake problems then giving the then defending champion nightmares, his strong start to the year had started to unravel.
I expect that Josh will do something special this weekend. The 32-year-old from Mildura needs a solid bag of points. The test confirmed that he is very much in the game, but he won’t be happy if he doesn’t lead his team-mate home in both races as the series approaches the halfway point.
Glenn Allerton – Maxima Oils Next Gen Motorsports BMW
This first two rounds of this year’s chase have been a challenge for Allerton who sits in a lowly 10th position on the Maxima Oils, Next Gen Motorsports BMW. At the beginning of the year the team took a gamble and switched to Dunlop rubber which necessitated a change of set-up and development for the different characteristics of the rubber.
Glenn Allerton – TDJ Image
Additionally there is not a lot of development work being carried out on the S 1000 RR engine as the team await delivery of the BMW HP4. This is not expected before the half-way point of the year which no doubt adds to the frustration.
Compounding the situation was the decision after the first round, for a number of reasons, to revert back to the tried, and tested, Pirelli rubber.
Wakefield was a disaster for the team. Leg one arguably gave Allerton his worst on-track result in an ASBK race when he finished 16th. He managed to recover somewhat to finish 11th to cap off a completely forgettable weekend for the team. Hopefully a decent result is awaiting this weekend so we may see a collective smile reappear on the team’s faces.
Glenn Allerton
“I was hugely disappointed about my results at Wakefield Park. I know I can race a lot better than what I did, but sometimes you are going to have those tough days at the office and we certainly had a tough outing last time out. However, this has got me revved up for this weekend to improve on my results and get a better outcome for both myself and the team. I believe The Bend Motorsport Park will be a much better round for myself, as the Maxima BMW S1000RR suits the high speed and corners which the circuit lends its self to. Honestly, we have nothing to lose and everything to gain, so I’m just going to lay it all on the line and go for broke this weekend. After a tough opening two rounds, the team and sponsors deserve a good result and nothing would please me more than to deliver them that for their hard work they have put in. Regarding the Bend Motorsport Park circuit. I really like track and the overall layout. It’s got a bit of everything which makes for a good fun circuit to race on. I’m looking forward to getting back there and hitting the track for the First Practice session on Thursday.”
Glenn Allerton was chasing setup all weekend at Wakefield Park – Image by Rob Mott
Bryan Staring – Kawasaki BC Performance Team
Mentioning Dunlop brings us to the Kawasaki BC Performance Team of Bryan Staring. There is no doubting Staring’s talent; he is the only rider to win Australian Championships in 125cc, Supersport and Superbike classes, and also boasts an impressive resume on the world stage.
Bryan Staring – Image by TBG
Similarly to last year, the season has started off pretty well, he was third in the opening race and followed that up with a fourth and a sixth and is in a good spot in fifth overall, on equal points with Maxwell, and just 21-points off the lead.
Staring is a proven race winner but maybe his biggest disadvantage is being the only rider in the leading bunch that is on Dunlop rubber. Also to add to his challenge this weekend, he is doubling up in the ARRC as a replacement rider for Team Kawasaki Thailand.
He will be on the Dunlop control tyres that are used in the Asian championship, but these are different spec’ to what he is running in the Australian title. Maybe that might change this weekend.
Daniel Falzon – Yamaha Racing Team
Herfoss may have put on an impressive display in front of his home town fans, but expect a similar showing from crow-eater, Daniel Falzon on the second of the Yamaha Racing Team R1Ms. The paramedic is eighth on the championship ladder (behind the absent Wagner in seventh), on 65-points, 31-points off his championship-leading team mate, Halliday, and 10-points behind Maxwell and Staring.
Daniel Falzon – Image by TBG
Falzon has been within tenths-of-a-second a lap from fighting for the lead in the opening rounds, and with a huge contingent of fans in attendance this weekend he will be digging very deep to ensure he is fighting for the lead.
He gives 100 per cent every time he jumps on the bike but the situation is sure to provide him with a little more incentive and cunning. Besides, what more motivation do you need than when your team-mate is so far in front of you?
The Bend Motorsport Complex
Over qualifying and three races there are 76-points on the table for the main courses of the weekend. Around the table a bunch of rapid riders are poised to savage the offerings. A pack of screeching and screaming hyenas devouring a zebra carcass may be better behaved!
The Bend ASBK Round 2018 – TBG Image
Live coverage of the third round will be telecast on the weekend
Fox Sports Australia
LIVE coverage on Saturday and Sunday from 12:00-5:00pm (AEST)
Kayo Sports
LIVE coverage on Saturday and Sunday from 12:00-5:00pm (AEST)
SBS Australia
LIVE coverage of ASBK races on Sunday from 3:00-5:00pm (AEST)
Online streaming live at ASBK.com.au
LIVE extended coverage of Friday, Saturday and Sunday available free, with no geo-blocking and no paywalls, via ASBK.com.au HERE
Goulburn teenager Tom Toparis has had a fantastic start to season 2019. with clear and total domination of the three Australian Supersport races over the weekend.
ASBK Supersport Championship Points Standings 1 Tom TOPARIS (Landbridge Transport Yamaha YZF-R6) 76 2 Nicholas LIMINTON (Yamaha Motor Aust. Yamaha YZF-R6) 60 3 Oli BAYLISS (Cube Racing Yamaha YZF-R6) 52
Toparis then followed that up with a highly creditable 11th place finish in a World Supersport wildcard appearance on the Landbridge Transport Yamaha YZF-R6, scoring five World Supersport Championship points in the process.
Tom Toparis on the World Supersport grid – GeeBee Image
Toparis has now picked up a ride with Benro Racing for the 2019 IDM 600 Supersport Championship alongside new team-mate and fellow 18-year-old Milan Merckelbagh on Yamaha YZF-R6 machinery.
Tom Toparis – Phillip Island 2017 – Image by Andrew Northcott
This latest European adventure will add to the growing list of experience on the world stage for Toparis, who has previously taken part in some wildcard Moto3 rides and has Supersport 300 experience in Europe. During the European season, Toparis will stay with the family of Merckelbagh in Holland, which will allow the two 18-year-olds to train together.
Tom Toparis – Moto3 Qualifying Practice – Motegi 2017 – Image by Andrew Northcott
Toparis will also be concentrating on the Australian Supersport Championship, as he shares his time between here and Europe. He will head to Europe at the end of April to prepare for his IDM appearances in a deal that was made possible by Dutch intermediary Rob Vennegoor.
Tom Toparis – Motegi Moto3 2017 – Image by AJRN
Tom Toparis Interview
Big weekend, tell me how did you find it?
Tom Toparis: “I’m very lucky to have done the WSBK and ASBK, I got the opportunity from Landbridge Transport Team and of course when you get offered the chance to ride World Supersport you’re never going to say no. The bike was good all weekend, I let the team down with a crash on Tuesday, which set us back, and we had to go into Melbourne and get some parts and what not and sort a few things out. The result in the World Supersport… P11 is really good I think.”
Tom Toparis – World Supersport – Phillip Island 2019 – GeeBee Image
Do you think that effected your result?
Tom Toparis: “In a way yes, we pretty much lost the whole of Tuesday, so that was four hours of track time we didn’t get and it set us back for Friday morning. For sure it could have been a fraction better, but I am definitely so grateful the team did such a good job in the stop, as that’s such a big variable, if you get it wrong, even if you lose one second in a pit stop, that’s one whole second on the track, which is a lot of risk you have to take. I haven’t look at the time yet, but the minimum was 1:14 or 1:18 or something, I feel like we did a good job. I just listened to what the team said, and once they let me go I was gone, it was 8 laps or so to the end. I’m so proud of my team, getting me out there and putting it just outside the top 10.”
Tom Toparis – GeeBee Image
How are your injuries from the big off on Tuesday? (Tom wore through his leathers during a crash earlier in the week and lost a lot of skin off his bum!)
Tom Toparis: “It’s a bit annoying, itchy and awkward to ride on, it’s OK and I think I got through the weekend without it causing too much trouble. Hopefully I’ll listen to what the doctors have to say, and I might need to go get a skin graft tomorrow in Melbourne. It was a bit of a set back and it was annoying for me. But anyway apart from that we were happy to score four World Supersport championship points. It’s such a good weekend to get all the Aussies [Supersport wins] and taking pole, and getting the points in WSSP.”
Tom Toparis – TBG Image
And off to Europe?
Tom Toparis: “I’m very happy to announce that in 2019 I’ll be doing some racing in Europe in the IDM Supersport on a Yamaha R6 for Benro Racing. I’m very grateful to the people who have made this happen. Through RT Racing Support I was able to get in contact with Sraar van Rens. It will be a busy year, because I’m going to combine the Australian and IDM championship. This year, my family and I are fully committed to racing and I will be doing everything possible to win here in Australia. I have no expectations for the IDM as I don’t know what to expect. But I’ll be doing everything I can to learn the tracks and the bike as fast as possible, whilst enjoying the different lifestyle on the other side of the world. I’m really looking forward to meet my team-mate Milan. A big thank you to everyone involved including my sponsors here in Australia.”
Max Stauffer (Yamaha, Yamaha R3) may have missed out on going three wins from three this weekend, but he still claimed overall victory in Yamaha Motor Insurance Supersport 300, capping off Round 1 of the 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship with the overall win.
Max Stauffer taking an emotional round victory with Jamie Stauffer – Australian Supersport 300 – Round 1 Phillip Island – Image by Rob Mott
John Lytras (Caboolture Yamaha, Yamaha R3) claimed the Race 3 win to break Stauffer’s streak and banked 56 points for the weekend, leaving him in second place behind Stauffer’s 67. Luke Power’s (RTR Yamaha R3) pair of podiums helped him to third overall with 55 points.
Australian Supersport 300 Race 3
Lytras came from row two to to lead the pack off the line before Seth Crump (Rockoil, KTM RC 390) snuck through. But Power carved around the outside into turn two to take the lead and Lytras was bundled back to fifth behind Stauffer and Locky Taylor (YRD, Yamaha R3).
Luke Power, John Lytras, Seth Crump – Australian Supersport 300 – Round 1 Phillip Island – Image by Rob Mott
A four-way battle through the Hayshed between Stauffer, Crump and Power ensued with Stauffer leading across the line to begin lap two from Lytras and Crump. Ben Baker (Jekyl & Hyde, Yamaha R3) was judged to have jumped the start and awarded a 10 second penalty.
With two laps compete Hunter Ford (Yamaha, Yamaha R3) and Yannis Shaw (WRP Bridgestone, Kawasaki EX400) decided they would like to run at the front for a while, briefly popping up amongst the lead group.
Australian Supersport 300 – Round 1 Phillip Island – Image by TBG
As the race progressed Stauffer, Power and Senna Agius (Kawasaki EX400) seemed to be trying to break away off the front of the pack but the pursuing group of Ford, Crump, Harry Khouri (Excite Motorsports, Yamaha R3), Lytras and Dylan Whiteside (Mark Lamont, Kawasaki EX300) wouldn’t let them.
Seth Crump, Senna Agius, John Lytras – Australian Supersport 300 – Round 1 Phillip Island – Image by Rob Mott
Crossing the Start/Finish for the last lap it was Agius in the lead, Power and Stauffer following closely and the rest of the field a little further behind. Crump brought the pursuing group across to the leaders and bridged the gap, making a bunch sprint towards the chequered flag.
Sena Agius – Australian Supersport 300 – Round 1 Phillip Island – Image by Rob Mott
At the finish it was Lytras who timed his slipstream the best, coming from behind to get the win ahead of Agius and Power, with eventual round winner Stauffer in fourth.
Max Stauffer
“The 2019 season couldn’t really have gotten off to a better start, could it? I would have liked to have won that last race, but it wasn’t meant to be.”
Max Stauffer – Australian Supersport 300 – Round 1 Phillip Island – Image by Rob Mott
Lytras was full of praise for his opponents, after a hard-fought win in race three and second place for the round.
John Lytras
“It was awesome fun, there was lots and lots of battles. I actually went back to 10th at one point, the action was that thick through there, it was really hard. We eventually got back, it was a really fun race.”
John Lytras – Australian Supersport 300 – Round 1 Phillip Island – Image by Rob Mott
Round 2 of the 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship heads to Wakefield Park in Goulburn (March 22-24). For information and tickets, head to www.asbk.com.au.
ASBK Supersport 300 Race Three Results
John LYTRAS (Caboolture Yamaha, YamahaR3)
Senna AGIUS (Kawasaki EX 400)
Luke POWER (RTR Yamaha R3)
Max STAUFFER (Yamaha, Yamaha R3)
Hunter FORD (Yamaha, Yamaha R3)
Harry KHOURI (Excite M-sports, Yamaha R3)
Yannis SHAW (WRP Bridgestone, Kawasaki EX400)
Dylan WHITESIDE, (Mark Lamont, Kawasaki EX300
Seth CRUMP (Rockoil, KTM RC 390)
Travis HALL (Stitchsmith, Yamaha R3)
Luke Power, Max Stauffer, John Lytras – Australian Supersport 300 Overall Podium – Round 1 Phillip Island – Image by TBG
The dust settled on the official ASBK two-day test at Phillip Island a few weeks ago but the sentiment hasn’t changed – this year’s Kawasaki Australian Superbike Championship will be an oil-boiling cauldron of action, intensity, excitement and rivalry.
Wayne Maxwell – Image by Rob Mott
The battle gets underway when practice starts on Thursday the 21st of February at the Island. There may be some that are studying the lap times from the test ahead of the upcoming opening round of the championship, which will be staged alongside the Superbike World Championship (22-24 February), but in all honesty test times are about as newsworthy as last week’s newspaper.
Troy Bayliss – Image by TBG
In testing riders rarely go out to try and be the fastest unless they want to make a statement, get in their opponents heads, or try and steal the headlines and the cover shot on MCNews.com.au that day… What they really aim for is to keep improving and working towards an optimum bike set-up over a full race distance. This means exploring different options across very aspect of the motorcycle in preparation to go racing in the opening round of the season.
Wayne Maxwell – Image by TBG
The test was especially prudent in regards to race rubber, as both Pirelli and Dunlop brought tyres with completely different characteristics to what the riders are used to. There was some head scratching in trying to find a definitive direction to head in.
Glenn Allerton – Image by Rob Mott
It was still a surprise that Wayne Maxwell was fastest over the test, considering he was nursing the painful legacy of a broken left shoulder suffered in a cycling accident only a matter of days before. Marquez notably did the same on Day 1 of the Sepang MotoGP test, after recent shoulder surgery!
It was also the first real time that he has been able to get a clear track and become reacquainted with the GSX-R1000 Suzuki, this one a few generations on from the machine that took him to the Superbike title in 2013.
Maxwell has been knocking on the door of another championship for the last few years, finishing second twice in both 2016 and 2018 and, third in 2017, those results coming when part of the official Yamaha Racing Team effort.
Josh Waters – Image by Rob Mott
An added ingredient to the move is that he is team-mates with Josh Waters, who has won three titles on Suzuki and is aiming for number four. 2018 was a below standard season for Waters and the man from Mildura will be out to try to regain supremacy in 2019.
Aiden Wagner – Image by Rob Mott
Tthe 2019 season is the most open in recent memory for competition. There are no clear favourites in the premier category, in fact there are at least six that will be in the mix and unlike last year, the title should go down to the last round at Eastern Creek.
Defending champion Troy Herfoss. His two championships in three years are quite remarkable. Herfoss is the only rider that has given Honda something to smile about in production-based domestic racing anywhere in the world during recent seasons.
Troy Herfoss – Image by TBG
Can he also be the first man to win back-to-back titles since Jamie Stauffer in 2006/07? Statistics show it will be difficult and the odds are against him, but then Herfoss likes the odds against him, so he can rise to the occasion.
The Penrite Honda squad has a year under its belt, team owner Deon Coote ready to defend the title as well as this weekend give Herfoss a chance to shine in front of the world’s best with a Wild Card ride in the World Superbike Championship class.
Troy Herfoss testing the WorldSBK machine – GeeBee Image
This will give Herfoss the advantage of track time as he is at the WSBK test and will be swapping classes all weekend. Fitness won’t be a worry as he cycles a crazy amount of kilometres every week and is champing at the bit to show what he is capable of. Testing with the World Superbike spec’ machine this week though yielded results that were much less than they had hoped for. Could the WSBK wildcard take his eyes off the local ball and upset the opening of his ASBK Championship defence…?
What can be written about Troy Bayliss that hasn’t seen print? Not a lot, is there? Approaching 50 years of age, he is arguably as fast as he ever was – and hasn’t lost an ounce of determination.
Troy Bayliss – Image by Rob Mott
He was second fastest at the recent test on the booming V-Twin Panigale that he rode to great success last year, but it wasn’t the fastest laps that caught my eye, it was his overall consistency in every session, times only tenths apart across the two days.
He adapted the quickest to the new spec Pirelli race tyre, which is understandable. Back in the old days of overnight specials, Troy had to learn very quickly to adapt to different tyre characteristics and go fast straight out of the box on new spec’ tyres.
Troy Bayliss – Image by TBG
This year Troy can also watch his son’s progress in the Supersport category, as the team now has the vastly experienced Glen Richards mentoring young Oli, leaving Troy to concentrate on that elusive Australian Superbike title that he wants to add to his BSB and World Superbike Titles.
There is also the fact that sometime during the year he will be debuting the new Ducati V4. Don’t be holding your breath to see it race this weekend, or perhaps even the first half of the year. At the moment there are very few parts for the machine available and until they have done extensive testing to make the bike competitive the team will stick to what they know. As Troy said at the test, “Until the V4 is as fast as what we are running now, we won’t be using it.”
The Yamaha Racing Team has retained the services of Daniel Falzon, who will be all the more polished for his year on the factory backed team. Cru Halliday steps back up to the ASBK playground after winning the Supersport title for YRT last year.
Daniel Falzon – Image by Rob Mott
Falzon is somewhat of a quiet achiever, quite often keeping his head down and flying under the radar, but quietly racking up the points…
The mantra for most this weekend is, ‘Get through the weekend with a good bag of points and remember it’s a long season.’
Cru Halliday – Image by TBG
The strongest team on the grid is Maxwell and Waters in Team Ecstar Suzuki. Besides watching their antics on track, it will be intriguing to see how the dynamic of the team changes during the year as the success of the pair ebbs and flows in relation to each other.
Josh Waters – Image by Rob Mott
Both are fiercely competitive and while we won’t see any walls down the middle of the garage the rivalry between the pair – especially if they are close in the title chase – will add an entertaining element.
Wayne Maxwell – Image by Rob Mott
Team Principal Dale Brede will have his work cut out for him if things do get fraught. Maxwell won his ASBK title on a Suzuki (he also won a Swann Australasian FX Superbike Title with Honda), while Josh has won three Australian Superbike Championships for Suzuki. Their jousting this weekend will be special.
And discount the 2008 ASBK Champion Bryan Staring at your peril. In his second year on the Kawasaki BCPerformance outfit he will be a threat at every round. Make no mistake. He won a race at the corresponding round last year – and the overall round win – but for one reason or another didn’t quite springboard that result into a title threat.
Bryan Staring – Image by TBG
BCPerformance Kawasaki is one of the few on Dunlop tyres and are hoping that what the factory has supplied will be competitive with the Pirellis at every track. Tyres will be crucial in his hopes for success.
Another on Dunlops – at this stage – is the NextGen Motorsports outfit with Glenn Allerton and Ted Collins as his wing man.
Glenn Allerton – Image by Rob Mott
Allerton is fully fit and recovered from the plethora of injuries that has plagued him in the last two seasons. Hopefully, he can stay upright all year as he has been knocking on the door of a fourth title for the past few years, his best result recently was second to Herfoss in the 2016 title chase.
Ted Collins – Image by Rob Mott
There is yet another ingredient to add to this spicy mix of talent and that is Aiden Wagner.
Aiden Wagner – Image by Rob Mott
The Queenslander had everyone taking notes at the test. After a wretched few years trying to break into the WSS scene and recovering from injuries incurred on the way, and the debt that came with that tilt on the world stage, Wagner will be in the mix from the very outset and if he can stay fit, will be in it right up to the final race. He is perhaps a dark horse for the title, but he is most definitely in the race.
Picking a season winner, let alone who will be the one on top this weekend is nigh on impossible, as the depth of talent in the field is at its deepest for some years. But I’ll go out on a limb and say that Maxwell will win the round.
Wayne Maxwell – Image by TBG
As for Champion 2019 my crystal ball is obscured by clouds!
There are three races over the weekend for the ASBK class as well as the same amount for both Supersport and Supersport 300 categories. Bring on The Island!
The rider that had everyone’s tongues wagging with his strong performance over the two days of the recent test at Phillip Island was Aiden Wagner. The 25-year-old Queenslander makes a return to Australian domestic racing after three ill-fated years overseas and overcoming injuries sustained in the process.
Aiden Wagner at the recent ASBK Official Test – Image by Rob Mott
He looks like he means business, as in a very talented bunch he was second fastest, splitting the pair that came second and third in the title last year in Wayne Maxwell and Troy Bayliss, on an R1 that he claims has a completely standard engine – at the moment.
Before he head overseas, Aiden was a fierce competitor in the Supersports class with strong results in 2013 when he finished seventh in the class although he didn’t compete in the final round.
Aiden Wagner at Imola in 2015
In 2014 he finished in the top three of the championship and did a Wild Card ride at the Australian Moto2 Grand Prix with the MarcVDS Team before he headed to the Supersport World Championship in 2015 with the CIA Landlords Insurance Honda Team, alongside Englishman Gino Rea. He finished 20th with best results of three 13th places and two 14th places.
Aiden Wagner at Phillip Island in 2016 with GRT Racing – Image by Russell Colvin
In 2016 he moved to the GRT Racing team on an exotic MV Agusta but maybe a bit too exotic as it was a season plagued with problems that yielded 26th overall for nine points.
His best result was a 10th at his home race at Phillip Island and things looked promising but from then on progress stalled with a 15th at Burinam and a 14th at Misano his only other points scoring races in what was a challenging season in the pit box.
For 2017 he signed again for the WSS, this time back on a Honda with the Gemar Team Morini. A 14th at Phillip Island was followed by an eighth place at the next round in Thailand.
Aiden Wagner in 2017 – Image: Beegee Images
From the outside things looked to be on the up after finishing 17th at the next round at Aragon, but by round four at Assen in the Netherlands the relationship was all over and Wagner came home soon after.
Since his return to the Land Down Under he has been having some repairs to his body, which he described as ‘falling to bits’ following Europe.
With an extensive rehabilitation successfully behind him and a good team around him Wagner adds another spicy ingredient to an already mouth-watering combination of talent to fight out the championship.
MCNews.com.au caught up with him at the test.
Aiden Wagner Interview
MCNews: Are you surprised with what you’ve done with the last couple of days?
Aiden Wagner: Yea, I had pretty high hopes coming into it. A lot of people wrote me off after going overseas and the results overseas were not that great. But I always knew I had gained experience doing that, as bad as some of the bikes were. So I always knew we could be fairly strong, I knew we could probably go for the privateer cup, but I still wanted to maybe go for the championship and fight for podiums really. So it’s good to be right up the pointy end, not just above the privateers. We’ve got more left in the bike yet. It’s a fully standard motor, so we know we’ve got little bits and pieces to make up 10ths here and there.
Aiden Wagner – Image by Rob Mott
MCNews: Has this refocused your ambition for the year?
Aiden Wagner: Definitely, I’ve had a couple of reconstructive surgeries and just sat at home. I started riding the motocross bike, and started impressing a few people on that, with lap times and what not, with what I was doing on the motocrosser. So I thought well, bike fit, body fit, might as well throw a leg back over and came together with Lambridge Transport, and thanks to mum and dad and everyone who helped me get back on the bike. I’ve got a few good people in my corner helping me. Adrian Monty is in my corner on the suspension, and with the guys in my corner we’re making leaps and bounds. So definitely focused back for the whole championship.
Aiden Wagner, pictured in Sepang 2016- Image by GeeBee
MCNews: So what happened in Europe?
Aiden Wagner: A lot of the time I was diagnosing problems for the main rider, and the issue with my bike, when a part would fail they would unbolt the part from the main rider’s bike and bolt it onto mine and he’d get the new part. So I tried to stick with it for as long as I could, but it just came to a head, where we just weren’t making any progress for a couple of seasons, just in the same sorta positions.
Aiden Wagner #28 – Expect to see podiums from him, privateer or not…
Also my shoulder and knee were falling to bits, so we thought pull the pin, get those fixed. I’ve had a couple of little calls, but nothing promising. Especially with the depth of the ASBK paddock now, in the Superbike class there’s quite a few fast guys up the front, so racing back home is a lot more interesting and a lot more fun. So as long as we’re enjoying it on the bike, we’ll be strong and competitive for the whole season.
MCNews: So you’re happy with the weekend?
Aiden Wagner: Very happy with the weekend, I know we’re only going to go forwards. Races aren’t won in the one weekend, have to make it through the whole season and stick to the black stuff. But you know, from what we’ve shown already, we’ve put together a pretty strong package and got some good guys that are making the bike really ridable for me.
Aiden Wagner – Image by TBG
The first round of the Australian Superbike Championship will be held alongside the opening round of the Superbike World Championship at Phillip Island 22-24 February.
Kawasaki Superbike – Phillip Island Test – Merged classification
2019 ASBK Supersport 300 YMF R3 Cup Oceanic Juniors Cup
With Mark Bracks Images by TBG and Rob Mott
Mark Bracks gives MCNews.com.au the inside scoop on the Supersport 300, R3 Cup and Oceania Juniors Cup categories, following their appearances at the official ASBK test at Phillip Island last weekend.
Seth Crump topped the weekend’s testing on his KTM
YMI Supersport 300 & YMF R3 Cup
Early signs at the test for the Supersport 300 and R3 Cup were that there hasn’t been too many departures from the ranks in 2019.
24 riders participated at the test, but by the time the race action happens in a few weeks the grids will swell to have nearly 40 riders vying for position.
Tom Bramich was in attendence, but testing his WSBK machinery and not counted in the official time sheets
Two that did leave are Tom Bramich who is off to compete in the Supersport 300 World Championship in Europe, while Oli Bayliss steps up to the Supersport 600 class. Apart from these two, the class will have a lot of the same players for the year racing with the same insane intensity that we have become accustomed to.
Seth Crump
Honestly, no. It will probably be more intense and competitive, as each year the action rises to another level. Casting an eye over the entry list there is no doubt it will be a dynamite season.
Harry Khouri
This year also oversees the introduction of the Kawasaki Ninja 400 to the category, albeit with some limitations, primarily of which are the restrictions on suspension changes for the 400, compared to the more extensive hardware based suspension tuning allowed for the smaller capacity Yamaha YZF-R3, Ninja 300 and KTM 390.
Locky Taylor
Tom Bramich was at the test but was not included in the official times as he was testing a Ninja 400 that he will use in the Supersport 300 World Championship in Europe this year. The bike he will race for Carl Cox Motorsports is allowed a lot more extras than what is allowed in the corresponding category here, so Tom was out getting accustomed to a Kawasaki and the extras that come with it.
Tom Bramich
The ever improving Seth Crump was fastest over the two days, but again, testing times mean little as every one of them are contantly improving their riding skill. His usual combatants were there in attendance including 2018 GP Juniors Cup Champion Max Stauffer, Locky Taylor and Harry Khouri.
Max Stauffer
One interesting note is that BCPerformance Kawasaki have drafted in one of Australia’s fastest lady racers in Tayla Relph, who joins the team alongside West Australian Callum O’Brien. Relph is one of the most determined and gutsy competitors you’ll find and has deepened her intensity and determination since joining the ranks of the 300s after a number of years racing a Moto3 machine.
Tayla Relph
O’Brien, another one of the graduates of the GP Juniors meanwhile is a very quiet unassuming young kid who knows what he wants and goes about the task with a minimum of fuss but a truckload of determination. Watch him come of age as a rider under the tutelage of the BCPerformance Team.
Callum O’Brien
As for Tayla now that she has a professional team environment around her, she may well take that little extra step to be a regular on the podium.
With Ninja 400’s allowed in the class, limitations include having to use standard suspension
Adding spice to this already ultra-competitive line-up will be Senna Agius and Ben Baker, who both competed in the Asia Talent Cup last year. Their seasons were compromised by injury but both will gleefully jump into this cauldron of young talent and no doubt put to use their experiences of the competition with the best youngsters of Asia last year.
Senna Agius
Supersport 300 & R3 Cup combined testing
Seth CRUMP (QLD) KTM RC 390 1:49.249
Locky TAYLOR (QLD) Yamaha R3 321 1:49.429
Senna AGIUS (NSW) Kawasaki Ninja 400 1:49.581
Max STAUFFER (NSW) Yamaha R3 321 1:49.617
Callum O’BRIEN (WA) Kawasaki Ninja 400 1:49.939
Luke POWER (VIC) Yamaha R3 321 1:49.939
Zac LEVY (QLD) Yamaha R3 321 1:50.109
Ben BAKER (NSW) Kawasaki Ninja 300 1:50.823
Harry KHOURI (NSW) Yamaha R3 321 1:50.829
Zylas BUNTING (NSW) Yamaha R3 321 1:50.917
Kyle O’CONNELL (QLD) Yamaha R3 321 1:51.117
Peter NERLICH (VIC) Kawasaki Ninja 400 1:51.179
Bronson PICKETT (WA) Yamaha R3 321 1:52.840
Tayla RELPH (QLD) Kawasaki Ninja 400 1:52.952
Jesse WOODS (TAS) Yamaha R3 321 1:53.055
Cameron AGOSTINI (NT) Honda CBR 300 1:54.575
Joseph MARINIELLO (VIC) Yamaha R3 321 1:55.758
Jeremy CZMOK (VIC) KTM RC 390 1:57.141
Hayden STIFF (NSW) Kawasaki Ninja 300 1:57.247
Kristian AGOSTINI (NT) Yamaha R3 321 1:57.706
Lachlan O’BRIEN (NT) Yamaha R3 321 2:00.319
Ben ANGELIDIS (ACT) Yamaha R3 321 2:00.537
Andrew DE KUYPER (VIC) Kawasaki Ninja 300 2:04.298
Carter Thompson
bLU cRU Oceania Juniors Cup
bLU cRU Oceania Juniors Cup
The weekend also saw the debut of the Oceania Juniors Cup for the young tackers. All on Yamaha YZF-R15s, the series is a step forward from the GP Juniors Cup with Motorcycling Australia taking over the running, and already it has shown great promise with over 25 riders turning up for the turn-key competition series.
bLU cRU Oceania Juniors Cup
It harps back to the very early days of production racing where a rider (or families in this case) pay an amount for the year which includes bike, riding gear, bike transport and all the rest, with the bikes being transported by MA and Yamaha.
Max Gibbons
Turn up. Pick an ignition key. Go race.
It’s going to be hard to recognise the young racers as all bikes and leathers are identical so it will be subtle markings like numbers – that normally are hard to decipher at the distance, as well as helmet design that will identify them to the masses of onlookers that will witness their antics during the year.
bLU cRU Oceania Juniors Cup
Keep an eye out for names like Glenn Nelson, Angus Grenfell, Max Gibbons, Cros Francis, Reece Oughtred, Marianos Nikolis, Tom Drane, Zak Pettendy and Jamie Port. All will no doubt become part of an ever growing list of, ‘Names for the Future’.
Glenn Allerton is a three-time Australian Superbike Champion and along with Josh Waters would love to claim a fourth, however the last two years have been fraught with well documented injuries for GA.
He is now fully recovered and ready to launch a major assault on the 2019 title. This year he has the new BMW HP4 coming to the Next Gen Motorsports team and they have also switched to Dunlop tyres.
Glenn Allerton Interview
MCNews: First test for the year, is it your first hit-out that you’ve been on the bike, or have you been testing like some of these other guys?
Glenn Allerton: “We’ve been to Wakefield about a week ago, and were still trying to make up our mind with which tyres to go with, between Pirelli and Dunlop. Basically we just want to go with whatever gave the best chance of winning we can get. We had a really good test, I did a bloody competitive race run there, that would have been racing for the win versus what we had printed off as the race time there, and we were fast. I felt really comfortable on the Dunlops, which is why we decided to go with them, because the feeling is really good, and they’ve got some new stuff.”
Glenn Allerton – Image by Rob Mott
MCNews: Nothing to do with the fact you’re racing in the Asian Championship and there’s Dunlops there?
Glenn Allerton: “At this point in time, we’re not actually racing in the Asian Championship, so I don’ really know what’s going on, we haven’t made up our mind as we have some budget problems for Asia. At this point, it’s on hold, so I don’t know what’s going to happen with that. I’ll have to wait and see what the boys come up with. It’s a tough situation, that one, because they committed, and then the budget sort of got changed a bit and now we’ve got to scramble to try and make something happen. But the tyres are a lot different over there, to what we have here, so it’s really difficult to even compare. Riding on the tyres they have there and then the Dunlops we have here… It’s as different as between Dunlops and Pirelli’s here, they are that much different. The diameters are different and everything, the grip level is different…”
“So we had a really good test there at Wakefield, and we haven’t changed that much really, we’ve just come down here and actually ridden on the tyres that Dunlop have for Phillip Island, but we seem to be going pretty good. I expected some teething problems, as there’s a few diameter differences with the tyres, and while Dunlop has some new stuff coming, that’ll be here after Round 1, we’ve just got to try at the moment. We’re a little bit in the phase of trying to set the bike up for the tyres that they currently have, but we already know that the tyres that are coming are a step better again. We know we’ve got a good setting, good feel with those tyres at the moment, so we’re just trying to make do with what we’ve got available for Phillip Island, because this place is so hard on tyres.”
MCNews: With the Dunlops traditionally as it gets hotter, they work better. Today got hotter but the wind got up?
Glenn Allerton: “The wind definitely got up, earlier in the day I was always in sixth gear in the straight, and sometimes in that last session I was only getting to fifth gear, and not even getting sixth gear. Which is a pretty good indication of how much the wind is pushing you. I’ve had some struggles today, with the front brakes, I had problems all mornings and just with the feel being different every time we move the front brake lever. We’re trying to get on top of that with some different pads and different material. We’re going to change the discs, and figure out what combination is going to work, because the front brake pressure is always feeling odd. And then we had a couple of other issues along the way, today wasn’t smooth sailing, but I kind of knew we were going to be in this situation of chasing our tail a little bit, with the se-tup. Just because of how different the tyres we have to run here are, the shape and the diameter, they are a lot different to the other ones we tested on at Wakefield.”
Glenn Allerton – Image by Rob Mott
MCNews: So Dunlop have done something similar to Pirelli with the bigger tyre?
Glenn Allerton: “I think what’s actually happened with Dunlop is they are actually going the other way with the new tyres, they are smaller in the rear, whereas Pirelli are going bigger. Our bike works really good on the small tyre and that’s the direction we’ll be going in. It’s not a small tyre, it’s still a 200 series, it’s just a different shape. Not quite as big as the tyre we have to use here. So the bike handles really good on that tyre and that combination is awesome. The outlook for the year is great, but we’ve just got to get through this first round. The start of the season is going to be like that for us – as we’re still on the old bike, we do have some new parts coming, we’ve just got fresh engines coming basically.”
MCNews: You’re not on the HP4 are you?
Glenn Allerton: “No, this bike that I’ve got here, it’s done some kays, the one I’ve been testing I believe is a 2016 model, the team has had it for quite a long time. We’re just getting through this weekend and the race, with some fresh motors. The outlook is actually good with the new bike and at that point, Dunlop will have the new tyres.”
Glenn Allerton – Image by Russell Colvin
MCNews: When is that expected?
Glenn Allerton: “The possibility to race it could possibly be Round 2, but none of the kit racing parts will be available like the wiring harness, the ECU, and all the suspension, which won’t probably be here until Round 3 at Tailem Bend. So we’ll definitely be on it at Tailem Bend, but I’m hoping we can make some stuff happen, and get it to Wakefield, but we’ll have to wait and see.”
MCNews: And the biggest difference from Pirelli to Dunlop, what have you got to adapt to?
Glenn Allerton: “Well it used to be the front tyre, but the new Dunlop front tyre is really good so it’s a lot softer than what they currently had, and it gives you a lot of confidence. Just the rear tyre is a lot bigger than the Pirelli, the new Pirelli is bigger again, so maybe they are around the same size, but the one we’ll race on here at Phillip Island is quite big. It’s changed the geometry of the bike, so we’re trying to adjust it to suit.”
Glenn Allerton (right), and the Next Gen Motorsports BMW squad
The first round of the Australian Superbike Championship will be held alongside the opening round of the Superbike World Championship at Phillip Island 22-24 February.
Kawasaki Superbike – Phillip Island Test – Merged classification
