2021 ASBK Wakefield Park
Image Gallery by RbMotoLens and Neil Cameron
Source: MCNews.com.au
Tag Archives: ASBK
Can Josh Waters get the flow back on course at Hidden Valley?
2021 mi-bike Australian Superbike Championship
This weekend’s round of the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul (ASBK), is the first time since 2018 that the premier national class has visited the challenging Hidden Valley Raceway, and all riders are ready to rumble in Darwin on the magnificent layout.
This is also the first time in almost a decade that the Alpinestars Superbike class have shared the stage with Supercars as part of this weekend’s Merlin Darwin Triple Crown.
Hidden Valley Raceway may be short in distance at 2.8 km, but it is extremely demanding requiring precision, commitment, aggression, and courage from riders for a good lap of the circuit.
The 1km long main straight starts the challenge, topping nearly 300 km/h before the bravery of late braking takes over for the critical turn one. From there it is a charge over the undulating variations of the track to the daunting right-hand, turn five, before another hard braking spot at turn 6, then the charge over the last half of the track through one of the most confronting corners in Australia at turn 10. It is an intense corner to get correct, for the final part of the lap, but extremely easy to misjudge, and run out of bitumen. From there the next three corners are basically straight-lined into the final turn 14 where the drag race begins again.
Video
Ride with Josh Waters at Hidden Valley from 2012
The ASBK Championship first visited the track in the late ‘90s and has visited sporadically over the years.
ASBK returned in 2010 for four successive years before a mid-decade hiatus with a return of all the championship classes in 2017 and 2018.
The 12 races over those six visits have produced six different winners, with four of them all in with a chance this weekend.
The most successful rider at Hidden Valley is three-times Australian Superbike Champion, Josh Waters.
Josh was scintillating in his performances when he won five of the six races from 2010-12, riding a Suzuki, although he didn’t race here in 2013 as he was competing in the British Superbike Championship.
On his return to Australia, he added two more to his tally when the championship returned in 2017, and he smashed his own lap record by over a second (1m05.986s), on his way to his third title that year.
This year, he is racing for Kawasaki BC Performance on a brand new ZX-10RR that is in the early stages of development. Waters will no doubt take inspiration from his team-mate’s results here in 2018, as Bryan Staring aboard the BCPerformance machine finished second and third and has been on the podium a total of four times at Hidden Valley.
Kelvin Reilly – BCPerformance Kawasaki
“We only received the bike just before the season started, and because we’re some of the first people in the world to receive it, there have been challenges around data, information, product supply and testing. However, the overall package is certainly an improvement on what we had last year – the engine power characteristics are much better. We’re just refining it to make it useable in a race environment.
“Josh and Bryan are working well together, they’ve won four Australian titles between them, so there is no question about their ability. It has been a learning process – we’ve had to learn how to set up the bike to suit Josh, and he’s had to adapt his riding style to suit the bike. We’re aiming for the podium at Hidden Valley, but the likes of Wayne Maxwell and Troy Herfoss have lifted their game, they’re riding the best we’ve seen and their bikes are very good. It will be tough to beat them, but very satisfying when we do.”
2018 was a watershed year for ASBK at Hidden Valley with moments of history created over that particular weekend. The major standout of that year was the appearance of three-times World Superbike Champion, Troy Bayliss on his DesmoSport Ducati Panigale, and he proved that there was plenty of hunger left in the man that turned 50-years-old that year.
In qualifying for the event, Bayliss staked an early claim as he set the fastest ever lap for a motorcycle around the track (1m05.601a), then in the opening race, led every lap in an exceptional battle with two-times Australian Champion, Troy Herfoss (Penrite Racing Honda CBR1000RR) and 2010 champion, Bryan Staring, to break through for his maiden win and an historic victory in the Championship.
Bayliss went oh-so-close to claiming the double win. He and Herfoss had another Herculean battle that went down to the final laps. Slicing and dicing for the lead, with less than four laps remaining, Bayliss hit a false-neutral in his bike as he barreled into the turn 6 hairpin and ran off track briefly. In his charge back, he overcooked it going into the extremely daunting turn 10 and dropped back to seventh. Herfoss won the race and broke the race lap record in the process (1m05.904s), from Staring with Wayne Maxwell – riding for Yamaha – in third.
Those minor mistakes by Bayliss put a dent in his Championship hopes and graphically demonstrated the extremely thin line that overshadows every race at Hidden Valley and how precise, and inch-perfect, one must be.
Bayliss finished third overall in the Championship behind 2018 Champion, Herfoss with Maxwell in second place, just three points ahead of the mercurial Bayliss. TB will be otherwise engaged this weekend looking after his son, Oli, in his rookie year in the ASBK Championship on the DesmoSport Ducatiand it is not beyond the realms of possibility that Oli could end up on the podium as he has finished fourth in his second race on the Ducati V4R.
Most of the leading contenders in this year’s title chase have tasted the victory champagne in the tropics and it is anyone’s guess who will rise to the occasion in the three races at Hidden Valley this weekend.
In the four races held this year in the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul, the wins have been equally shared between defending ASBK champion Wayne Maxwell on the Boost Mobile with K-tech Ducati Panigale V4R, and his fiercest rival and very good mate, Troy Herfoss on the Penrite Honda.
It has been the Herfoss and Maxwell show this year with the pair sharing the wins at two-apiece with some close proximity but fair racing that will be remembered for years, but this track rewards horsepower and handling in equal measure so it opens up the challenge to the rivals that is led by Oli’s teammate, 2019 Champion Mike Jones, who sits third in the title chase.
Maxwell and Herfoss have both won at the venue with Maxwell a further four podium places, and Herfoss has three podium finishes. The other current rider that has won at Hidden Valley is Glenn Allerton on the Maxima Racing Oils BMW.
Allerton is another rider with three ASBK titles and after a wretched couple of seasons afflicted by injury, is back to his race pace and is sure to have the BMW on song with his rivals.
There are a few others worth keeping a close watch on; Unitech Racing’s Arthur Sissis is a leading privateer. Due to his experienced and success in Speedway he is a gun starter and is often the leader at the first turn. Also, since his switch to Yamaha and a new team structure this year, his race consistency has improved dramatically.
Allerton’s team-mate, Lachlan Epis, has improved at every outing and qualified fourth for the rounds at Winton and Wakefield Park. Once he finds the missing piece in the jigsaw of sustained race pace he will be knocking on the door of a podium, and that could well be this weekend.
Leading the way this year for Yamaha will be 2018 Australian Supersport Champion, Yamaha Racing Team’s Cru Halliday. Halliday won both Supersport races here in 2018 in dominant fashion and now that he is back on a 1000cc, factory-supported machine will no doubt be keeping his rivals honest.
Besides a championship battle between riders and manufacturers there is also the bragging rights in the tyre war. The majority of the field run Pirelli rubber while Herfoss is the leading rider using the French Michelin tyres and the Kawasaki BCPerformance and YRT Teams run on Dunlops.
The action promises to be as hot as the tropical sun that will shine on the drama that is sure to unfold. If you have never seen Superbike racing before you are about to witness something very special.
Fans can catch every practice and qualifying session on Fox Sports Australia. The Saturday and Sunday ASBK race action will also feature as part of Channel 7’s free-to-air coverage. That will be better quality than these pit bits I put together on the Sunday of the event at Hidden Valley a decade ago, but they will bring back some good, and bad, memories for many that might enjoy looking back at them now.
Sunday Pit Bits from Darwin ASBK 2012
ASBK Hidden Valley Schedule
Friday, 18 June
10:25am – Practice 1 (40 min) FOX Sports
2:20pm – Practice 2 (30 min) FOX Sports
Saturday, 19 June
10:15am – Qualifying 1 (20 min) FOX Sports
10:40am – Qualifying 2 (15 min) FOX Sports
2:05pm – Race 1 (16 laps) FOX Sports/Channel 7
Sunday, 20 June
10:50am – Race 2 (16 laps) FOX Sports
2:05pm – Race 3 (16 laps) FOX Sports/Channel 7
2021 ASBK Championship Calendar (Updated)
Round 1 Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC February 18-21 CancelledRound 2 Winton Motor Raceway, Benalla, VIC March 12-14Round 3 Wakefield Park Raceway, Goulburn, NSW April 16-18- Round 4 Hidden Valley Raceway, NT – Supercars 2+4 (Superbikes only) June 18-20
- Round 5 Morgan Park Raceway, QLD August 20-22
- Round 6 The Bend Motorsport Park, Tailem Bend, SA September 23-26
- Round 7 Wakefield Park Raceway, Goulburn, NSW October 15 – 17 *
- Round 8 Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC November 5-7 *
Alpinestars Superbike Championship Standings
| Pos | Rider | Total |
| 1 | Wayne MAXWELL | 91 |
| 2 | Troy HERFOSS | 81 |
| 3 | Mike JONES | 74 |
| 4 | Cru HALLIDAY | 65 |
| 5 | Glenn ALLERTON | 64 |
| 6 | Bryan STARING | 54 |
| 7 | Jed METCHER | 47 |
| 8 | Arthur SISSIS | 46 |
| 9 | Oli BAYLISS | 45 |
| 10 | Matt WALTERS | 42 |
| 11 | Lachlan EPIS | 36 |
| 12 | Josh WATERS | 27 |
| 13 | Anthony WEST | 24 |
| 14 | Michael EDWARDS | 22 |
| 15 | Mark CHIODO | 22 |
| 16 | Yannis SHAW | 21 |
| 17 | Nathan SPITERI | 20 |
| 18 | Luke JHONSTON | 17 |
| 19 | Aiden WAGNER | 15 |
| 20 | Aaron MORRIS | 14 |
| 21 | Philip CZAJ | 10 |
| 22 | Hamish McMURRAY | 4 |
| 23 | Sash SAVIN | 3 |
Darwin ASBK Entry List
- #1 Wayne Maxwell – Ducati
- #2 Mark Chido – Yamaha
- #3 Jed Metcher – Yamaha
- #12 Matt Walters – Kawasaki
- #13 Anthony West – Yamaha
- #14 Glenn Allerton – BMW
- #16 Luke Jhonston – Yamaha
- #17 Troy Herfoss – Honda
- #21 Josh Waters – Kawasaki
- #25 Daniel Falzon – Yamaha
- #28 Aiden Wagner – Yamaha
- #32 Oli Bayliss – Ducati
- #37 Michael Edwards – Yamaha
- #46 Mike Jones – Ducati
- #51 Corey Turner – Yamaha
- #61 Arthur Sissis – Yamaha
- #65 Cru Halliday – Yamaha
- #67 Bryan Staring – Kawasaki
- #83 Lachlan Epis – BMW
- #92 Jack Davis – BMW
- #333 Yanni Shaw – Suzuki
Source: MCNews.com.au
ASBK tyre war heating up ahead of the Battle of Darwin
2021 Australian Superbike Championship
The Superbike tyre war offers an intriguing sub-plot to the ASBK Championship, and the upcoming round at Hidden Valley is set to present the teams with new challenges for how they manage their rubber allocation for the weekend.
In the most recent round at Wakefield Park, the race victories were shared between Wayne Maxwell (Pirelli) and Troy Herfoss (Michelin), but the Hidden Valley event will throw up a variety of curve-balls.
The increased ambient and track temperatures are an obvious factor, along with Superbike riders and teams largely choosing not to conduct pre-event testing at Darwin in the lead-up to the race meeting.
Here’s what representatives from the four ASBK tyre homologation suppliers: Pirelli, Dunlop, Michelin and Bridgestone, had to say of the season so far…
Garry Crilly – Pirelli (Link International)
Pirelli are certainly no stranger to motorcycle competition having long been the control tyre supplier to the FIM Superbike World Championship.
Teams and riders running Pirelli tyres include DesmoSport Ducati (Mike Jones and Oli Bayliss), Craig McMartin Racing (Wayne Maxwell), Next Gen Motorsports (Glenn Allerton and Lachlan Epis), Matt Walters, Ant West and Arthur Sissis.
Garry Crilly said the performance of Pirelli tyres in the scorching European summer heat can give the Pirelli-shod teams a wealth of confidence heading to Darwin.
Garry Crilly
“Our tyres are the same ones used in the FIM Superbike World Championship. The heat doesn’t worry us – our tyres have been tried and proven in the sweltering heat, so the hotter, the better! The more significant challenge for the teams will be the lack of testing, as they chose not to visit Darwin in the lead-up to the event. The Friday practice sessions will be particularly important.”
The ASBK tyre homologation list permits each tyre manufacturer to use two different front and three different rear compounds over the course of the season. Crilly said teams will be trialling different compound options in practice.
Garry Crilly
“The teams will be experimenting with tyre compounds and bike set-up to work out how they can best balance the objective of peak speed over one lap (for qualifying) with making sure the bike looks after its tyres over a race distance. I think our biggest advantage in the tyre war will be the international knowledge base we can tap into.”
Robbie Bugden – Dunlop (Ficeda Accessories)
The Yamaha factory team has chosen to use Dunlop tyres for its riders, Cru Halliday and Aiden Wagner, while Kawasaki BCPerformance riders Bryan Staring and Josh Waters also continue to use Dunlops. According to Dunlop representative and ex top-flight Superbike rider Robbie Bugden, the 2021 season has been a promising one for Dunlop so far.
Robbie Bugden
“To get third at Winton, in our debut weekend with the Yamaha factory team, shows we’ve made steps forward with our versatility – it hasn’t traditionally been one of our strongest tracks. Heading to Hidden Valley will be a big test with the heat, but the circuit layout should suit our tyres.
“One of the interesting factors will be sharing the event programme with the Supercars. The way they lay down their rubber is different to the bikes, because they take different lines; this can create some challenges with a variation in grip levels, which the riders will have to adapt to.”
An accomplished rider himself, Bugden said his own racing experience is useful in dealing with the riders and teams.
Robbie Bugden
“When they’re providing feedback on how a tyre is behaving, I can understand what they’re feeling because I’ve experienced it myself. Overall, the tyre war has become very competitive and created a lot of discussion in the paddock, which is a good thing for all the manufacturers as well as the ASBK.”
Doug Sharp – Michelin (Gas Imports)
The Australian importer for Michelin Superbike tyres is Doug Sharp, a man who has spent decades in international grand prix racing paddocks, including a stint with the Repsol Honda team as a technician, working with riders such as Wayne Gardner, Daryl Beattie, Alex Criville and Nicky Hayden.
With his vast experience at the very top level of motorcycle racing, Sharp is someone who has the potential to give Michelin a strong focus with their Australian exploits. He hasn’t been shy in bringing some other prominent names along for the ride, with fellow MotoGP mechanics Jeremy Burgess and Alex Briggs (who both worked as mechanics for superstar Valentino Rossi) called upon as Michelin tyre technicians at ASBK events.
Troy Herfoss is the most prominent rider on Michelin rubber, with others including Mark Chiodo, Jed Metcher and Aaron Morris also using the French tyres.
Sharp believes the biggest advantage of the Michelin rubber is their performance over longer runs.
Doug Sharp
“Michelin definitely make tyres that last, and here in Australia our races are not particularly long compared to overseas,” Sharp said. “I haven’t actually been to Darwin before; it’s one of the few tracks I haven’t visited. But there are a lot of similarities to some of the overseas venues, especially with the high ambient and track temperatures we’ll be facing.”
Sharp is expecting the Michelin rubber to shine at some of the other events on the 2021 ASBK calendar.
Doug Sharp
“Based on the testing we’ve done at other circuits, I think we’ll be strong at some of the other upcoming events,” he said. “Troy Herfoss recorded some very fast times in testing at Morgan Park, so that’s one we’re really looking forward to.”
Craig White – Bridgestone (White’s Racing Products)
Two ASBK teams were signed up to use Bridgestone tyres in 2021, but the arrangements fell through due to a COVID-related lack of supply from the Bridgestone factory in Japan.
Craig White
“We couldn’t guarantee supply for 2021 and we didn’t want to inconvenience the riders, but we’re using this time to prepare for 2022. In a few months, Bridgestone are releasing a new range of slicks for the Supersport class and we’re also working on supplying some Superbike teams next season.”
So, that leaves the question: which tyre manufacturer will prevail at Hidden Valley? Over the last few years, Pirelli has the runs on the board when it comes to the ultimate prize, but Michelin came oh-so-close to knocking them off that pedestal in 2020, their first year back in the series. Traditionally Dunlop have rubber that works well in hotter conditions and they also have plenty of fast riders on their tyres.
Darwin does present a somewhat unique challenge when it comes to conditions so it will be interesting to see if one tyre brand has a recipe that stands out and gives their riders distinct advantages. Talking of recipes, restaurants do get Michelin stars after all…
ASBK Hidden Valley Schedule
Friday, 18 June
10:25am – Practice 1 (40 min) FOX Sports
2:20pm – Practice 2 (30 min) FOX Sports
Saturday, 19 June
10:15am – Qualifying 1 (20 min) FOX Sports
10:40am – Qualifying 2 (15 min) FOX Sports
2:05pm – Race 1 (16 laps) FOX Sports/Channel 7
Sunday, 20 June
10:50am – Race 2 (16 laps) FOX Sports
2:05pm – Race 3 (16 laps) FOX Sports/Channel 7
2021 ASBK Championship Calendar (Updated)
Round 1 Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC February 18-21 CancelledRound 2 Winton Motor Raceway, Benalla, VIC March 12-14Round 3 Wakefield Park Raceway, Goulburn, NSW April 16-18- Round 4 Hidden Valley Raceway, NT – Supercars 2+4 (Superbikes only) June 18-20
- Round 5 Morgan Park Raceway, QLD August 20-22
- Round 6 The Bend Motorsport Park, Tailem Bend, SA September 23-26
- Round 7 Wakefield Park Raceway, Goulburn, NSW October 15 – 17 *
- Round 8 Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC November 5-7 *
Alpinestars Superbike Championship Standings
| Pos | Rider | Total |
| 1 | Wayne MAXWELL | 91 |
| 2 | Troy HERFOSS | 81 |
| 3 | Mike JONES | 74 |
| 4 | Cru HALLIDAY | 65 |
| 5 | Glenn ALLERTON | 64 |
| 6 | Bryan STARING | 54 |
| 7 | Jed METCHER | 47 |
| 8 | Arthur SISSIS | 46 |
| 9 | Oli BAYLISS | 45 |
| 10 | Matt WALTERS | 42 |
| 11 | Lachlan EPIS | 36 |
| 12 | Josh WATERS | 27 |
| 13 | Anthony WEST | 24 |
| 14 | Michael EDWARDS | 22 |
| 15 | Mark CHIODO | 22 |
| 16 | Yannis SHAW | 21 |
| 17 | Nathan SPITERI | 20 |
| 18 | Luke JHONSTON | 17 |
| 19 | Aiden WAGNER | 15 |
| 20 | Aaron MORRIS | 14 |
| 21 | Philip CZAJ | 10 |
| 22 | Hamish McMURRAY | 4 |
| 23 | Sash SAVIN | 3 |
Darwin ASBK Entry List
- #1 Wayne Maxwell – Ducati
- #2 Mark Chido – Yamaha
- #3 Jed Metcher – Yamaha
- #12 Matt Walters – Kawasaki
- #13 Anthony West – Yamaha
- #14 Glenn Allerton – BMW
- #16 Luke Jhonston – Yamaha
- #17 Troy Herfoss – Honda
- #21 Josh Waters – Kawasaki
- #25 Daniel Falzon – Yamaha
- #28 Aiden Wagner – Yamaha
- #32 Oli Bayliss – Ducati
- #37 Michael Edwards – Yamaha
- #46 Mike Jones – Ducati
- #51 Corey Turner – Yamaha
- #61 Arthur Sissis – Yamaha
- #65 Cru Halliday – Yamaha
- #67 Bryan Staring – Kawasaki
- #83 Lachlan Epis – BMW
- #92 Jack Davis – BMW
- #333 Yanni Shaw – Suzuki
Source: MCNews.com.au
ASBK Privateer Corner | Falzon & Turner return to Superbike
2021 Australian Superbike Championship
While the factory teams in the Australian Superbike Championship generally tend to be the focus for most attention, the category is also the home of some dedicated privateers. Matt Walters from Cessnock is a long running staple of the series along with the likes of Jed Metcher, Arthur Sissis, Luke Jhonston, Yanni Shaw, Mark Chiodo and Michael Edwards. Ex international star Anthony West has also now joined the series as a privateer after serving out a suspension from the sport and adds a little more star power to the ASBK grid.
The upcoming Hidden Valley ASBK round will also mark the return of two riders that have recently been missing from the ASBK grid after recovering from crashes early in the year: Daniel Falzon and Corey Turner.
Falzon’s talents are well-documented; the South Australian achieved a round victory as a privateer at Phillip Island in 2017 and enjoyed much success with the entirely family affair that is JD Racing; after riding for YRT in the 2018 and ’19 seasons, Falzon returned to his family based team for the 2020 season before the pandemic hit.
Although Falzon is kept busy away from the track with his full-time occupation as a paramedic, the 27-year-old was still intending to compete in most rounds of the 2021 Championship, COVID restrictions permitting, but his plans were dealt a severe blow when he crashed in testing prior to the Wakefield Park round.
“I had a fall, which caused significant damage to the bike and meant I wasn’t able to race at Wakefield Park, which was a shame. However, we’ve been able to repair the bike and since then, I’ve been able to do some testing at Tailem Bend and Mallala. In some ways, it takes a lot of the pressure off for Hidden Valley, because there’s no championship pressure to worry about. I can just focus on enjoying the weekend and doing my best.”
Falzon said he is feeling a lot more comfortable on the bike after surgery at the completion of the 2019 season. He also said his paramedic job has given him a new level of appreciation for the volunteer medical teams at motorsport events.
“Throughout 2019, I was suffering quite badly with some arm pump, but I had surgery to rectify those issues and it’s feeling much better. I’ve always had an enormous amount of respect for the doctors and nurses at Racesafe, I hold them in very high regard, but now even more so.”
While the 2021 season signifies Turner’s reappearance on a superbike, the Gold Coaster has certainly not been a stranger to the ASBK paddock in recent seasons, competing in the Australian Sidecar Championship, which he won in 2019 with his brother, Danyon Turner, as passenger.
“2019 was our first year racing sidecars, it was a tight battle all year but we ended up winning the championship. The plan for this year was to compete in the whole Superbike Championship. We bought a brand-new Yamaha R1 in July last year, and we spent the Christmas period building it into a race bike. Unfortunately, I crashed it at Morgan Park in testing and it was almost totally written off – there were only a few components we were able to salvage.
“As a small privateer team, when you have a crash like that, it’s a huge setback. But we were determined not to give up, and my sister-in-law started a GoFundMe page to raise some funds to fix the bike. The generosity and support from the local motorcycling community, as well as my sponsors especially Brewed on Cuthbert has just been unbelievable and we’ve been able to get the bike rebuilt in time for Hidden Valley.”
“Because I haven’t raced Superbikes lately, it’s hard to get a gauge on where everyone else is at, so I just want to put my best foot forward and be competitive.”
They might not have the resources of the larger teams at their disposal, but both Falzon and Turner have the potential to put a few noses out of joint at Hidden Valley this weekend.
ASBK Hidden Valley Schedule
Friday, 18 June
10:25am – Practice 1 (40 min) FOX Sports
2:20pm – Practice 2 (30 min) FOX Sports
Saturday, 19 June
10:15am – Qualifying 1 (20 min) FOX Sports
10:40am – Qualifying 2 (15 min) FOX Sports
2:05pm – Race 1 (16 laps) FOX Sports/Channel 7
Sunday, 20 June
10:50am – Race 2 (16 laps) FOX Sports
2:05pm – Race 3 (16 laps) FOX Sports/Channel 7
2021 ASBK Championship Calendar (Updated)
Round 1 Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC February 18-21 CancelledRound 2 Winton Motor Raceway, Benalla, VIC March 12-14Round 3 Wakefield Park Raceway, Goulburn, NSW April 16-18- Round 4 Hidden Valley Raceway, NT – Supercars 2+4 (Superbikes only) June 18-20
- Round 5 Morgan Park Raceway, QLD August 20-22
- Round 6 The Bend Motorsport Park, Tailem Bend, SA September 23-26
- Round 7 Wakefield Park Raceway, Goulburn, NSW October 15 – 17 *
- Round 8 Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC November 5-7 *
Alpinestars Superbike Championship Standings
| Pos | Rider | Total |
| 1 | Wayne MAXWELL | 91 |
| 2 | Troy HERFOSS | 81 |
| 3 | Mike JONES | 74 |
| 4 | Cru HALLIDAY | 65 |
| 5 | Glenn ALLERTON | 64 |
| 6 | Bryan STARING | 54 |
| 7 | Jed METCHER | 47 |
| 8 | Arthur SISSIS | 46 |
| 9 | Oli BAYLISS | 45 |
| 10 | Matt WALTERS | 42 |
| 11 | Lachlan EPIS | 36 |
| 12 | Josh WATERS | 27 |
| 13 | Anthony WEST | 24 |
| 14 | Michael EDWARDS | 22 |
| 15 | Mark CHIODO | 22 |
| 16 | Yannis SHAW | 21 |
| 17 | Nathan SPITERI | 20 |
| 18 | Luke JHONSTON | 17 |
| 19 | Aiden WAGNER | 15 |
| 20 | Aaron MORRIS | 14 |
| 21 | Philip CZAJ | 10 |
| 22 | Hamish McMURRAY | 4 |
| 23 | Sash SAVIN | 3 |
Darwin ASBK Entry List
- #1 Wayne Maxwell – Ducati
- #2 Mark Chido – Yamaha
- #3 Jed Metcher – Yamaha
- #12 Matt Walters – Kawasaki
- #13 Anthony West – Yamaha
- #14 Glenn Allerton – BMW
- #16 Luke Jhonston – Yamaha
- #17 Troy Herfoss – Honda
- #21 Josh Waters – Kawasaki
- #25 Daniel Falzon – Yamaha
- #28 Aiden Wagner – Yamaha
- #32 Oli Bayliss – Ducati
- #37 Michael Edwards – Yamaha
- #46 Mike Jones – Ducati
- #51 Corey Turner – Yamaha
- #61 Arthur Sissis – Yamaha
- #65 Cru Halliday – Yamaha
- #67 Bryan Staring – Kawasaki
- #83 Lachlan Epis – BMW
- #92 Jack Davis – BMW
- #333 Yanni Shaw – Suzuki
Source: MCNews.com.au
John Redding on ASBK in the lead up to Darwin
YRT – John Redding
Yamaha Racing Team (YRT) is a household name in the Australian Superbike Championship ever since its inception in late 2004. The team was started by John Redding, who has an association with Yamaha that goes all the way back to the ’70s.
English-born and New Zealand-raised, Redding worked with the Victorian importer for Yamaha upon his arrival in Australia. Redding explained the YRT project stemmed from a desire for Yamaha Australia to become more involved in the national Superbike Championship.
John Redding: “Yamaha would provide support for independent teams, but never actually had their own team. In the early 2000s, I already had a number of responsibilities within Yamaha Motor Australia, and the Managing Director approached me with the view to starting the YRT project. He wanted to have a more involved, corporate presence on the grid and I was given the job of caretaking the team.”
Success soon followed, with Jamie Stauffer winning the Australian Superbike Championship in 2006 and ’07. Since then, YRT has been home to a roster of talented riders including Wayne Maxwell, Glenn Allerton, Daniel Falzon and its current riders, Cru Halliday and Aiden Wagner.
Redding explained that all the riders have had their unique styles, “All top motorcycle racers have an enormous amount of self-confidence and they all have their own unique way of using their ability to win races and titles. In my memory, Jamie has been our leading light because of the championships he won for us. Wayne was another top rider who came very close to delivering us a title, but didn’t quite get there.”
For season 2021, YRT was set to run a third entry for Broc Parkes, alongside the existing bikes for Halliday and Wagner. Parkes ultimately withdrew from the season for personal reasons, which Redding said was bittersweet.
“Broc was racing in Japan and due to some internal changes, his ride had virtually disappeared. We were asked by the Yamaha factory in Japan to provide him with an ASBK ride. It was going to be a tall order for our team to run three riders, so when Broc said he wouldn’t be able to compete, we were upset in one way but glad in another.”
So far in 2021, Halliday has had a consistent start to the season, running fourth in the points after the Winton and Wakefield Park rounds. Wagner has had a tougher run, injuring himself at Winton and not receiving medical clearance to race at Wakefield. However, Redding believes both riders will be strong at Hidden Valley.
“I think our bike is one of the best all-rounders in the paddock, which is why so many privateers are riding it. It doesn’t necessarily excel in any particular area, but it doesn’t have any negatives. In Darwin, I think we’ll be up there for sure” Redding explains.
The Melbourne-based Redding will miss Darwin due to COVID-19 border restrictions, but has full confidence in team manager Kevin Marshall, who will oversee operations at Hidden Valley, “Kevin has been with me since we started the team, he has a very long association with Yamaha, he’s very loyal and he knows the product inside and out,” Redding concluded.
ASBK Hidden Valley Schedule
Friday, 18 June
10:25am – Practice 1 (40 min) FOX Sports
2:20pm – Practice 2 (30 min) FOX Sports
Saturday, 19 June
10:15am – Qualifying 1 (20 min) FOX Sports
10:40am – Qualifying 2 (15 min) FOX Sports
2:05pm – Race 1 (16 laps) FOX Sports/Channel 7
Sunday, 20 June
10:50am – Race 2 (16 laps) FOX Sports
2:05pm – Race 3 (16 laps) FOX Sports/Channel 7
2021 ASBK Championship Calendar (Updated)
Round 1 Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC February 18-21 CancelledRound 2 Winton Motor Raceway, Benalla, VIC March 12-14Round 3 Wakefield Park Raceway, Goulburn, NSW April 16-18- Round 4 Hidden Valley Raceway, NT – Supercars 2+4 (Superbikes only) June 18-20
- Round 5 Morgan Park Raceway, QLD August 20-22
- Round 6 The Bend Motorsport Park, Tailem Bend, SA September 23-26
- Round 7 Wakefield Park Raceway, Goulburn, NSW October 15 – 17 *
- Round 8 Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC November 5-7 *
Alpinestars Superbike Championship Standings
| Pos | Rider | Total |
| 1 | Wayne MAXWELL | 91 |
| 2 | Troy HERFOSS | 81 |
| 3 | Mike JONES | 74 |
| 4 | Cru HALLIDAY | 65 |
| 5 | Glenn ALLERTON | 64 |
| 6 | Bryan STARING | 54 |
| 7 | Jed METCHER | 47 |
| 8 | Arthur SISSIS | 46 |
| 9 | Oli BAYLISS | 45 |
| 10 | Matt WALTERS | 42 |
| 11 | Lachlan EPIS | 36 |
| 12 | Josh WATERS | 27 |
| 13 | Anthony WEST | 24 |
| 14 | Michael EDWARDS | 22 |
| 15 | Mark CHIODO | 22 |
| 16 | Yannis SHAW | 21 |
| 17 | Nathan SPITERI | 20 |
| 18 | Luke JHONSTON | 17 |
| 19 | Aiden WAGNER | 15 |
| 20 | Aaron MORRIS | 14 |
| 21 | Philip CZAJ | 10 |
| 22 | Hamish McMURRAY | 4 |
| 23 | Sash SAVIN | 3 |
Darwin ASBK Entry List
- #1 Wayne Maxwell – Ducati
- #2 Mark Chido – Yamaha
- #3 Jed Metcher – Yamaha
- #12 Matt Walters – Kawasaki
- #13 Anthony West – Yamaha
- #14 Glenn Allerton – BMW
- #16 Luke Jhonston – Yamaha
- #17 Troy Herfoss – Honda
- #21 Josh Waters – Kawasaki
- #25 Daniel Falzon – Yamaha
- #28 Aiden Wagner – Yamaha
- #32 Oli Bayliss – Ducati
- #37 Michael Edwards – Yamaha
- #46 Mike Jones – Ducati
- #51 Corey Turner – Yamaha
- #61 Arthur Sissis – Yamaha
- #65 Cru Halliday – Yamaha
- #67 Bryan Staring – Kawasaki
- #83 Lachlan Epis – BMW
- #92 Jack Davis – BMW
- #333 Yanni Shaw – Suzuki
Source: MCNews.com.au
Three days of Live TV coverage for Darwin Superbikes
Darwin ASBK TV package announced
ASBK fans will be able to follow all the action from the Northern Territory round of the 2021 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship via an extensive live TV package announced today.
Fans will be treated to live coverage of every practice and qualifying session on Fox Sports Australia. As an added bonus, the Saturday and Sunday ASBK race action will also feature as part of Channel 7’s free-to-air coverage of the Repco Supercars Championship Merlin Darwin Triple Crown.
This means ASBK fans will be able to closely follow the strategies employed by teams as they come to grips with Darwin’s hot conditions during practice, soak up the tension as riders explore the limits of their machines during qualifying, and then be captivated by epic, wheel-to-wheel combat during the weekend’s trio of 16-lap races.
The broadcast coverage will be produced by Supercars Television, internationally acclaimed for its coverage of motorsport events, and Repco Supercars Championship General Manager of Television and Content Nathan Prendergast said the bikes will add to the Darwin TV spectacle.
Motorcycling Australia CEO Peter Doyle
“We’ve been very proud to have provided fans with live TV coverage of our races over many seasons, but racing in Darwin with Supercars provides a chance for a whole new audience of race fans who now get to witness ASBK from Hidden Valley. Three days of ASBK action will provide viewers an insight into the high-pressure environment of superbike racing with Australia’s fastest two-wheel racers. Coverage during practice and qualifying sessions is a great addition as it’s where teams have to make spur-of-the-moment tactical decisions in the heat of battle. Fans at home are in for three action-packed races on Saturday and Sunday as the ASBK championship is shaping up as a mega battle in 2021 and it continues in Darwin’’.
As an added bonus, all the thrills and spills of the Alpinestars Superbike Races 1 to 3 at Hidden Valley Raceway, plus additional behind the scenes exclusive features stories will be aired on SBS in HD at 1pm-3pm on Sunday 4 July, while fans can also catch up on ASBK TV at any time via SBS On-Demand.
The ASBK action at the Merlin Darwin Triple Crown commences with a pair of practice sessions on Friday, 18 June.
ASBK Round 4 – Hidden Valley Schedule
Friday, 18 June
10:25am – Practice 1 (40 min) FOX Sports
2:20pm – Practice 2 (30 min) FOX Sports
Saturday, 19 June
10:15am – Qualifying 1 (20 min) FOX Sports
10:40am – Qualifying 2 (15 min) FOX Sports
2:05pm – Race 1 (16 laps) FOX Sports/Channel 7
Sunday, 20 June
10:50am – Race 2 (16 laps) FOX Sports
2:05pm – Race 3 (16 laps) FOX Sports/Channel 7
2021 ASBK Calendar
- Round 1 Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC February 18-21 Cancelled
- Round 2 Winton Motor Raceway, Benalla, VIC March 12-14
- Round 3 Wakefield Park Raceway, Goulburn, NSW April 16-18
- Round 4 Hidden Valley Raceway, NT – Supercars 2+4 (Superbikes only) June 18-20
- Round 5 Morgan Park Raceway, QLD August 20-22
- Round 6 The Bend Motorsport Park, Tailem Bend, SA September 23-26
- Round 7 Wakefield Park Raceway, Goulburn, NSW October 15 – 17 *
- Round 8 Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC November 5-7 *
Source: MCNews.com.au
Sydney 5 Hour shaping up to be a ripper with full grid
Sydney 5 Hour
July 2018 saw St George MCC run the inaugural Sydney 5 Hour at Sydney Motorsport Park. It’s a race meeting that’s captured the imagination of the local and interstate racing community and now, in its fourth year of running, the club is still looking to develop it into one of the must-be-there events of the season. The popularity of the event with riders was clearly demonstrated on June 1st when the entry list was filled out within 65 seconds of registration opening online.
For 2021, the Pirelli Sydney 5 Hour meeting will run on the weekend of 24th/25th July and will host not only the iconic 5 Hour race itself but a packed schedule of races including the inaugural Sydney 200.
Whilst the 5 Hour is structured around a relay format with multiple riders and bikes, the 200 brings back a more classic one bike, one rider format.
“The countries best riders have been asking for endurance racing, and to race at The Creek in 2021, we’ve managed to achieve both,” says St George MCC’s Publicity Officer Michael O’Brien. “This is going to be an epic 52 lap battle where everything comes into play; machine preparation, rider nutrition and strategy on track and in the pits. The club is so excited to be hosting this race as part of the Pirelli Sydney 5 Hour weekend.”
The Sydney 200 is attracting the attention of a number of the top ASBK teams and we can expect the grid to include some of the best riders in Australia.
2013 and 2020 ASBK Champion, and 2021 series leader, Wayne Maxwell is already committed to the Sydney 200 and he’ll be heading to the meeting having set a new Superbike lap record of 1m29.7270 at the St George MCC Pirelli Motul Series / NSW Road Race Championships held at SMP over the weekend of 22nd/23rd May.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for Australia’s best racers to go head-to-head away from the regular format of ASBK. To race an endurance race at one of Australia’s best circuits is a fantastic concept and I’m excited to be a part of the inaugural Sydney 200 race.” – Wayne Maxwell, BOOST Mobile McMartin Ducati Racing.
Pole Position for the Sydney 200, and for the Sydney 5 Hour, will be decided by quick-fire, Top 5, shoot-out sessions which are always a hit with the fans and puts the pressure on the riders to make the most of the one lap opportunity they get. The shoot outs, which will have grid position and cash prizes up for grabs, will run on Saturday before the IPONE St George 2 Hour race.
The full calendar for the weekend includes
- IPONE Formula St George 2 Hour, relay format for Supersports 300 class machines which will feature a Le Mans style start and will run late on Saturday 24th with a finish under lights.
- The Sydney 200, single rider, single bike endurance for Superbikes and Supersport 600’s which will run on the Sunday morning, with a Le Mans style start, ahead of the Pirelli Sydney 5 Hour.
- Pirelli Sydney 5 Hour, relay format endurance for Superbikes and Supersports 600’s. This headline event is scheduled to kick off, also with a Le Mans start, just before noon on Sunday 25th.
- AGV Retro Superbikes sprint races across the weekend featuring Period 5, 6 and Pre-Modern bikes from the 70’s through to the 90’s.
- Pit stop challenge, an opportunity for fans to see the crews in action in a head-to-head knock out competition involving the whole team, with the final being under lights after the finish of the IPONE 2 Hour Saturday evening.
Events of this scale can’t a happen without sponsors and whilst there are still some sponsorship deals still in the works, St George MCC have already sealed partnerships with Pirelli, IPONE, AGV, Edge Creative Printing, On Print T Shirts and are aligned with The Man Walk to help raise awareness of mental fitness. A mystery benefactor has also put up some prize money for the Sydney 200 to make it one of the richest local events of the year.
With SMSP missing out on a round of ASBK again in 2021, the Sydney 5 Hour weekend will be a great opportunity to see some of the ASBK riders in action as part of what should be a fantastic weekend of racing.
Spectator entry to the event is free and you can grab tickets from Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/156628296451
Donations will be accepted gratefully received at the entry gate to support The Man Walk.
St George MCC’s 2020 plan to extend the event into a two-round series, with a second 5 Hour event at Phillip Island, had to be set aside because of the uncertainty that covid-19 caused but it’s back on the cards for 2021 with the PI Round occupying the 29th/31st October weekend, one week after the date currently locked in for the Australian round of MotoGP.
The schedule for Phillip Island round of the St George meeting currently includes the Pirelli Phillip Island 5 hour, the second round of the IPONE Formula St George 2 Hour and more AGV Retro Superbikes sprint races.
Peter Doyle, Chief Executive Officer, Motorcycling Australia
“A great initiative from the St George club. Endurance racing was a huge part of the racing scene in Australia back in the 70’s and 80’s and was extremely popular at the time. Whether it’s a single rider over a medium distance or different riders sharing the same machine over a longer time frame, this along with teamwork and tactics add different dimensions when trying to win a long-distance race. Checking the racing community’s appetite for long distance events is certainly something that should be explored and, if well supported, may pave the way for future international endurance events which there has been a number of discussions around in the last few years”.
2008, 2011 and 2014 ASBK Champion Glenn Allerton, Next Gen Motorsports, Maxima Oil BMW
“I’m really looking forward to the challenge of a 200km race; it will be a challenge for both the rider and the team to stay strong all the way to the end. It’s something I’ve been wanting for a long time and cannot wait for this race. With the team playing a major role in the race on track, this will add to the pressure on all team members. Cannot wait.”
Shane Kinderis, Team Manager Next Gen Motorsports
“Once again, St George MCC is leading the way and Next Gen Motorsports are more than happy to be involved. We are excited at hopefully bringing the rand new BMW M1000RR ro Sydney and showing the fans its capabilities. SMSP being Glenn and Lachlan’s home track, we are really looking forward to the endurance race and are also looking forward to having a 5 Hour team make up of our own crew.”
Oli Bayliss, DesmoSport Ducati
“We finished second in the last endurance event we raced in Sydney, but that was a team event on the 600, so I’m looking forward to testing myself on the Panigale V R. It’s a lot of laps, especially on a superbike, but that’s just another part of the challenge I’m looking forward to.”
2015 and 2019 ASBK Champion, Mike Jones, DesmoSport Ducati
“I’m really looking forward to the Sydney 200! I wrapped up the 2019 ASBK Championship at Sydney Motorsport Park, so I have some incredible memories there on top of it being such a great track to ride, so I cannot wait to get back to the circuit. Our usual races are 16 to 20 laps, depending on the track, so to switch it up for an endurance event is going to be a lot of fun.”
2010 ASBK Champion, Bryan Staring Kawasaki , BC Performance
“Endurance racing will be a new challenge for myself. The Sydney 200 will be that difficult distance where it is not an ultra-endurance race but probably can’t be ridden as a sprint race. The new format excites me as the manufacturers, teams and tyre suppliers will be working from a blank canvas. Seeing a high-quality entry list will increase the anticipation. Cannot wait to get on the line.”
Paul Byrne, Suspension Chemistry, Purgetec Pty Ltd
“I’m excited about the Sydney 200 this year; it’s a great addition to the Sydney 5 Hour endurance race by St. George Motorcycle Club. Endurance racing tests a rider, the team and the bike in different ways, that is part of the reason I love it. The format of the 200km race, one rider, one bike offers a completely different challenge that will test the endurance of the rider as well as the durability of the machine. The fitness of the rider, consistent lap times and a well-prepared motorbike is key to a good result. If you want to be the fastest you have to race against the fastest, and I’m pretty sure a lot of the top riders around Australia will come and give it a crack.”
Source: MCNews.com.au
Troy Bayliss seriously injured in bicycle crash
Troy Bayliss Confirms Injuries After Bicycle Crash
DesmoSport Ducati Team co-owner Troy Bayliss has confirmed that a bicycle crash last Friday has left the three-time World Superbike champion with a fractured C4 vertebra and corresponding spinal damage that will see the active 52-year-old on the sidelines for several months.
Troy Bayliss
“I’m OK and I’m home, but the crash means I won’t be riding a motorcycle until I regain full movement in my arms and hands. I really just wanted to let everyone know what’s happened, that I’m OK and that I’ll be back in leathers as soon as I can. It’s been an intense weekend for me and my family, but luckily I’m OK and I will recover. My doctors have been really positive, but there’s no firm indication of how long it will be until I can regain enough control to get back on a bike – maybe a few months, maybe longer; it just depends on how the recovery goes once the bones heal up.”
With Troy having no exact recollection of the incident, it appears that another bicycle was exiting between two parked cars and he has collided head first into it. Most of the impact was transferred through his head to his neck, and he lost consciousness. He was immediately treated and taken to hospital.
While the injuries are serious, Troy’s condition is stable. He returned to his Gold Coast home on Monday to begin his recovery.
With Darwin’s Hidden Valley the next round of the 2021 Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK), on June 18-20, DesmoSport Ducati will forge ahead with their preparations, beginning with a private test for Mike Jones and Oli Bayliss early next week as they continue to chase the 2021 ASBK title.
Source: MCNews.com.au
ASBK finale moves from Tasmania to Phillip Island
ASBK 2021
Following the recent cancellation of the Phillip Island round of the World Superbike Championship, the Australian Superbike Championship has moved in to fill that void and take that November 7 booking at Phillip Island to stage the final round of ASBK.
That November 7 date was originally scheduled to take place at Symmons Plains, but the Tasmanian round has now been dropped from the calendar and an extra round has been added at Wakefield Park in mid-October.
Curiously, despite round one being cancelled, ASBK continues to call the opening round of the series at Winton, as round two, and next month’s Hidden Valley event is referred to as round four, despite it being the third round in the championship. Makes my head hurt…
2021 ASBK Calendar
May Update
- Round 1 Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC February 18-21 Cancelled
- Round 2 Winton Motor Raceway, Benalla, VIC March 12-14
- Round 3 Wakefield Park Raceway, Goulburn, NSW April 16-18
- Round 4 Hidden Valley Raceway, NT – Supercars 2+4 (Superbikes only) June 18-20
- Round 5 Morgan Park Raceway, QLD August 20-22
- Round 6 The Bend Motorsport Park, Tailem Bend, SA September 23-26
- Round 7 Wakefield Park Raceway, Goulburn, NSW October 15 – 17 *
- Round 8 Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC November 5-7 *
Motorcycling Australia
Over the past 18 months of snap lockdowns and border closure have impacted many sporting events including the 2021 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul (ASBK) back in February, with the postponement of opening round at the iconic Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.
Since this postponement, ASBK Management Team has been working closely with a number of circuits to find new dates to replace the missing round and ensure that the 2021 ASBK Championship can complete is intended full season.
A revised calendar for 2021 is now available, which includes two additional venues and confirms the postponement of the round at Symmons Plains, Tasmania. Initially scheduled as the final round of 2021, the Tasmanian round will now be postponed until the 2022 season due to lack of circuit availability on a revised date.
ASBK Management takes this opportunity to thank Symmons Plains Raceway and the Tasmanian Government for their support of ASBK and understanding in this tricky and complicated situation for all parties. ASBK and Symmons Plains Raceway have already begun planning for 2022 and ASBK remains excited about heading back to Tasmania next year.
After two amazing rounds of ASBK run and won already in 2021, with strong entries and big crowds back at the track. ASBK Management is pleased to announce today that Round 7 will now be held at Wakefield Park Raceway on October 15 – 17.
ASBK last event at Wakefield Park was a huge success, with fans flocking to watch the action. ASBK Management highly appreciates WP stepping up to help host the October event on short notice. Fans will be assured another action-packed weekend in Goulburn, NSW.
ASBK Management is additionally pleased to announce that the ASBK Grand Finale – Round 8 will now be held at the world famous – Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit on November 5 – 7.
Motorcycling Australia CEO Peter Doyle said that Phillip Island is always an ASBK rider and fan favorite and its great that ASBK can return to the circuit after a long delay since our last visit.
‘’COVID-19 has caused many delays over the past 18 months. We have rebuilt the calendars on many occasions, and this has required flexibility by teams, riders, the circuits and ASBK ourselves. It’s just the situation in this COVID-19 environment which still remains today.
“It’s disappointing that we aren’t able to get to Symmons Plains this year, but we remain focused on getting there in 2022 and putting on a great event for Tassie fans.
“We need to make the best of the situation and heading back to Wakefield Park in October and finishing off at Phillip Island in November provides a very exciting conclusion to the 2021 ASBK Championship.
We look forward to welcoming the ASBK fans and riders back to these two popular circuits.’’
ASBK Management also confirms the ASBK Night of Champions at Phillip Island on Sunday 7th November.
ASBK now heads to the Top End and Hidden Valley Raceway, Darwin for Round 4 joining the Supercars Championship and Nitro Up North drag racing is a motorsport triple header event in the Northern Territory on June 18 – 20.
Source: MCNews.com.au
