Tag Archives: ASBK

Motorcycle News, Motorcycle Racing, News

Wayne Maxwell back in Suzuki colours for ASBK 2019

Leave a comment
Wayne Maxwell Team Suzuki Ecstar
Wayne Maxwell joins Team Suzuki Ecstar for 2019

GSX-R mounted riders have won almost half the Australian Superbike Championships contested this century, and in 2019 Suzuki are determined to add to that tally by fielding one of the strongest two-rider outfits ever to line up for an Australian Superbike Team.

Wayne Maxwell Team Suzuki Ecstar
Wayne Maxwell

Current rider Josh Waters has three ASBK Superbike Championships to his name (2009-2012-2017), and joining him in the Team Suzuki Ecstar squad for 2019 is long-time rival, and 2013 Australian Superbike, Champion Wayne Maxwell.

Wayne Maxwell won the 2013 Australian Superbike Championship on a GSX-R1000 Suzuki
Wayne Maxwell won the 2013 Australian Superbike Championship on a GSX-R1000 Suzuki

That 2013 Superbike Championship for Maxwell was won on a Suzuki GSX-R1000, and he is aiming to repeat that feat in season 2019.

Wayne Maxwell Team Suzuki Ecstar

Wayne Maxwell

“I’m very excited to be joining Team Suzuki ECSTAR Australia for the next two years. Last time Suzuki and I were paired together proved to be very successful, winning my first Australian Superbike championship. I’m really looking forward to getting back on the GSX-R1000, I know how fast and competitive the GSX-R is having raced against it the last few years, I’m super excited to get to work with Phil, Warren and the rest of the team on repeating our 2013 success.”

Wayne Maxwell won the 2013 ASBK Superbike Championship when he rode for Suzuki.
Wayne Maxwell won the 2013 ASBK Superbike Championship when he last rode for Suzuki.

The 36-year-old only this year broke his own ASBK Superbike outright pole lap record at Phillip Island that had stood since 2013, when that same weekend then 30-year-old took the Superbike Title for Suzuki by 34-points over Glenn Allerton.

Wayne Maxwell celebrates taking Superpole on the GSX-R1000 at Phillip Island in 2013

Suzuki are also working on a third, semi-satellite rider, for ASBK 2019 and soon hope to announce that signing too. Our tip for the gig is Alex Phillis.

Wayne Maxwell Team Suzuki Ecstar

Mat Mladin is taking young Max Croker up to the Superbike ranks in 2019 for his maiden season with the big boys.

Honda recently announced that Mark Chiodo would join 2018 ASBK Superbike Champion Troy Herfoss at Penrite Honda.

In 2019 Cru Halliday will step back up from Supersport to a Superbike ride at YRT alongside Daniel Falzon.

Glenn Allerton will line up again for NextGen BMW on an all-new S 1000 RR. Ted Collins may also have a seat on the BMW again next season.

Kawasaki look to have young Lachlan Epis joining Bryan Staring in the BCperformance squad.

And then of course there is that fella who will be turning up again on a red bike, three-time World Superbike Champion Troy Bayliss…

MotoGP ASBK CRw Bayliss Herfoss Allerton
Troy Bayliss – Image Colin Rosewarne

An ASBK pre-season test will be held at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit on February 2-3.

2019 ASBK Calendar
  • ASBK Test – Phillip Island, VIC February 2 – 3
  • Round 1 – WSBK – Phillip Island, VIC February 21 – 24
  • Round 2 – Wakefield Park, Goulburn NSW March 22 – 24
  • Round 3 – The Bend, Tailem Bend, SA April 26 – 28
  • Round 4 – Morgan Park, Warwick, QLD July 5 – 7
  • Round 5 – Winton, Benalla, VIC September 6 – 8
  • Round 6 – Phillip Island, VIC October 4 – 6
  • Round 7 – SMP, Eastern Creek, NSW November 1 – 3

Source: MCNews.com.au

Motorcycle News, Motorcycle Racing, News

Mark Chiodo joins Penrite Honda for ASBK 2019

Leave a comment

Mark Chiodo on Penrite Honda

Penrite Honda Racing will expand to a two-rider operation for the 2019 Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) after signing young Victorian Mark Chiodo.

Chiodo, 20, impressed as a Superbike rookie this season, rounding out the year with a best result of fourth overall at Phillip Island’s Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix support races on a Suzuki GSX-R1000R.

MotoGP TBG Rnd Phillip Island Marcus Chiodo TBG
Mark Chiodo – TBG Image

Chiodo will join defending champion Troy Herfoss in the expanded squad based out of Melbourne. 

ASBK TBG Rnd Winton Herfoss TBG
Troy Herfoss celebrates the 2018 title victory – Winton ASBK 2018 – Image by TBG

Mark Chiodo

“I’m really excited to be joining Penrite Honda Racing for my second year in the Superbike class,” explained Chiodo. “It will be a perfect platform for me to work from within a title-winning team and I know that the CBR1000RR SP is a truly competitive package. Hopefully this year I can consistently be within the top five and possibly battling for podiums. The ER Motorsport crew is really tight-knit and I’m happy to be working with the likes of Stewart Winton and Shaun Clarke for the season ahead. I’m really thankful for the opportunity provided by Deon and the team.”

Mark Chiodo (centre), flanked by Oli and Troy Bayliss – Image Trevor Hedge

Penrite Honda Racing team owner Deon Coote welcomed Chiodo to the squad alongside Herfoss, also appointing renowned technician Stewart Winton to work within the team managed by Shaun Clarke.

Deon Coote – Penrite Honda

“The Penrite Honda Racing team is now in a position where we can expand to two riders following a successful season with Troy and we’re looking forward to 2019. It’s always good to support a young talent like Mark, he will fit in well alongside Troy and I think our team environment will be a positive step in his career.”

ASBK TBG Rnd Winton Herfoss TBG
Penrite Honda – 2018 ASBK Superbike Champions – Image TBG

The first official appearance of Chiodo aboard Penrite Honda Racing’s CBR1000RR SP will come during Motorcycling Australia’s ASBK pre-season test to be held at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit on 2-3 February.

2019 ASBK Calendar
  • ASBK Test – Phillip Island, VIC February 2 – 3
  • Round 1 – WSBK – Phillip Island, VIC February 21 – 24
  • Round 2 – Wakefield Park, Goulburn NSW March 22 – 24
  • Round 3 – The Bend, Tailem Bend, SA April 26 – 28
  • Round 4 – Morgan Park, Warwick, QLD July 5 – 7
  • Round 5 – Winton, Benalla, VIC September 6 – 8
  • Round 6 – Phillip Island, VIC October 4 – 6
  • Round 7 – SMP, Eastern Creek, NSW November 1 – 3

Source: MCNews.com.au

Competition, News

Waters signs multi-year agreement with Team Ecstar Suzuki

Leave a comment

Waters signs multi-year agreement with Team Ecstar Suzuki

Three-time Superbike to remain aboard Suzuki machinery through 2020 season.

Image: Russell Colvin.

Victorian Josh Waters will remain with Team Suzuki Ecstar Australia for the next two years after signing a multi-year agreement to contest the 2019 and 2020 seasons of the YMF Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK).

Waters joined the squad for its inaugural season in 2017, which ultimately saw him seal his third Australian superbike title. Following a tough title defence this year, the number 21 wound up fourth in the championship standings.

“I’m excited to continue this partnership,” said Waters. “I have raced for Suzuki for over 10 years both here and overseas, I have a great team around me, we put in a lot of work this year and ended the season with some strong finishes and a race win, which was great. The goal is pretty simple next year, I want to win the title back”

The first official outing for the squad in 2019 will be the ASBK opener at Phillip Island, which will run alongside the WorldSBK on 22-24 February.

Source: CycleOnline.com.au

Motorcycle News, Motorcycle Racing, News

15-year-olds now eligible for ASBK Supersport 600 racing

Leave a comment
Experienced youngsters can qualify to race Supersport 600

Motorcycling Australia has announced that the entry age for the Supersport 600 Class has been amended for those who qualify for a new endorsement; permitting riders who meet a certain criterion to compete at the age of 15 years and over.

This will enable experienced and skilled young riders such as current high-performing Supersport 300 competitors to step up to the 600cc Supersport ranks earlier than previously allowed.

MotoGP ASBK Supports TBG Supersport Bayliss Crump Ford
The rule change means the likes of young Oli Bayliss can move up from Supersport 300 to Supersport 600 in season 2019 – TBG Image

This makes great sense as while the 300 Supersport racing is fast and frenetic, the lap-times and speeds achieved are a country mile away from what 15-year-old riders once recorded on the two-stroke 125cc machines that were raced at championship level until a few years ago.

The current Supersport 300 lap record at Phillip Island is seven-seconds slower than domestic competitors lapped on 125cc machines some 15 years ago, and 12-seconds slower than international 125cc competitors lapped Phillip Island. 

Similar to the endorsement for 13-year-olds to step into the Supersport 300 class, the new ruling has been passed to allow endorsements to be made available for those competitors whom warrant being permitted to step up from the Supersport 300 class into the Supersport 600 class.

For each application certain requirements will need to be met and considered on its own merit, which are outlined in the 2019 Manual of Motorcycle Sport, effective 1st of January 2019. See attached bulletin for more detail (Link).

The strategy is to encourage a sustainable and more accessible progression plan, junior competitors to develop their skills at an early age through the respective classes available before contesting a club, state or national championship on a Superbike.

The Supersport class has been one of the most successful feeder categories into the Superbike class since the late 1990s. With rules similar to those of the Superbikes, the Supersport 600 class is open to 600cc four-cylinders, 675cc three-cylinder and 750cc two-cylinder production-based machines.

The category sits neatly between the Supersport 300s and the Superbike class, developing skills in relation to throttle control and suspension setup, critical skills for the premier class.

Source: MCNews.com.au