With the current break in racing activity we thought it a good idea to start rolling out this series that I have dubbed ‘Twisted ASBK Interviews’.
This is a somewhat comedic departure from the norm that hopes to shed some light into the personalities of ASBK Superbike riders.
Some of these were conducted in person at the track earlier this year, while others were conducted more recently over the phone.
A few of them certainly got me laughing out loud and I hope you view them through the prism of good fun they were taken in. Today we talk with Penrite Honda’s Troy Herfoss.
MCNews.com.au: Who is the dirtiest rider you least trust when racing against?
Troy Herfoss: “You’re going to get my in a lot of trouble here Trev, Mike Jones, that guy’s outspoken and dirty as hell.”
Herfoss and Jones after the final battle for the 2019 Title at SMP – TBG Image
MCNews.com.au: Who would you most like to punch in the ASBK paddock?
TH: “Honestly, I’d punch the top five guys.”
MCNews.com.au: Who would you least like to be punched by in the ASBK paddock?
TH: “I’ve seen Wayne go and I know he can throw them, so I don’t want to be punched by him.”
Troy Herfoss’s Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP on arrival in Australia. Herf’ is keen to race the new bike
MCNews.com.au: If you were stuck on a deserted island, which rider would you choose to be stuck with?
TH: “I’d say Aiden Wagner, just because he seems to be a practical sorta country bloke, probably has a few skills to keep us safe.”
MCNews.com.au: Who is the king of swiping right during ASBK race weekends?
TH: “Oh man, up until a few years ago it had to be Cru Halliday, right now I probably don’t know them young blokes enough, but all those 300 riders are always up to no good.”
MCNews.com.au: Which rider has the hottest sister?
TH: “I haven’t taken note for a little while, but I think at my age all the riders that I race with have learnt not to bring their sisters to the track.”
Troy Herfoss – Image by Rob Mott
MCNews.com.au: Who is the biggest princess in the ASBK paddock?
TH: “Cru Halliday.”
MCNews.com.au: Who has the most fitting nickname in the paddock?
TH: “Wild Man Waters, just joking, him or Mad Mike, I’m just jealous as I don’t have one that rhymes with Herfoss.”
Jeremy Burgess overseeing the Michelin rubber for Penrite Honda at the ASBK Test – Image by Rob Mott
MCNews.com.au: What is the worst track ASBK visits?
TH: “I don’t want to say because I love it so much, but it has to be Morgan Park, it’s an old track, but I love that track so much.”
MCNews.com.au: Which corner on the calendar is your favourite?
TH: “I would say my favourite corner is probably Turn 3 at Morgan Park, a blind turn around the wall and it opens up, and when you know the track really well, you’re on the limit smoking the tyre up, not knowing where you’re going.”
MCNews.com.au: Which corner would you liked to see nuked from orbit?
TH: “Turn 12 of Phillip Island, but there’s probably safety corners I should say… Turn 12 has always been hard for me, and it’s hard to get right.”
Troy Herfoss – Wakefield Park ASBK Test – TDJ Image
MCNews.com.au: If you could overtake one rider, on one corner, who would it be, and where, and how?
TH: “Turn 12, Jamie Stauffer up the inside, just because we were on the same bike and he always used to pass me there.”
MCNews.com.au: Which animal would you most liken yourself to?
TH: “The greyhound.”
MCNews.com.au: You need to borrow tools. Who would you ask first? Who would you never ask?
TH: “Wayne’s a bit of a handy-man, I’d go to him. I would never go to Lachlan Epis, because he’s always got his Dad working on his bike.”
Maxwell leads Halliday, Herfoss and Waters at the season opener – Image by Rob Mott
MCNews.com.au: If you weren’t racing, what would you be in jail for?
TH: “Too many speeding fines.”
MCNews.com.au: If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?
TH: “I don’t know mate.”
MCNews.com.au: How would you describe yourself in three words?
TH: “Arrogant, impatient, selfish.”
Troy Herfoss – Image by Rob Mott Source: MCNews.com.au
2020 mi-bike Australian Superbike Championship Round One – Phillip Island Troy Herfoss
Troy Herfoss rode the Penrite Honda to a handful of fifth place wins at last weekend’s Phillip Island season opener on the outgoing model Fireblade SP. ASBK heads to his happy hunting ground of Wakefield Park late this month with Herfoss ranked fifth in the championship points standings.
Jeremy Burgess overseeing the Michelin rubber for Troy Herfoss abd Penrite Honda – Image by Rob Mott
MCNews.com.au caught up with Herfoss immediately after the final race at Phillip Island for a chat about the weekend, his expectations for the new bike and the season ahead.
Troy Herfoss Interview
Trevor Hedge: It probably feel like a mile away for you – but you weren’t that far behind here this weekend, but still a somewhat disappointing start to the season for you? But there is also some promise there as well… With new tyres for this season, it’s been a fair bit of adaption you and the team have had to make ahead of season 2020.
Troy Herfoss: “Compared to previous years Trev, its been my best, the best I’ve ridden around this circuit. That race was like a 12-lap time trial, the fastest I’ve ever been around here on my own, and we just weren’t good enough. Wayne was a class above. Once the slip-stream broke, I lost a few-tenths every lap down the straight, then got swallowed up by Mike. We’ve been having massive issues shifting back gears, we tried to change something then, and I end up having more issues.
Troy Herfoss – Rob Mott Image
“In saying that, when the bike was at its best, I still wasn’t fast enough to win, and that’s pretty disappointing. The disappointing thing is I feel like it’s the best I’m riding ever, and then to only have three to fifth places to show for it… Winning the championship a few years ago I would honestly say I didn’t ride as good as I did today. So you know, that says a lot for the championship I guess. Now we’re moving to Wakefield and Tailem Bend, we’re going to see something a bit different I think.”
Trev: Wayne has been calling for some updates for the Ducati for the first few rounds, I saw you out something on social overnight saying, ‘do you think the Ducati needs more updates’. Whats your position on whats going to unfold in that corner from here on in?
Troy Herfoss Instagram story quoting Maxwell’s quotes published on MCNews.com.au after race two on Saturday
Herfoss: “If what I’m hearing is right, and they did have something approved by M.A. and then taken way, then that’s a little bit of a kick in the guts for them. I don’t know what the truth is around that. Yesterday when I put that up, my opinion was it was a bit laughable, that he’s had his best ever start to the championship and the first thing he thought about when he got off the bike was that he needed updates to his bike. That’s all there was to it. That’s just my opinion. I think you gotta know when you’ve got something good, and I think he should be enjoying his victories.”
Maxwell leads Halliday, Herfoss and Waters – Image by Rob Mott
Trev: Obviously you’ve seen the top speed of the World Superbike Hondas here this weekend, they’ve been smashing the top speed record, 327 km/h down the shoot, and I know you were all smiles when you got to see that first bike that landed in the country. You’ve generally got a pretty big smile, but that was even bigger than normal. You must be keen to get your hands on that new bike, but a bit frustrated it’ll be a few rounds before we can see it.
Herfoss: “I’m just excited really, we’ve waited a long time, it’s not about the waiting now, its just excitement, and I think the most refreshing thing yesterday was that Bautista and Haslam were not only strong on top speed, but were one of the strongest or Bautista was – at the end of the race. It’s an all round good package and not only that, it’s bloody fast. If we can get a bike that handles even close to what we got now, but with some big power, then its not going to be good for the championship…”
Troy Herfoss’s Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP on arrival
Trev: You won’t know what to do with yourself. You’ll have to learn to ride again.
Herfoss: “Yeah the lines will be different, the race tactic now at this track is just balls to the wall, attack at any given moment, and it’ll be nice to hopefully – you never know, you never know what the bike can do – but if it can handle like the bike does now, but with some more horsepower, it’ll be a refreshing change.”
Trev: With Michelin coming to the party, there’s been a lot of work done by yourself and the team, adapting to the new tyres, with Michelin themselves also, are you happy with their commitment so far?
Herfoss: “So happy, on that aspect I think we’ve had a really good weekend.”
Trev: Better than expected, do you think? Lap times wise – but results not quite perhaps.
Herfoss: “Results no, but the fact I was able to ride the bike the way I did the whole race, you know, as always, tyre manufacturers are always so worried about longevity around this track and we had three races with no issues with the tyre, and I believe this tyre we’re using on the rear is a fairly safe option. I’m unsure of whether I had more or less grip than the Pirelli rear, but I can say the front tyre was unbelievably good. I’m really excited to get onto the normal sort of tyre when we get to these others tracks.”
Troy Herfoss – Image by Rob Mott
Trev: Thanks for your time Troy.
ASBK next heads to Wakefield Park later this month, the Goulburn circuit playing host to Round Two of the series over the March 27-29 weekend.
2020 mi-bike Australian Superbike Championship Points
The first CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP to arrive in Australia will make its debut appearance at Honda’s expo display at the Phillip Island World Superbike and ASBK season opener this weekend.
This lone ranger is the only unit to hit Australia so far, with the remaining models’ due mid-year. It’s fate? To become Troy Herfoss’s steed for his 2020 Australian Superbike campaign with Penrite Honda Racing.
Herfoss is extremely excited to get out on the track with his all-new race machine in the coming months and looks forward to seeing it in action when Team HRC riders Alvaro Bautista and Leon Haslam head out to race for the first time on Saturday.
Troy Herfoss
“It looks so fast, it’s going to be a serious contender, I am shaking with anticipation to ride this thing. The technology and craftsmanship that has gone into it is so obvious, it looks mean! I’ve seen some of the dyno stats from Europe where the bike is straight out of the box, it’s got quite a bit more horsepower than my current race bike as standard so I can’t wait to feel that power in the coming months.”
Troy Herfoss will race the CBR1000RR-R SP in ASBK with Penrite Honda Racing in 2020
It will likely be some time before Herfoss races the new Fireblade in ASBK however. As of now there is only one bike in Australia, and 20 need to be here before it become eligible for ASBK Superbike competition. The outgoing model remains competitive in ASBK with Herfoss only narrowly being beaten to the title in 2019, and of course he was crowned champion in 2018.
Joining the new CBR1000RR-R SP Fireblade on show at the Honda display over the WSBK weekend are the all-new CRF1100 Africa Twin and top spec Africa Twin Adventure Sports with Showa EERA (Electronic Suspension)
Lighter, more powerful and with more features than ever before, the new Africa Twins are forged through adventure and will be available in Honda dealers from March.
The 2020 Motocross models, the CRF450R and CRF250R will also be on display.
This weekend will see the Suzuka 8 Hours take place in Japan as the 2019 FIM Endurance World Championship grand finale, with seven Australians taking part between the 8 Hours and 4 Hours events.
2018 Suzuka 8 Hour
The Suzuka 8 Hours has run since 1978, with many Aussie racers making their mark over the years, including Tony Hatton, Michael Cole, Kevin Magee, Mick Doohan, Wayne Gardner and Daryl Beattie.
The three time Australian Superbike Champion Josh Waters lines up with the MotoMap S.W.A.T team again for the fourth year in a row, with 2019 marking Waters’ ninth year racing at the Suzuka 8 Hours event.
Josh Hook – F.C.C. TSR Honda – Image by PSP/Mateus Mjagielski
The Mildura based rider will team up with former World 250cc/500cc/MotoGP racer, Nobuatsu Aoki for the sixth time, as well as former BSB rider Dan Linfoot, former. For 2019, Waters, Aoki and Linfoot are competing in the Superstock class.
Former World Supersport and Superbike racer Mark Aitchison takes to the grid with the Will-Raise RS-Itoh Kawasaki Racing Team, with the 35-year-old having been competing in the MFJ Superbike All Japan Road Race Championship for the satellite Kawasaki squad.
Mark Aitchison and the Will-Raise RS-Itoh Kawasaki Racing Team
Aitchison tested with the Kawasaki team for the 8 Hours Suzuka Program and his lap times were good enough to get the nod for a start this weekend. Aitchison, who hails from the Gold Coast, and his team have had two tests at Suzuka, which saw most of the European and Japanese teams present, as well as one private test.
Aitchison’s teammates for the Suzuka 8 Hours will be Akira Yanagawa, and Ryosuke Iwato, who currently rides for Kawasaki Japan as part of their factory effort.
Mark Aitchison
“The last official test was a great experience, as basically the whole EWC championship was on hand to the 8 Hours race weekend. Testing went well enough to this point, though in Japan the weather conditions are always challenging. So, it’s a matter of compromise between you and your teammates on setup. It’s Ryosuke first year as factory rider and I understand why they gave him the opportunity. He’s an extremely talented rider and his lap times at the recent test turned some heads from the top Kawasaki bosses. I think he’s got a great future ahead of him. I really love the fans energy and enthusiasm that they bring. On top of that, the event itself brings its own unique platform, which combined with spectator involvement provides such an exciting and enjoyable weekend.”
27-year-old Aaron Morris reunites with the Paris based R2CL team, in what was a last-minute call up by the team on Saturday. Morris, who is competing in the Australian Superbike Championship with the Maxima BMW team, competed with the R2CL outfit throughout the 2016 EWC championship. 2016 saw Morris and his team finishing fourth at their Le Mans debut, twelfth at Suzuka and ninth in the teams FIM EWC Championship standing.
Aaron Morris – Image by TBG
Morris will certainly be up against it this weekend, with no testing and riding for the first time with his teammates, Yoshihiro Konno and Josh Elliott, while coming to terms with the Suzuki GSX-R1000R on a track which he’s admitted to be his favourite.
Aaron Morris
“I’d love to improve on my best placed finish of twelfth we scored in 2016. We didn’t have a base set up, so we starting again and with three riders it’s hard to have a direction which everyone is happy with.”
2019 marks the first time in Paul Byrne’s career that he will race at Suzuka, joining TEAM SUGAI Racing Japan for the 4 Hours event. Kazu Kuroda from K1 Racing contacted the Irishman and now Australian citizen, a few weeks ago to see if he interested in racing on the team’s Honda CBR600RR. Byrne, 34, previously worked with Kuroda back in 2016, when he was his mechanic racing the International Island Classic and the International Festival of Speed on the DMR Harris XR69.
Paul Byrne joins TEAM SUGAI Racing Japan
Byrne has had to learn the 18-corner circuit, as well as get his head around riding the Aprilia RSV4 machine, a bike he hadn’t ridden before, taking part in the official three-day test.
Paul Byrne
“I mentioned to Kazu that I had an interest in doing some endurance racing in Japan and finally its all come together for the first time, which I’m really grateful for. The first day was about just learning and trying to get as many laps done as possible plus. I really enjoyed the challenge. The second day I was a lot more relaxed and I started to push a bit harder and my lap times came down. But the main objective of the test was for me to help my teammate, Sugai Yoshiyuki with feedback. On top of that I just wanted to get some laps on track to learn it ahead of this weekend.”
Other Aussies to keep an eye out for over the weekend are full-season FIM Endurance World Championship competitors Broc Parkes (YART – Yamaha) and reigning Champ, Josh Hook (F.C.C. TSR Honda France). Also contesting is current Australian Superbike Champion Troy Herfoss (KYB Moriwaki Racing Team).
Broc Parkes (YART – Yamaha) – Image by PSP/Mateus Mjagielski
Hook and the F.C.C. TSR Honda France team are currently sitting third in the Championship; with a strong fourth-fastest finish at the Official Test and topping the times at yesterday’s practice as the quickest of the full-season FIM EWC Team.
YART’s lucky number seems to be five. Currently sitting fifth in the standings and posting the fifth-fastest time at yesterday’s practice, Parkes and his teammates all were quick and consistent.
2019 ASBK – Round Two
Wakefield Park Sunday Part Two
Superbike Race Two
Wakefield Park staff were judging that it was likely a record crowd for a motorcycle race at the Goulburn based circuit despite the cloudy conditions that threatened rain here today.
The morning race had seen Troy Herfoss get the better of Cru Halliday and Wayne Maxwell in what was a farily close run affair. It was not until the very latter stages of the race that Herfoss managed to stamp his authority and pull away to take the race victory.
With Aiden Wagner out of the running due to an unfortunate incident on Friday (see separate story here), second place this morning saw Cru Halliday move into the Australian Superbike Championship points lead, with a ten-point buffer over Herfoss.
After race one Halliday was somewhat annoyed with himself over some mistakes he made during the opening stages of the race. The #65 YRT man was looking to go one better and make amends this afternoon.
Wayne Maxwell had been a strong third in that opener ahead of Daniel Falzon. The South Australian looked very strong early in race one, while Maxwell was only pipped out of second place late in the race by Halliday.
Mike Jones started poorly this morning and lost touch with the front runners. Some minor electronic tweaks for the DesmoSport Ducati 1299 Panigale R Final Edition ahead of the weekend’s final 20-lap bout.
Josh Waters would be looking for some answers after never really threatening this morning. Likewise leading Dunlop runner Bryan Staring did not have the package under him to challenge for a podium.
Adding a little more nervous anticipation was the looming threat of nearby rain as they readied for a race start…
We’re Away!
When the lights went out it was Cru Halliday that got away from the line first, but Herfoss had the inside line for turn one to take the early race lead as Halliday, Falzon, Maxwell and Jones gave chase.
Maxwell put a big move on Falzon early on lap two in order to promote himself up into third place. Maxwell then put in the fastest early lap of the race with a 57.8 as he set about challenging Halliday for second.
Mike Jones and Daniel Falzon then brushed shoulders heading towards turn one, the Ducati man pushing the #25 Yamaha back to fifth place. Jones then went on to set a 57.773 to start closing on Maxwell. Just a second covered that top five with 16 laps to run.
Further behind that leading five it was Josh Waters, the #21 with a few bike lengths over Kawasaki runners Matt Walters and Bryan Staring.
Things were tight at the top with Herfoss, Halliday, Maxwell, Jones and Falzon all circulating in the 57.6s and 57.7s. Nobody had a clear pace advantage and the rostrum looked likely to be decided by tyre longevity, and/or mistakes…
Lap after lap that top five maintained station as the race wore on. Herfoss looking tidy out front, but Halliday in second place perhaps looking even tidier.
As the race entered its second half Herfoss and Halliday started to steadily stretch away from Maxwell, Jones and Falzon.
Mike Jones made his move for third place on Maxwell with nine laps to run. Jones was now 1.6-seconds behind second placed Halliday, and 2.09-seconds behind race leader Herfoss.
Maxwell then started to come under attack from Falzon just as the red flag was produced to signal and end to proceedings with 13-laps completed. Lachlan Epis was down at turn eight and in a dangerous predicament, thus the decision to call time.
Double victory to Herfoss
A double to Penrite Honda man Troy Herfoss. The defending ASBK Champion putting himself firmly back into contention after a somewhat troublesome round one for the 32-year-old. Herfoss can often be very intense, but even with the pressure of being back here in front of his home crowd, he looked relaxed and comfortable all weekend.
Halliday the Superbike points leader
Cru Halliday looked tidy and fast all weekend. His second places today firms him up as the new Australian Superbike Championship points leader. The YRT man leading Herfoss by five-points.
Mike Jones acquitted himself very well on a ZX-10R at round one, and backed that up with an impressive weekend here at Wakefield Park on the DesmoSport Ducati to now lie third in the ASBK championship chase.
Josh Waters never threatened this weekend. A situation that will have the three-time Australian Superbike Champion searching for answers ahead of the next round at Tailem Bend. Still, he has kept it on the road instead of throwing it in the bushes, and bagged decent points from every outing thus far this season. That sees the Mildura based 32-year-old ranking fourth in the championship chase, five-points ahead of team-mate Wayne Maxwell.
While Waters could not run with that top five, fellow three-time Australian Superbike Champion Glenn Allerton struggled for even top-ten pace. He never figured in any session and seemingly did not have a competitive package under him this weekend.
ASBK next reconvenes at the Tailem Bend circuit in South Australia on the Anzac Day weekend.
Superbike Race Two Results
Troy Herfoss – Honda
Cru Halliday – Yamaha +0.367
Mike Jones – Ducati +2.043
Wayne Maxwell – Suzuki +2.892
Daniel Falzon – Yamaha +3.136
Josh Waters – Suzuki +8.307
Matt Walters – Kawasaki +11.599
Bryan Staring – Kawasaki +11.742
Glenn Scott – Kawasaki +16.593
Alex Phillis – Suzuki +17.087
Glenn Allerton – BMW +17.366
Damon Rees – Honda +19.403
Mark Chiodo – Honda +26.859
Arthur Sissis – Suzuki +26.986
Sloan Frost – Suzuki +27.332
Superbike Championship Points Standings
Cru Halliday 96
Troy Herfoss 91
Mike Jones 83
Josh Waters 80
Wayne Maxwell 75
Bryan Staring 75
Aiden Wagner 71
Daniel Falzon 65
Matt Walters 56
Glenn Allerton 56
Glenn Scott 51
Alex Phillius 43
Ted Collins 41
Mark Chiodo 40
Arthur Sissis 32
Supersport Race Two
Tom Toparis had taken a clear victory in the opening Supersport race but Broc Pearson stated after the race that if he got a better start he thought he might be able to run with the championship leader here this afternoon.
Reid Battye was strong early on in the opening stanza and was again this time around. Perhaps a little too fast as he banged fairings with Toparis on the run towards turn one as the second 16-lap race got underway at 1415 this afternnon.
Toparis got the better of Battye a few turns later as the Suzuki rider already looked to be struggling for grip. Broc Pearson then joined the party though and they both dusted up Toparis!
Reid Battye led them across the start-finish line to commence lap three with Toparis and Pearson in close consort. The Suzuki man maintained that lead for that entire lap, Toparis then getting him next time around at the final turn.
Oli Bayliss had suffered a poor start and was left battling with Ty Lynch over fourth position for the first few laps but the 15-year-old managed to break away from Lynch and then put his head down to try and close the 1.5-second gap to that leading trio.
Toparis led the race as it reached the halfway mark but had failed to shake Battye and Pearson. The race pace a little slower this afternoon, no doubt due to changed track conditions. It took until the second half of the race for the leading riders to dip under the one-minute mark, and it was Toparis that now had the hammer down to start pulling away from his pursuers.
With six laps to run Broc Pearson got the better of Reid Battye to move up to second place and immediately started to pull away from the young Suzuki man. Battye knew he had nothing left to challenge with, his tyres done, Battye started looking over his shoulder to see how far back Oli Bayliss was and just how much he could button off while keeping that third place safe to the flag.
Broc Pearson tried his best to chase down Toparis but the local teenager had his measure, taking victory by 1.2-seconds as he cruised to the flag.
Reid Battye on the podium. The Bermagui youngster very fast and spectacular in the early stages but looked to be struggling for grip late in the race once again.
Supersport Race Two Results
Tom Toparis – Yamaha
Broc Pearson – Yamaha +1.233
Reid Battye – Suzuki +6.751
Oli Bayliss – Yamaha +10.688
Nic Liminton – Yamaha +15.640
Ty Lynch – Yamaha +16.229
Aidan Hayes – Yamaha +16.812
Dallas Skeer – Suzuki +33.609
Supersport Championship Points
Tom Toparis 127
Nic Liminton 92
Broc Pearson 89
Oli Bayliss 87
Reid Battye 74
Aidan Hayes 73
Ty Lynch 58
Callum Spriggs 49
Rhys Belling 47
Jack Passfield 45
Supersport 300 Race Three
Max Stauffer, John Lytras and Ben Baker again quickly proved their credentials as Supersport 300 Championship challengers as they quickly broke away from the field yet again as the final 10-lap Supersport 300 race got underway on Sunday afternoon at Wakefield Park.
Zac Levy, Locky Taylor and Hunter Ford were left to chase that trio and fight their own heady battle for fourth.
Lapped traffic baulked the leaders at the final turn which made threw the tactical game out the window and made it somewhat a luck of the draw. It was John Lytras who had his numbers come up to take the victory by a nose ahead of Max Stauffer and Ben Baker.
Supersport 300 Race Three Results
John Lytras – Yamaha
Max Stauffer – Yamaha +0.066
Ben Baker – Yamaha +0.261
Hunter Ford – Yamaha +3.983
Locky Taylor – Yamaha +5.409
Senna Agius – 400 Kawasaki +8.315
Harry Khouri – Yamaha +9.930
Brandon Demmery – Yamaha +10.762
Travis Hall – Yamaha +11.898
Seth Crump – KTM +11.953
Zac Levy – Yamaha +12.880
Yanni Shaw – 400 Kawasaki +13.970
Kyle O’Connell – Yamaha +25.192
Mitch Kuhne – Yamaha +25.218
Luke Johnston – Yamaha +25.267
YMI Supersport 300 Championship Points
Max Stauffer 138
John Lytras 99
Senna Agius 95
Harry Khouri 91
Ben Baker 82
Seth Crump 77
Locky Taylor 76
Zac Levy 65
Travis Hall 64
Yanni Shaw 64
Luke Power 55
Hunter Ford 48
Callum O’Brien 45
Dylan Whiteside 39
Mitch Kuhne 37
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup Race Three
The bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup features a field of ambitious young riders looking to become the first to claim an Oceania Junior Cup round, and make an initial claim for one of the five positions in the 2019 Asia Talent Cup Selection Event, and a potential place in the 2019 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Selection Event.
All riders are on a control spec’ Yamaha YZF-R15, and are serviced and transported between the rounds by Yamaha Australia. Before each round all the bikes are run on the dyno to ensure parity, a proper controlled category.
Staking that first claim on Saturday afternoon was 11-year-old Carter Thompson, the first ever race winner in the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup when the inaugural six-lap bout was contested on Saturday afternoon. He then backed it up on Sunday morning with another victory over Cros Francis.
Come Sunday afternoon’s race three it was again this pair that quickly started to pull away from their pursuers. As the race progressed though Jacob Roulstone put himself into contention for the win but it was Carter Thompson that completed the trifecta. Roulstone second and Francis third.
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup Race Three Results
Carter Thompson
Jacob Roulstone +0.383
Cros Francis +0.458
Angus Grenfell +2.376
Tom Drane +11.052
Marianos Nikolis +11.071
Max Gibbons +11.330
Cormac Buchanan +11.547
Jacob Hatch +11.889
Jai Russo +11.982
Lucas Quinn +13.273
Reece Oughtred +13.329
Archie McDonald +14.654
Zak Pettendy +19.570
Hunter Diplock 24.683
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup Championship Points
Carter Thompson 75
Cros Francis 56
Angus Grenfell 50
Jacob Roulstone 48
Marianos Nikolis 48
Tom Drane 46
Reece Oughtred 34
Cormac Buchana 33
Zak Pettendy 31
Jai Russo 29
YMF R3 Cup Race Three
Max Stauffer was on fire all weekend and that form contined when the final eight-lap YMF R3 Cup bout got underway at 1545 this afternoon at Wakefield Park. His chief fellow combatants John Lytras and Ben Baker keeping him close company once again.
That trio fought it all the way to the line and this time around it was Lytras who took the victory this time around ahead of Stauffer and Baker.
Locky Taylot in fourth place did not quite have the speed to challenge that trio.
The YRT pairing of Daniel Falzon and Cru Halliday topped FP1 at Wakefield Park in dry and warming conditions under a cloudy sky. A gnat’s whisker separated the pair at the top, a 58.075 to Falzon and 58.093 for Halliday. Next best in the opening session was Mike Jones on the DesmoSport Ducati, standing in for the injured Troy Bayliss. Maxwell and Herfoss were P4 and P5 respectively.
YRT had tested here privately in the lead up to this round, electing not to join the rest of the field during the official ASBK Test here earlier this month. At that test it was Wayne Maxwell atop the timesheets with a 57.659, heading Herfoss’ 57.728. But talk was that Mike Jones had actually gone a couple of tenths quicker again, but did not have a transponder fitted to net an official time.
Aiden Wagner suffered a hefty tumble in FP1 here this morning, knocking himself and his machine around quite heavily. Wagner was P6 in the opening session ahead of Bryan Staring, Glenn Allerton and Josh Waters while Matt Walters rounded out the FP1 Top Ten.
Aiden Wagner – TBG Image
FP2 got underway at 1340 this afternoon and just as riders were really start to get down to business, a red flag put a temporary halt to proceedings. Sash Savin had gone down at turn two on his BMW and needed to be moved to safer ground.
Sash Savin – Image Rob Mott
Cru Halliday was the first rider to dip into the 57s when the action got underway again just before 1400. A 57.916 to Halliday, who this year makes his return to Superbike after dominating the 600 Supersport category last year for YRT. Shortly after his team-mate joined him in that bracket, a 57.919 to Falzon, making it a YRT 1-2 at the top with 14-minutes remaining in the 30-minute Superbike FP2 session.
Falzon then upped the game further, the young South Australian dropping in a 57.757 to top the charts.
Herfoss then put in a 57.846 to go P2, splitting the YRT men. A couple of minutes later Herfoss then shot to the top with a 57.455. Maxwell then went P2 with a 57.754, pushing the YRT duo back to P3 and P4.
A red flag then came out just as the session was coming to a close. Ted Collins crashed coming out of the last turn and pitched his BMW over the pit wall! The young Queenslander walked away fine, but it was one very spectacular and unprecedented accident…
Wayne Hepburn – NextGen BMW
“Ted was on a really good lap. We had our own sector splits, which he was about to drop a second and a half off his previous lap time. He simply asked too much of the bike on the exit of the last turn, which he admitted to. This resulted in Ted having a big highside. The Maxima BMW S 1000RR went over the fence, which was pretty spectacular. Thankfully, Ted was able to walk away from it uninjured which is the main thing. Unfortunately, this is motorcycle racing and these things happen. As I said, Ted is fine. The team has a bit of work to do to get him going again. I don’t believe we will get him going for the final session this afternoon, but we’ll have him right for tomorrow. Ted was doing everything which he was asked to do. However, he just got a little bit enthusiastic.”
Ted Collins machine ended up over the wall and in pit-lane! – Image Russ Colvin
The fastest recorded motorcycle lap time around Wakefield Park was a 57.182 set by Maxwell last year, will we see that beaten later this afternoon…? We thought that might be eclipsed later this afternoon in FP3 but then came the thunder and lightning! A massive downpour soaked the circuit shortly after 1500, and we would see no further quick times set today.
Teams scrambled to get the gear away from the cavalcade of water, and their power cables etc. to dry ground as the drains at the circuit failed to cope with the downpour
ASBK Superbike Friday Combined Times
Troy Herfoss – Honda 57.455
Wayne Maxwell – Suzuki 57.754
Daniel Falzon – Yamaha 57.757
Cru Halliday – Yamaha 57.916
Mike Jones – Ducati 58.116
Josh Waters – Suzuki 58.193
Alex Phillis – Suzuki 58.676
Aiden Wagner – Yamaha 58.677 (FP1)
Bryan Staring – Kawasaki 58.699
Damon Rees – Honda 58.760
Matt Walters – Kawasaki 58.839
Glenn Scott – Kawasaki 58.889
Glenn Allerton – BMW 58.916
Ted Collins – BMW 59.417
Sloan Frost – Suzuki 59.425
Lachlan Epis – Kawasaki 59.432
Mark Chiodo – Honda 59.435
Arthur Sissis – Suzuki 59.807
Brendan McIntyre – Suzuki 60.455
Phil Czaj – Aprilia 61.079
Will Davidson – Yamaha 61.509
Michael Edwards – Yamaha 61.734
Hamish McMurray – Kawasaki 62.640
Paul Van der Heiden – BMW 63.360
Sash Savin – BMW 63.752
Supersport 600
Local Goulburn lad Tom Toparis dominated the season opener at Phillip Island, and was obviously be out to do the same this weekend in front of his home crowd.
There were a few young fellas out to try and stop that happening though. Oli Bayliss and Nic Liminton both on the early pace, a 61.238 to Toparis versus a 61.529 to Bayliss. Those times were expected to tumble in FP2 though, and that they did. Only a few minutes into FP2 though Nic Liminton stopped on track with a mechanical failure and the session was red flagged to check for any oil on the track. Oil was duly found and we had quite a delay while the track was cleaned. Liminton took no further part in FP2.
When action recommenced it was Oli Bayliss setting the pace. At 15-years-old, Oli is making fast progress and the team have been working very hard in the lead-up to this first year in Supersport to give him the opportunity to shine, and it is a chance he is grabbing with both hands. His level of commitment, as can be seen in this great shot by Rob Mott, can certainly never be questioned.
Oli Bayliss using all the track this morning at Wakefield Park – Image by Rob Mott
Times quickly started to drop further, Toparis the first man to dip under the magic minute mark, a 59.507 with ten minutes to go, a clear declaration of his intentions to dominate on home turf. And, it must be said, he does look in almost untouchable form. For the best of the rest to challenge him, they either need to make a significant step up, or Toparis needs to put a foot wrong.
The Supersport lap record was set here last year by Cru Halliday at 59.050s, will Toparis best it this weekend…?
Supersport 600 Friday Combined Times
Tom Toparis – Yamaha 59.507
Oli Bayliss – Yamaha 60.471
Broc Pearson – Yamaha 60.565
Reid Battye – Suzuyki 60.635
Ty Lynch – Yamaha 61.060
Nic Liminton – Yamaha 61.666 (FP1)
Aidan Hayes – Yamaha 61.675
Rhys Belling – Yamaha 61.736
Chris Quinn – Yamaha 62.039 (FP1)
Dallas Skeer – Suzuki 62.157
Sam Lambert – MV Agusta 62.184
Andrew Edser – Kawasaki 62.756
Jack Passfield – Yamaha 62.848
John Quinn – Triumph 64.501
Supersport 300
In the Supersport 300 ranks it was Max Stauffer setting the pace from Harry Khouri, both riders under the existing lap record.
Brandon Demmery returns to racing this weekend after that horrifying crash in the MotoGP support events at Phillip Island in 2017. Those injuries included a double compound fracture of the Tibia and Fibia, a compound fracture of the Femur, numerous break in his Pelvis, a broken right wrist, a torn bladder and an incredible amount of bruising. He was ninth in FP2 this morning at Wakefield Park and ended the day 11th on combined times.
Supersport 300 – Friday Combined Times
Max Stauffer – Yamaha 66.306
Harry Khouri – Yamaha 66.478
Ben Baker – Yamaha 66.572
Zac Levy – Yamaha 66.677
Travis Hall – Yamaha 66.828
Hunter Ford – Yamaha 66.834
Locky Taylor – Yamaha 66.844
John Lytras – Yamaha 66.916
Laura Brown – Yamaha 67.021
Senna Agius – Kawasaki 400 67.110
Brandon Demmery – Yamaha 67.313
Yanni Shaw – Kawasaki 400 67.460
Seth Crump – KTM 67.602
Kyle O’Connell – Yamaha 67.626
Luke Johnston – Yamaha 67.684
Mitch Kuhne – Yamaha 67.746
Zylas Bunting – Yamaha 67.887
Tristan Adamson – Yamaha 68.090
Callum O’Brien – Kawasaki 68.345
Bronson Pickett – Yamaha 68.927
Sidecars
Three-wheelers join the ASBK action this weekend in Goulburn with the Horsell Consulting backed sidecar category making their first appearance for the year.
The LCR outfit of Steven Bayliss and Aaron Wilson were the pacesetters today with a 67.243. The lap record for the category here at Wakefield Park is 65.309, and is expected to fall this weekend.
Sidecar Friday Combined Times
Bayliss/Wilson 67.243
Ford/Menzies 68.211
Joyce/Blackman 68.431
Collins/DeAngelis 68.831
Alton/Clancy 69.346
Clancy/Bonney 69.655
Edis/Schluter 71.766
Clancy/Dawson 72.035
Underwood/Ford 72.313
Turner/Turner 73.920
Judd/Spanknebel 74.932
YMF R3 Cup Friday Combined Practice Times
Stauffer 66.208
Lytras 66.368
Baker 66.762
Hall 66.829
Taylor 66.932
Brown 67.212
Khouri 67.263
O’Connell 67.338
Ford 67.339
Johnston 67.832
Demmery 67.849
Kuhne 68.042
Levy 68.098
Bunting 68.111
Adamson 68.305
Pickett 68.723
Oughtred 68.754
Roulstone 69.726
Smith 69.996
Agostini 70.217
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
The 2019 bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup roared into life for the first time ever at Wakefield Park today for the opening round of the new junior Road Race academy.
The bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup features a field of ambitious young riders looking to become the first to claim an Oceania Junior Cup round, and make an initial claim for one of the five positions in the 2019 Asia Talent Cup Selection Event, and a potential place in the 2019 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Selection Event.
The first enthralling round of the 2019 Australian Superbike Championship is but a memory – a vivid one at that – and now the second round at Wakefield Park is nigh. Bracksy looks back and peers into the future of what is shaping up as a momentous weekend at the Wakefield Park circuit near Goulburn in NSW, March 22-24.
If Alvaro Bautista was akin to a cyclone engulfing the WSBK paddock at the opening round of that Championship, in the ASBK class, Aiden Wagner was an air-to-ground, below radar low level attack dropping a couple of 500lb HE incendiaries on the ASBK field at Phillip Island.
Aiden Wagner – Maxwell tumbles – Image Rob Mott
A few weeks previously, the 25-year-old Queenslander, on his privateer Landsbridge Transport Yamaha R1 used the official ASBK test to strafe the field with armour piercing shells to let everyone know, he is back, fully fit, ravenous for success, and he doesn’t give a rat’s arse about reputations.
He certainly ruffled a few feathers at the test. By the end of race two of the ASBK Superbike season on Saturday Feb 23 they were singed beyond recognition with his scorched earth, take no prisoners policy.
Aiden Wagner – Maxwell tumbles – Image Rob Mott
With his round one victory with Pole, two wins and a second, the snatching strap of tension has been ratcheted up a notch. Or, five.
The quality and intensity of the on-track competition easily eclipsed the demonstration put on by the lads of the World Superbike field and showed the parity between the different motorcycles in our domestic championship is very even.
The ASBK season was shaping up as a landmark year, even before Wagner bounced back in the paddock. Now he is here, look out. The anticipation going into round two is even more palpable than the season opener.
Mike Jones will stand in for Troy Bayliss at Wakefield Park – TBG Image
2019 is shaping up as the most competitive in many a year, as each season seems to increase in intensity and level of competition.
Round 1 Recap
So let’s have a recap of the opening round then a peer into the looking glass to see what this weekend has in store.
There was plenty of anticipation as the meeting got under way and Bayliss led the first session to continue his testing form, but his weekend was to soon unravel. In the afternoon qualifying session he had a monumental get off heading into turn four when he was distracted by a rider stricken on the edge of the track. The bike was basically obliterated in the cartwheeling that was reminiscent of his crash on a Ducati during the Australian Grand Prix of 2003.
Thankfully, this time he walked away to be able to relate soon after that he had cracked a finger on his left hand and the bike “was sent to heaven”.
In qualifying the prodigal son, Wagner grabbed the number one slot, one-thousandth of a second under Bayliss’s lap record, set at the final round last year. More importantly, he scored an extra championship point that goes with it to lead a Yamaha block out of the front row.
Aiden Wagner – Image Rob Mott
This year the extra championship point for Pole Position at each round could be more critical than ever in deciding the champion. Remember when since Shawn Giles was pipped in a countback with Josh Brookes in 2005…
The privateer gave a bloody nose to the Yamaha Racing Team duo of Superbike returnee, Cru Halliday, and his team mate in the official Yamaha team Daniel Falzon who made up the front row.
Wagner has some very astute people in his corner with Sam Costanzo, the principal of Landbrige Transport and Landbridge Racing. Sam has a fine reputation for preparing race machines while Adrian Monti is a very astute and analytical operator who knows how to set up a race bike, and probably more importantly, the understanding to translate what a rider is talking about to bike set-up.
Aiden Wagner – Image Rob Mott
Before the opening race of the year, many people were asking the annual question of how far into the opening race we’d get before some carnage would erupt. In the past couple of years the season has only reached Turn Four on the opening lap before the cauldron has boiled over. Last year it was Glenn Allerton who hightailed it out of the race as he launched himself high over the bars, nearly bringing rain and almost dragging Wayne Maxwell off his bike as he flew past him.
It is understandable as it’s over four months since the last race of 2018 and we all know the eagerness riders display and the red mist visor is also a deeper tinge than normal for the opening laps of the year. In recent years there has been a bit of drama at Turn Four.
Race 1 – Phillip Island
This year we had to wait a few laps for the first real jaw dropping moment but the opening laps of race one were absolutely manic. What we had been anticipating had been confirmed. This year will be a seven-round, street brawl.
Falzon jumped to the front off the line to lead for the opening corners but Bayliss took over heading into turn 10 and led the frantic first lap across the line from Maxwell and Falzon. After a very mediocre start, Wagner was back in seventh, just shading Waters, the octuplet separated by less than a second. It was on as they all spread across the track careering to the apex on their 200+hp machines like the charge of the Light Horse, fighting for track position.
Wagner was excellent in testing. Now we were witnessing what he could do in a race mixed up with the pack of gangsters in front of him as Wagner commenced his carving exhibition. He showed from the outset that he is not here for a free lunch and it wasn’t even lunchtime Sunday!
Wayne Maxwell leads Aiden Wagner – TBG Image
He was up to second by the end of the third lap managing to pop out in front while everyone else was having a dip at the passing game, particularly Bryan Staring on the Kawasaki BC Performance ZX-10RR as he scythed his way through on the Dunlop shod machine to be among the leading pack climbing from 10th on the grid.
Wagner took the lead on the fourth lap and held it until the final few corners as he and Bayliss, Maxwell, Halliday, Waters, and Staring keeping well in touch
The first jaw dropping moment of the year came at the start of the sixth lap. Wagner led the charge from Maxwell and Bayliss, the others not far adrift as they tipped into Doohan Corner at a head shaking, meteoric rate. Wagner had a couple of bike lengths over Maxwell with Bayliss taking a deeper, more outer line into turn one but his entry speed was a little quicker, or maybe Maxwell slowed a tad but it was j-u-s-t enough for the brake lever of TB#32 machine to touch the rear of Maxwell’s machine.
The front wheel locked, a puff of blue smoke and in a nano second, Bayliss was sliding on his arse at over 200 kays and another steed of the Desmo Sport Ducati stable went looking for directions to the Pearly Gates to join its sibling.
The crash looked innocuous enough considering the speed of his trajectory into the kitty litter. Coming to a tumbling halt after a less than elegant face plant, he sat there, legs spread and punched the ground in exasperation, jumped to his feet and wandered back to the pits.
Bayliss may have exited stage left but that didn’t halt the swashbuckling as Staring joined the fray in fifth behind Wagner, Maxwell, Halliday and Waters. Half race distance and it was on.
The sword clashing continued at every corner and while Wagner led across the line there was plenty of pushing and shoving scything, slicing and magnificent dicing many times a lap.
Less than a second separated the quintet as they commenced the final lap but back markers were looming. The snarling pack negotiated the first couple ok but Wagner was baulked by one over Lukey Heights into T10. Maxwell was his typical blue heeler self as he nipped the heels of the Queenslander.
Out of T11 Wagner jumped on the gas, the pack broke away slightly losing drive which allowed Maxwell the opportunity to storm past into the lead and take the win from Wagner, with Staring filling the last step on the podium after another determined ride from the 2010 ASBK champion to prove that he will be in the mix all year.
Wayne Maxwell was clearly emotional after winning the opening race of ASBK season 2019 at Phillip Island, a win he had not expected as he was yet to feel as though the GSX-R was ‘his bike, and was not fully comfortable after a few years on Yamaha machinery – TBG Image
Wagner demonstrated in the opening stanza he has the goods to push for not only the privateer championship but the outright. He also has his own definitive style in riding a 1000cc machine at Phillip Island, riding more Supersport lines to carry corner speed. This was most evident at Turn 4 as he hung out very wide and swept across the track for a very late apex.
High corner approach had the others seemingly second guessing as if they tried to take an inside line there was a good chance that a collision may occur. In fact, it did happen with Halliday and Wagner touching with feet off the pegs, both lucky to stay aboard such was the hit.
Wagner and Halliday tussle – Rob Mott Image
His antics reminded us in the commentary booth of a philosophy of racing that 2002 Australian Supersport Champion, Shannon Johnson, uttered to explain some of his determined moves, “A front wheel has a three-and-a-half inch rim. If there is three and a half inches of track then there is enough room for me.”
What a scene setter for the year. The first World Superbike race soon after the opening leg was somewhat of an anti-climax compared to the cut and thrust of ASBK.
ASBK Superbike Race One Results
Wayne Maxwell – Suzuki
Aiden Wagner – Yamaha +0.147
Bryan Staring – Kawasaki +0.320
Maxwell had taken first blood, and was somewhat emotional in parc ferme as the 36-year-old had not expected to take the win. After recent years on Yamaha machinery, he was still not feeling fully comfortable on the GSX-R, saying the bike did not yet feel like his. Be interesting to see just how fast he goes when he does get back to that stage with familiarity on the Suzuki!
Wayne Maxwell celebrates victory – Image Rob Mott
Bayliss injuries surface
We didn’t have to wait long for part two later the same afternoon. If the opening race was a scene setter, race two will be in the background for the rest of the season as well. The action was a carbon copy of the opening leg with a few more exclamation marks for good measure – albeit with one disappointing turn of events.
After his whoopsie of the first race Bayliss seemed fine and in his usual laconic way was circumspect with the turn of events of his two massive crashes in less than 24 hours, but ready to come out swinging.
Bayliss headed out on a hastily prepared machine, but on the sighting lap as he applied the front brake for the first time he realised that he could close the ring finger of his right hand, but couldn’t extend it. A torn tendon forced his exit from the rest of proceedings and the loss of plenty of potential points.
Race 2 – Phillip Island
Race two soon turned into a Maxwell vs Wagner vs Waters vs Halliday vs Falzon affair, with the others not far off. Falzon crashed at turn 10 losing the front which baulked those following, allowing the top four a gap over the likes of Staring, Mike Jones (K&R Hydraulics ZX-10R) and Troy Herfoss on the Penrite Honda who was struggling to stay in touch.
Daniel Falzon slides out of contention – TBG Image
Wagner had complete faith in his front end in his desire to poke a wheel up the inside of the opposition and managed to hold his line. After a few laps the rear was starting to walk on him but he didn’t give a toss about what the rear was doing. He was right in the mix.
It all came down to the final lap dogfight. Again.
Hundredths of a second covered the top four and so typical of Phillip Island it all came down to the final four corners: setting up over Lukey Heights, a possible dive up the inside into MG Corner, then the drag through 11 and 12 to the line.
The last five hundred metres of the second Superbike race is now etched in history, but its repercussions may reverberate throughout the year. Maxwell had managed to get in front in the final set of corners and led Wagner, Waters and Halliday as they tipped into Turn 12.
Maxwell hung it up a little higher than usual leaving a bit of vacant bitumen. Wagner saw that lonely bit of bitumen as an invitation and reacted accordingly driving through – hugging the ripple strip, with Halliday and Waters line astern.
Aiden Wagner – Maxwell tumbles – Image Rob Mott
Kaa-boom! A clash as Wagner and Maxwell collided in the rush with Maxwell falling off the inside of the bike, cartwheeling into the track-side beach, spraying the gravel high.
Wagner kept it pinned as the carnage unfolded to take the flag from Halliday second and Waters third and a crater of destruction and controversy hot on their heels. Thankfully, Maxwell was soon on his feet and taking the long walk back to the pits from the outside of the track. Fuming.
Wayne Maxwell dusts himself off… – Image Rob Mott
Controversy
At race’s end, I descended down the stairs from the three-storey eyrie that is the commentary box in the control tower to head to park ferme to conduct the usual post race interviews. I had just emerged from the tower to pass a rapidly advancing and extremely arced-up, Phil Tainton from Team Ecstar Suzuki, who was charging up to race control to explain his point of view.
I hadn’t seen Phil like that in a long time. Hoo-ee, this has just taken the championship to another level.
There were plenty of words said from both sides and also the view of onlookers. Wagner claimed there was a gap. Maxwell claimed there wasn’t any room. Wagner was contrite and apologised to Maxwell for the incident but at the time it fell on deaf ears. Everyone else had their own opinion. Was there a gap or not?
Officials deemed it as a racing incident and no action was taken, much to the chagrin of some. Riders had different opinions with one telling me, “Tell them to stop sooking. It’s a racing incident. I’d rather be fighting for the lead and crashing than being back here where we are.” Touche!
Personally, I think it is fantastic for the intrigue and interest. It brought more international attention to the ASBK and many in the WSBK paddock were talking about it, including Jamie Whitham who thought it was fantastic. It made the opening WSBK race seem like a procession!
Whoever was right, or wrong, it brought back a statement that the great Ayton Senna said at the 1990 Australian F1 Grand Prix, “By being a racing driver you are under risk all the time. By being a racing driver means you are racing with other people. And if you no longer go for a gap that exists, you are no longer a racing driver because we are competing, we are competing to win. And the main motivation to all of us is to compete for victory, it’s not to come 3rd, 4th, 5th or 6th. I race to win as long as I feel it’s possible. Sometimes you get it wrong. Sure, it’s impossible to get it right all the time. But I race designed to win, as long as I feel I’m doing it right.”
But that philosophy didn’t work out all that well for the Brazilian legend in the end did it…
Race 3 – Phillip Island
With the third and final race of the opening round held on Sunday morning, at least we could get our collective breath back over night. Lucky because race three left us all breathless. It was the race of the weekend.
Maxwell was battered and bruised after his 200 km/h+ get off the day before but his determination wasn’t lessened by any stretch. The anticipation was palpable.
Wayne Maxwell kits up – Image Rob Mott
Arthur Sissis stormed from 15th on the grid to grab the holeshot but was soon swamped as Waters led the first lap from Wagner and Falzon – the trio covered by 0.624 sec. Jones joined the fray on the next lap and created history by not only breaking the lap record but being the first rider to dip into a sub 1:32 with a corker of a lap to record 1:31.881!
ASBK Superbike 2019 – Race Three Start – Rob Mott Image
The leading freight train was adding extra carriages as the laps went by. It became a quintet the next lap when Haliday chimed in, 0.753 sec adrift.
Josh Waters leads into turn one – Rob Mott Image
The passing moves had been stepped up especially at the frighteningly fast Hayshed where Jones was making it his corner, just like Jamie Stauffer did in the past, to dive up the inside accelerating through the apex.
Mike Jones leads Cru Halliday – Rob Mott Image
Another couple of laps and there were seven carriages but none of them remained in the same place. It was mental the amount of positional changes and at two thirds race distance, seven bikes were covered by less than a second with Wagner and Jones taking turns to lead the end of consecutive laps.
Wagner made it two victories after getting the best of Jones by 0.317 sec (the largest gap over the three races), with Halliday in third, the trio separated by just 0.394 sec. A blink of the eye behind was Falzon, Waters and a very gallant Maxwell 0.933 away in sixth.
Over the three races you wouldn’t see as much carving in a dozen pubs for a Sunday roast! Enthralling. The total winning margin for the three races was an astronomical: 0.765!
What lies ahead this weekend? There are no similarities between Phillip Island and this weekend’s round at the tight twisty bumpy and extremely demanding Wakefield Park, except they are racetracks.
This weekend extreme tension is a given. How far before the tension is too much and something snaps is anyone’s guess but I reckon something will happen in qualifying in the fist fight for the extra championship point.
Troy Herfoss testing at Wakefield Park – TDJ Image
Herfoss will no doubt start as a favourite such is his affinity with the track and he will have an added incentive of making up for what was, in his and the team’s eyes, an extremely disappointing weekend at Phillip Island – a place that has never been too kind to him.
Maxwell has done well at the the track in recent years and the pair have split wins pretty evenly. Then there is Cru Halliday. He has had some memorable moments at the track and now he is back on a Superbike after his domination of last year’s Supersport title.
Wayne Maxwell testing at Wakefield Park – TDJ Image
Don’t be surprised if he takes a victory as he is a true dark horse for this year’s title, as is his team mate, Falzon. The South Australian, who now works as a fully qualified paramedic, has a hunger for race wins and he may well bring a take-no-prisoners approach into the meeting as well
Unfortunately, Bayliss will be a non starter but that allows Mike Jones to be reunited with the Desmo Sport Ducati team as he has been drafted in to fly the flag in the absence of Troy.
Mike Jones testing at Wakefield Park – TDJ Image
Staring showed that he and the Kawasaki BC Perfomance ZX10 is not too far off the pace. The big question mark for him is whether the Dunlop tyres are up to the rigours of the 2.2km track? Could they even have a weather dependent advantage this weekend..? Saturday and Sunday are looking warm.
Bryan Staring – TBG Image
Then there are the riders with three Australian Superbike Championships in Glenn Allerton and Josh Waters. Allerton and the Next Gen Motosrports BMW team have had a challenging start to the year. Still awaiting delivery of the new HP4, they had a setback with going to Dunlops then returning to Pirelli. At the Island they were well off the mark but anyone who discounts Allerton does so at their peril.
Glenn Allerton – TBG Image
The same must be said for Waters. After the disappointment of last year, the Gixxer and Waters look to be back to their rampaging best. Plus he now has a team mate that is out to claim another title, and we all know what they say about team mates.
Josh Waters testing at Wakefield Park – TDJ Image
Then there is Wagner. What he brings to the table has given the championship that bit of extra mongrel and disregard for reputations that the series has been aching for.
Mike Jones and Aiden Wagner – These two will figure hghly this weekend – Rob Mott Image
After his first round blitzkrieg the opposition will be more prepared to deal with what ever firepower Wagner throws their way. The arsenal of the opposition will be well stocked to defend the attacks.
Aiden Wagner – Image Rob Mott
Wakefield history
An interesting bit of trivia. In the past three years good mates, Maxwell and Herfoss have been the best performers at Wakefield, sharing the wins at three apiece. Herfoss has two second places to Maxwell’s one, with Herfoss’ worst result a fourth, while Maxwell has not fared quite as well overall, with an eighth and a DNF. Herfoss has also taken the last three pole positions. Herfoss’ points haul is 135 points compared to Maxwell on 108.
2019 ASBK Round One – Phillip Island Superbike Race Two
Wayne Maxwell narrowly got the better of Aiden Wagner at the final juncture of race one after the privateer had virtually led from start to finish. Troy Bayliss had been in that mix before tipping off at turn one, while Bryan Staring had got the better of Falzon, Halliday and Waters to claim the final step on the rostrum.
The riders and the teams would have all learned some lessons in that opening 12-lap bout, and then set about applying some tweaks to their machines. While the riders tweaked their own brain spaces ahead of the second of three 12-lap races that make up the opening round of ASBK 2019.
On the warm-up lap Troy Bayliss felt that the discomfort in his hand was going to make racing this bout dangerous for himself and the other riders, so he elected to park the DesmoSport Ducati for this one and watch from the sidelines. He broke a finger on his left hand on Friday, and suffered injuries to the middle finger on his right during this morning’s crash. He is booked in for surgery on Tuesday. TB and DesmoSport Ducati have put so much work in during the pre-season and will be gutted to walk away from here with no points.
Daniel Falzon again got a great launch off the line but it was Josh Waters that led the field through turn one from Troy Herfoss as they negotiated Southern Loop for the first time. At turn four Herfoss got in a little deep and lost a number of positions as Aiden Wagner moved up to second place behind Waters. Through turn 12 for the first time it was Waters, Wagner, Falzon, Maxwell, Herfoss, Jones and Halliday.
Aiden Wagner moved past Waters to take the lead as they entered turn two early on the second lap and immediately put the hammer down to try and get away from the pursuing pack. A big moment coming on to the main straight next time around though allowed Wayne Maxwell and Josh Waters to slip past Wagner and make it a Suzuki 1-2 up front. Daniel Falzon was right on the tail of that trio as Cru Halliday also then joined the party to make that top five fight a very close affair.
Wagner was back in the lead on the next lap but then got in way too hot at turn four, the two Suzuki riders somewhat baulked each other mid-turn also which robbed them of their chance to take advantage of Wagner’s mistake.
Wagner made almost exactly the same mistake on the next lap, and actually came together with Cru Halliday and nearly fell off his machine, but somehow gripped it haed enough to recover. Halliday had fared worse in the clash, losing a couple of positions and valuable track position.
Daniel Falzon had been in the hunt but fell unhurt at turn ten at half race distance. At the halfway mark of the race it was Maxwell from Wagner and Waters, that trio in close company, while Halliday tried to regain the ground he lost in that brush with Wagner. Halliday had actually set the fastest lap of the race in that first half, a 1m32.669, and had been the only man to dip into the 32s, but he had work to do in order to get back in touch with the leading trio in the closing laps.
Halliday did that work though and with 2.5 laps to go got the better of Waters on the run through MG Hairpin to move up to third place and maintained that position through 11 and 12 and right through to turn one to start the penultimate lap. Nothing separated the top four, they were all in with a chance of stealing victory. Lapped traffic though, and a lot of it, baulked them late on that lap, they negotiated it safely to start the final lap with Wagner leading from Maxwell, Halliday and Waters.
Wagner had the rear of his privateer Yamaha break away though which allowed Maxwell through as they negotiated the back of the circuit.
Aiden Wagner – Maxwell tumbles – Image Rob Mott
Wagner then went up the inside of Maxwell as they neogotiated turn 12, the pair touched, sending Maxwell tumbling through the kitty litter, and was then seen tearing off his glove and looking at his hand as he ran to the pit wall and to safety.
Aiden Wagner – Maxwell tumbles – Image Rob Mott
Thus a somewhat controversial win and early championship lead goes to Aiden Wagner from Cru Halliday and Josh Waters.
WorldSBK 2019 Phillip Island Test
Day 1 – PM Report
A stiff wind caused riders all sorts of problems this afternoon and of the morning top ten it was only Tom Sykes on the new BMW, and the man that replaced him on the KRT ZX-10R, Leon Haslam, that successfully battled the breeze to lower their markers this afternoon. Sykes moving up fourth quickest on combined times just ahead of Haslam.
Morning or afternoon, wind or no wind, the consistently fastest man of the day was Alvaro Bautista but it was his morning time that remained the fastest overall. The #19 Ducati Panigale V4 R the only machine to dip under the 1m31s benchmark today, a 1m30.743 the best of three laps in a row that the 34-year-old recorded in that 1m30s bracket during FP1.
Bautista’s best time is actually under the 1m30.848 race lap record set by Marco Melandri during last year’s second World Superbike race at Phillip Island on the V-Twin Panigale. The outright World Superbike lap record though belongs to Jonathan Rea who put in a 1m29.573 during qualifying here two years ago.
Alvaro Bautista – GeeBee Image
Bautista’s Ducati team-mate Chaz Davies has not had such an enjoyable day. A technical gremlin this morning saw his Panigale V4 R roll to a stop at Siberia, then this afternoon the Welshman was plagued by agonising back spasms. The 32-year-old ending day one 13th on combined times.
Another rider not having any fun today was Troy Herfoss as the Penrite Honda squad try to get a handle on the new bike they have built for this one-off World Superbike wildcard effort. Proceedings are not going well at all thus far and the team will be scratching their heads. Herfoss rounded out the tail end of the timesheets today with a 1m34.961 in FP1. Worryingly he could only muster a 1m35.475 from his 13 laps this afternoon.
Troy Herfoss – GeeBee Image
The reigning ASBK Superbike Champion went more than two-seconds faster than today’s best in race trim aboard the ASBK, almost Superstock spec’, Fireblade here back in October. Some serious head scratching and spanner twirling going to be undertaken in that pit garage this evening…
Troy Herfoss – GeeBee Image
Alex Lowes is showing encouraging speed on the Pata Yamaha to clock the second fastest time of the day ahead of Jonathan Rea.
Alex Lowes – TBG Image
Along with Tom Sykes in fourth, that made for four different brands filling the top four spots on the day’s combined times.
Jonathan Rea – GeeBee Image
Marco Melandri was sixth quickest ahead of fellow Yamaha riders Michael Van der Mark and Sandro Cortese.
Marco Melandri – TBG Image
Markus Reiterberger and Toprak Razgatlioglu rounded out the top ten ahead of the leading Honda of Leon Camier.
WorldSBK RPM Limits
Overnight Dorna released updated RPM limits for the 2019 WorldSBK season that will be in place for the start of the season. If a single type of machine looks to have much of an advantage these limits will be reduced further during the season. The new BMW will start season 2019 with a 14,900 rpm limit while the Kawasaki will be pegged to 14,600 rpm.
The new Ducati Panigale V4 R will start with a 16,350 rpm limit, but with both Bautista and Davies clocking by far the fastest speeds in today’s morning session, one would expect that the Ducati rev limit to be reduced in due course…
World Supersport
In the World Supersport ranks it was a Yamaha 1-2 in both the morning and afternoon sessions but while Caricasulo topped FP1 it was team-mate Randy Krummenacher that went fractionally faster in FP2 to top the day on combined times.
Randy Krummenacher – GeeBee Image
Goulburn youngster Tom Toparis had been inside the top ten in the morning session but on combined times this afternoon the 18-year-old slipped to 14th. Still a highly creditable results in the 24-rider field. We spoke to him at the end of proceedings today and that interview can be found at this link.
Tom Toparis – GeeBee Image
WorldSBK Testing Phillip Island
Day One Combined Times / Best Speeds
Alvaro Bautista – Ducati 1m30.743 – 314.9 km/h
Alex Lowes – Yamaha 1m31.146 – 308.6 km/h
Jonathan Rea – Kawasaki 1m31.189 – 308.6 km/h
Tom Sykes – BMW 1m31.300 – 303.4 km/h
Leon Haslam – Kawasaki 1m31.399 – 308.6 km/h
Marco Melandri – Yamaha 1m31.445 – 314 km/h
Michael VanderMark – Yam 1m31.458 – 304.2 km/h
Sandro Cortese – Yamaha 1m31.639 – 304.2 km/h
Markus Reiterberger – BMW 1m31.992 – 300.0 km/h
Toprak Razgatlioglu – Kaw 1m32.050 – 302.5 km/h
Leon Camier – Honda 1m32.459 – 307.7 km/h
Jordi Torres – Kawasaki 1m32.670 – 300.0 km/h
Chaz Davies – Ducati 1m32.706 – 313 km/h
Leandro Mercado – Kaw 1m32.789 – 300.8 km/h
Eugene Laverty – Ducati 1m32.797 – 305.1 km/h
Ryuichi Kiyonari – Honda 1m32.962 – 306.8 km/h
Michael Rinaldi – Ducati 1m33.402 – 307.7 km/h
A Delbianco – Hon 1m33.949 – 292.7 km/h
Troy Herfoss – Honda 1m34.961 – 295.1 km/h
WorldSSP – Combined Practice Times
KRUMMENACHER Randy SUI Yamaha 1’33.820
CARICASULO Federico ITA Yamaha 1’33.882 +0.062
CLUZEL Jules FRA Yamaha 1’34.198 +.378
MAHIAS Lucas FRA Kawasaki 1’34.222 +0.402
DE ROSA Raffaele ITA MV Agusta 1’34.293 +0.473
OKUBO Hikari JPN Kawasaki 1’34.584 +0.764
BARBERA Hector ESP Yamaha 1’34.751 +0.931
GRADINGER Thomas AUT Yamaha 1’34.753 +0.933
PEROLARI Corentin FRA Yamaha 1’34.850 +1.030
VINALES Isaac ESP Yamaha 1’35.369 +1.549
SOOMER Hannes EST Honda 1’35.516 +1.696
SEBESTYEN Peter HUN CIA Honda 1’35.581 +1.761
CRESSON Loris BEL Yamaha 1’35.588 +1.768
TOPARIS Tom AUS Landbridge Transport Yamaha 1’35.690 +1.870
FULIGNI Federico ITA MV AGUSTA 1’35.762 +1.942
BADOVINI Ayrton ITA Kawasaki 1’35.974 +2.154
VAN SIKKELERUS Jaimie NED Honda 1’36.150 +2.330
HERRERA Maria ESP Yamaha 1’36.214 +2.394
DANILO Jules FRA Honda 1’36.421 +2.601
RUIU Gabriele ITA Honda 1’36.569 +2.749
COPPOLA Alfonso ITA Honda 1’36.629 +2.809
CALERO Nacho ESP Kawasaki 1’36.647 +2.827
HARTOG Rob NED Kawasaki 1’37.043 +3.223
VAN STRAALEN Glenn NED Kawasaki 1’37.273 +3.453
WorldSSP – Free Practice 2 Times / Speeds
F Caricasulo (ITA) Yamaha 1’33.882 – 272.7 km/h
R Krummenacher (SUI) Yam 1’34.226 +0.346 – 266.7 km/h
R De Rosa (ITA) MV Agusta 1’34.293 +0.411 – 270.0 km/h
J Cluzel (FRA) Yamaha 1’34.539 +0.657 – 266.0 km/h
H Okubo (JPN) Kawasaki 1’34.584 +0.702 – 272.0 km/h
L Mahias (FRA) Kawasaki 1’34.807 +0.925 – 270.0 km/h
I Vinales (ESP) Yamaha 1’35.369 +1.457 – 268 km/h
C Perolari (FRA) Yamaha 1’35.695 +1.814 – 264.7 km/h
T Toparis (AUS) Yamaha 1’35.725 +1.843 – 262.1 km/h
A Badovini (ITA) Kawasaki 1’35.974 +2.002 – 256.5 km/h
H Soomer (EST) Honda 1’36.305 +2.423 – 260.9 km/h
F Fuligni (ITA) MV Agusta 1’36.313 +2.431 – 264.7 km/h
L Cresson (BEL) Yamaha 1’36.313 +2.431 – 272 km/h
P Sebestyen (HUN) Honda 1’36.331 +2.449 – 265.4 km/h
H Barbera (ESP) Yamaha 1’36.636 +2.754 – 265.4 km/h
WorldSBK Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit
Event Schedule, 22 – 24 February 2019
FIM Track Safety Inspection
Safety Car TestTrack closed
All 1st Time RidersRiders Briefing
All ClassesTyre Stickers DistributionTechnical Bay
Reigning Australian Superbike (ASBK) champion Troy Herfoss is out for redemption on the world stage in the opening round of the 2019 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit this February 22-24.
Returning as a WorldSBK wildcard for the second year in succession, the soon-to-be 32-year-old says the difficulties he and his team had in 2018 serve as motivation to really get amongst it in 2019 – in a field that will contain superstars such as Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki), Alvaro Bautista (Ducati), Tom Sykes (BMW), Alex Lowes (Yamaha), Leon Camier (Honda), Leon Haslam (Kawasaki), Chaz Davies (Ducati) and Marco Melandri (Yamaha).
Troy Bayliss and Troy Herfoss raced wheel to wheel in the ASBK season opener at Phillip Island – TBG Image
“The original plan was to do a WorldSBK wildcard in my second year with Deon (Coote), but we got a bit excited and jumped straight in the deep end last year,” said Herfoss, who was raised in Goulburn (NSW) but now lives on the Gold Coast. “As a result, we were underdone but on the flipside we learnt a lot of things which we can bring to the table in 2019.”
Troy Herfoss – Winton ASBK 2018 – Image by TBG
Melbourne-based Coote took ownership of Honda Australia’s official superbike team at the start of the 2018 season and, while the WorldSBK wildcard campaign was eventually scuppered by mechanical problems last year, Herfoss had a great year in the domestic series and went onto win his second ASBK title in three years – adding to a stellar CV already embedded with national supermoto (2006) and supersport (2010) titles.
Troy Herfoss celebrates the 2018 title victory – Winton ASBK 2018 – Image by TBG
However, the disappointing WorldSBK wildcard in 2018 is something that Herfoss is determined to redress, and he says all the elements are in place to make that happen.
“The whole team have put in a lot of effort to build a bike that’s capable of running a lot further up the field,” said Herfoss, who competed in the recent RoadNats cycling titles alongside his partner, Emily.
Penrite Honda – 2018 ASBK Superbike Champions – Image TBG
“We know we are going to be competitive with a more complete package and a wealth of knowledge that we gained last year. If I can get the bike fully up to speed I want to be in that 8-12 group pace – and who knows what can happen after that once tyre life and all those variables come into play.”
Troy Herfoss – Image by Colin Rosewarne
Herfoss is particularly looking forward to the new WorldSBK ‘triple treat’ formula, which will make its debut at Phillip Island with a 10-lap sprint race at midday on Sunday, sandwiched between the traditional pair of 22-lappers at 3:00pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Troy Herfoss – Winton ASBK 2018 – Image by TBG
“The sprint race is a similar distance to the ASBK races, so it’s something that I’m used to,” said Herfoss. “It’s a great concept and is certainly going to make for a hot pace – it’s going to be interesting to see how it all pans out.”
Troy Herfoss – Winton ASBK 2018 – Image by TBG
The opening round of the 2019 ASBK title will also be held alongside the WorldSBK round, but Herfoss is unfazed by the double duties. He said: “I enjoy racing the world championship and ASBK class at Phillip Island, and I deal well with the physical and mental pressures. It really helps me get into a groove.”
Troy Herfoss – TBG Image
In total, 13 races will be held at Phillip Island across Saturday and Sunday, with supersport and production 300 the other two national classes supporting the world championship categories: WorldSBK and WorldSSP.
Goulburn teenager Tom Toparis is the Aussie wildcard in WorldSSP – and just like Herfoss is backing up from 2018. Toparis was 15th in last year’s WorldSSP race on a Kawasaki, but will be riding a Yamaha in 2019.
Tickets now on sale
A three-day general admission for the WorldSBK round is $120* secured in advance, and includes FREE Paddock Access. Add four nights camping to your purchase and the total cost, including event entry and Paddock, is $230* .
If you feel like splashing out, step up to a Bar SBK ticket at $265* (with camping $375*) and enjoy undercover facilities at Doohan Corner, Siberia and Lukey Heights.
World superbikes is free for kids 15 and under, and so is your bike. For all ticket and racing information, visit www.worldsbk.com.au or Ticketek.
