A fast and consistent Bryan Staring has taken Round One victory of the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK) after the year kicked off in exciting fashion! Photos: BiteSizePics & A Bear… Report: MA
SATURDAY REPORT
Wayne Maxwell showed the Alpinestars Superbike field a clean set of heels by securing pole position for Round One of the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK).
Maxwell (Ducati V4R) shattered the hopes of his opposition to record a time of 1:31.363; a full second and a half ahead of his nearest competitor in Cru Halliday (Yamaha YZF-R1). Halliday in-turn edged Josh Waters (BMW M RR) by a tenth of a second, who rounded out the top three with a 1:32.911.
While Maxwell didn’t quite manage to secure a quicker time than his all-time best lap of Phillip Island in Friday practice, and was circumspect given the conditions he was presented with in qualifying.
“I surprised myself yesterday, but the conditions we had yesterday were the best we’ve had all weekend,” said Maxwell.
“The wind was very changeable and gusty out there today through from Turn Two to Turn Three. I just put it all on the line for a lap and was happy to put it on pole for the guys.”
SUPERSPORT 600
Senna Agius (Honda CBR RR) took pole in Michelin Supersport Q2 with a time of 1:35.307 ahead of Tom Edwards (Yamaha YZF-R6) on a 1:35.658 and Tom Bramich (Yamaha YZF-R6). Agius will be looking to capitalise on his pace tomorrow before heading overseas to compete in Europe.
SUPERSPORT 300
The Dunlop Supersport 300 Race One honours went to Harry Snell (Yamaha YZF-R3), finishing just seven-hundredths of a second ahead pole-sitter Glenn Nelson (Yamaha YZF-R3) and Cameron Dunker (Yamaha YZF-R3).
R3 CUP
Nelson would take some consolation after seizing both pole and the Yamaha Finance R3 Cup race One victory by the barest of margins ahead of Varis Fleming (Yamaha YZF-R3) and Jonathan Nahlous (Yamaha YZF-R3). Fleming was incidentally first to cross the line, but was eventually demoted to second-place after exceeding track limits.
OJC
Despite Bodie Paige (Yamaha YZF-R15) dominating most of Friday practice Levi Russo (Yamaha YZF-R15) pulled out the stops to take pole for the BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup ahead of Teerin Fleming (Yamaha YZF-R15) and Paige. However in Race One, it was Cameron Rende who executed a perfect race to take victory ahead of Hudson Thompson and Harrison Watts.
SUPERBIKE MASTERS
Murray Clark (Suzuki GSXR 1183) gave historic racing fans plenty of joy by putting on a serene display to take victory in Race One of Superbike Masters ahead of Scott Campbell (Honda RC30 750) and Scott Webster (Harris Suzuki 1200). It was a repeat showing in race Two, however this time it was John Allen (Yamaha OW31 750) snatched the final step on the podium.
SUNDAY REPORT
In Alpinestars Superbikes Race One at Phillip Island, Wayne Maxwell (Ducati V4R) was the only rider in the 1:31’s and was looking untouchable until a stumble on lap 5 saw last year’s ASBK champion crash out at turn eight. Maxwell walked away unscathed, but the error left Bryan Staring (Ducati V4R) a clean road ahead with a four-second margin over the rest of the field.
An emotional Staring was almost lost for words on the podium, saying that he’d been “pretty patient for a pretty long time” waiting for this victory. We were chasing (Wayne) all weekend,” said Staring. “I knew that we had good race pace, but I didn’t know how good it needed to be though. Once we set out I could see the areas where we were strong and in the end, I kept the pressure on.”
Despite nursing a sore ankle from his excursion at Hayshed in Race One, Maxwell kept it neat and clean in race Two and was able to slowly edge a two-second gap to the fellow Ducati rider to take victory ahead of Staring and Cru Halliday (Yamaha YZF-R1).
Maxwell commended his team on preparing the number two bike to give him the win. “It was good to get a bit back,” said Maxwell. “I’ve got a few bruises so I’ll go and get the body healed up.”
Australian Superbike (ASBK) Round One Results (Full Results Here)
1 Bryan Staring – Ducati V4R
2 Cru Halliday – Yamaha YZF-R1
3 Mike Jones – Yamaha YZF-R1
Supersport 600
Senna Agius (Honda CBR RR) took Race One victory in Michelin Supersport ahead of Tom Bramich (Yamaha YZF-R6) and Jack Hyde (Yamaha YZF-R6). It was Senna’s weekend, however with the international-bound youngster taking the double in Race Two ahead of Tom Edwards, with Bramich this time occupying the final step of the podium.
In Race Three, it was Varis Fleming’s turn to steal the win, two-tenths ahead Jacobs and a superb ride from Joseph Marinello (Kawasaki Ninja) to grab the final podium position after finishing just outside the top ten in race Two.
Supersport 600 Round One Results (Full Results Here)
1 Senna Agius – Honda CBR 600 RR
2 Tom Bramich – Yamaha YZF-R6
3 Olly Simpson – Yamaha YZF-R6
Supersport 300
In Dunlop Supersport, Harry Snell (Yamaha YZF-R3) took off where he left on Saturday by executing a perfect ride to take Race Two victory, one-tenth ahead of James Jacobs (Kawasaki Ninja) and Taiyo Aksu (Yamaha YZF-R3) rounding out the top three.
Supersport 300 Round One Results (Full Results Here)
1 Harry Snell – Yamaha YZF-R3
2 James Jacobs – Kawasaki Ninja 300
3 Taiyo Aksu – Yamaha YZF-R3
R3 Cup
In the Yamaha Finance R3 Cup, Varis Fleming (Yamaha YZF-R3) was able to better Harry Snell (Yamaha YZF-R3) by a mere one-hundredth of a second in Race Two, with Taiyo Aksu (Yamaha YZF-R3) recording a strong weekend to score another podium. Race Three saw round winner Fleming take another victory ahead of Jai Russo (Yamaha YZF-R3) and Aksu once again.
R3 Cup Round One Results (Full Results Here)
1 Glenn Nelson – Yamaha YZF-R3
2 Taiyo Aksu – Yamaha YZF-R3
3 Harry Snell – Yamaha YZF-R3
OJC
Marcos Hamod took Saturday’s fancied runners by surprise by seizing victory in Race Two of the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup ahead of Sam Drane and Teerin Fleming. Hamod took advantage of a race in two parts after a restart, while in Race Three, Harrison Watts took final honours ahead of Hamod and Fleming.
OJC Round One Results (Full Results Here)
1 Harrison Watts – Yamaha YZF-R15
2 Cameron Rende – Yamaha YZF-R15
3 Teerin Fleming – Yamaha YZF-R15
Superbike Masters
In Superbike Masters, Scott Campbell (Honda RC30 750) got the better of Murray Clark (Suzuki GSXR 1183) to take the win in Race 3, with Scott Webster (Harris Suzuki 1200) rounding out the top three.
Superbike Masters Round One Results (Full Results Here)
1 Scott Campbell – Honda RC30 750
2 Murray Clark – Suzuki GSXR 1183
3 Scott Webster – Harris Suzuki 1200
