The premier Superbike class saw Wayne Maxwell (Pirelli) enter the weekend with a comfortable points lead over second place, but with a championship up for grabs, and with a field stacked deep with talent, Wayne would have to be on top of his game. And from Friday afternoon it was evident just how good Maxwell and the entire Boost Mobile K-Tech Ducati team are. Setting the fastest lap time in Free Practice 3 on his Ducati V4R was just the start of what was a flawless weekend for Maxwell, going on to take Pole position with a new qualifying lap record on Saturday afternoon, and two race wins on Sunday to secure the Superbike Championship for himself, the Boost Mobile K-Tech Ducati team and Pirelli. 

Taking second overall for the round and securing second place in the championship standings was Glenn Allerton (Pirelli) aboard his Maxima Racing BMW. Allerton rode strong all weekend and put in two great second place finishes behind Maxwell in what was a great result for Glenn and the Maxima Racing BMW team. Rounding out the championship standings podium was Cru Halliday, with Troy Herfoss in fourth, while DesmoSport Ducati’s Oli Bayliss (Pirelli) in his rookie year on board a Superbike rounded out the top 5.

The Australian Supersport Championship is always hotly contested and 2021 would be no different, with 3 riders in the hunt for the title going in to the Grand Finale at The Bend. It was a battle between Broc Pearson (Pirelli) who led the points going in to the final round ahead of Tom Edwards (Pirelli), and Max Stauffer (Pirelli) and it would be no holds barred racing between the riders in what made for some epic racing that won’t soon be forgotten.

Race 1 saw Edwards, Stauffer and Pearson battle at the front of the field early before Edwards was able to make a convincing pass for the lead and gap the other 2 riders. Stauffer was then able to make a pass on Pearson for second with 2 laps to go, holding him off until the finish line. The implications of that pass meant Edwards now trailed Pearson by 1 point in the championship standings with 1 race remaining. The final race of the season would determine the 2021 Supersport champion. And didn’t the final race of the season deliver. With everything on the line, Tom Edwards and Broc Pearson pushed the absolute limits of their Yamaha R6’s at the front of the field, trading paint and swapping positions almost once a lap for the entire race.

On the final lap it was Broc Pearson who was able to make the pass on Edwards, and with just several corners to contend with, was able to block any pass attempts Edwards made to lead in to the last turn. With a short run to the finish line it was Broc Pearson who would cross the finish line first, just 5 one hundredths of a second in front to claim the 2021 ASBK Supersport Championship. A well-deserved and hard fought championship win. Tom Edwards secured second in the championship with his second place finish for the round, while Max Stauffer rounded out the podium in third.

The two deepest fields of the weekend belonged to the two 300 classes, the Supersport 300 class, and the Yamaha R3 Cup. The two extremely competitive classes both had full grids for their 3 races across the weekend, but there was one rider who had been a dominant force in both classes all year. Ben Baker (Pirelli) came in to the weekend with a sizeable points lead in both classes, and just needed consistent finishes across the 3 races in each class to wrap up the titles.

Two third place finishes and a race win in the final race of the weekend was enough to see Baker crowned the 2021 ASBK R3 Cup champion, ahead of Glenn Nelson (Pirelli) who put in 3 great rides which included a race win in Race 2 to secure second overall in the championship standings, while Cameron Dunker (Pirelli) did enough to secure third overall for the championship despite a crash in the last race of the weekend.

In the Supersport 300 class it was anything but smooth sailing for Baker who had once again put himself on Pole, and after a solid third place finish in race 1, it was a crash in race 2 that left him outside of the points and potentially opened up the opportunity for another rider to snatch the championship from his grasp. The final race saw Baker ride a solid race to finish fourth, enough to wrap up the ASBK Supersport 300 Championship.

An amazing effort by Ben to win both the R3 Cup and the Supersport 300 championships. Reece Oughtred (Pirelli) had a great weekend to secure his second place finish in the Supersport 300 class, while Zac Johnson (Pirelli) did enough to hang on to his third place finish overall despite a crash in the final race which saw him finish outside of the points.

The Oceania Junior Cup always sees great battles with every rider aboard identically prepared race bikes, and the Grand Finale at The Bend was no different. With a points lead coming in to the final round, Cameron Swain (Pirelli) would be the rider to beat for the championship, with the likes of Ryan Larkin (Pirelli) and Levi Russo (Pirelli) looking for race wins and maximum points. In the end it was Swain who came out victorious with 2 second place finishes and a race win for the weekend to take out the 2021 Oceania Junior Cup. Larkin put in 3 great rides with 2 race wins and a third place finish to secure his second place overall for the championship, while Levi Russo was super consistent all weekend to lock away his third place for the championship.

Congratulations to all of the 2021 ASBK Champions as well as every rider that went racing in what was a difficult year due to the interruptions and cancellations of events throughout the year. Bring on 2022.

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After a hearty breakfast I zipped over to the track to check out how the inclusion of a MotoGP rider affected crowd numbers at the ASBK Grand Finale. The fact that it took 35 minutes to get into the gates should tell the story – reports indicate that this might be the best attendance in ASBK history.

The entire facility and organisation of the event was absolutely top shelf. Kudos to the track owners and event organisers, considering the disjointed and limited nature of the 2021 ASBK season this weekend should provide a beacon of light for years to come.

I witnessed Miller spending time with almost all of the Oceania Junior Cup kids, chatting about various aspects of life as a racer…

On to the action, and early practice saw the usual suspects at the top of the leader board – Maxwell, Falzon, Bayliss – with outright lap records tumbling further and further as the session progressed. Lucky too, as they were pushed hard by the ring-in. And that really goes to the heart of what we are seeing here this weekend – a transfer of knowledge.

To see Jack Miller riding in competition with the ASBK guys is to witness everyone having their skills elevated. Jack was adamant he was going to make this round to finish his year off with a home race, because he knows how much the local fans have missed out these last two years. 

Whether he realises it or not it actually means more than that. The value to the up and coming riders is immeasurable. The lack of the MotoGP media contingent has provided a freedom I am sure that Miller has missed, one that has allowed him to wander the paddock alone and unfettered. I witnessed Miller spending time with almost all of the Oceania Junior Cup kids, chatting about various aspects of life as a racer. For these heroes of tomorrow with stars in their eyes that alone is an opportunity I am sure they would never have dreamed of.

For these heroes of tomorrow with stars in their eyes that alone is an opportunity I am sure they would never have dreamed of…

Back on the track, Miller had a minor off at turn 1 while he was exploring the limits of his Michelin tyres. Anthony West continued to have troubles with his YZF-R1 and Oli Bayliss made it a Ducati 1-2-3 at the top of the timesheets with all three bikes clocking almost 10km/h faster than 4th placed Falzon.

Running a MotoGP-style double qualification format, the top three of West (Yamaha), Wagner (Yamaha), and a still-wounded Troy Herfoss (Honda) progressed through Q1 to ride for pole. The Q2 session ended prematurely for Westy as his R1 called it a day at the back of the track.

Miller almost repeated his earlier mistake but managed to stand the bike up and get away with a wide exit out of T1. Falzon briefly headed the table Maxwell lit the blue touch paper and absolutely operated the 1:50.9 lap record he had set early in the morning – ultimately finishing top with  1:50.5!

The Q2 session ended prematurely for Westy as his R1 called it a day at the back of the track

Arthur Sissis and Falzon both impressed with their incredible efforts all day, and their teams should both be proud of the bikes they have delivered this weekend. But in the end, it was Ducati power that stole the day once again, with Maxwell and Miller delivering when it counted. The front row is completed by Falzon who just held into 3rd after Bayliss could not quite string together a complete lap to kick the Yamaha out of the spot.

A great day’s action at a great venue with a fantastic crowd to provide an awesome atmosphere – what else could a race junkie ask for?! The only blight on the day was the announcement that Adelaide had been declared a COVID hotspot by the Queensland government, meaning this little maniac had to run out for an emergency PCR test to ensure I will be allowed back home… 

A great day’s action at a great venue with a fantastic crowd to provide an awesome atmosphere – what else could a race junkie ask for?

Race One
After all the Saturday action, a quiet race day was never on the cards – and true to form we were all on the edge of our seats from the off. Before Race 1 even began the drama started off track with one International rider being picked up by police, after quarantine rules were changed overnight meaning he had not served enough time in isolation!

Race 1 started in warm conditions with Miller going backwards off the line after he struggled to master the traction control and clutch of his Panigale V4R. All the hard work to get onto the front row was undone by turn 1, with Miller slipping back to 7th place. Up front Maxwell, Sissis, Allerton, Falzon, and Bayliss made the early running until Falzon crashed out and Bayliss made a small error that allowed a recovering Miller to slip by into 3rd. Oli’s day didn’t get any better as a mechanical issue forced him to retire soon after.

Up front Maxwell was still breaking lap records in a display of dominance. No-one could get near the rear wheel of his Ducati…

Up front Maxwell was still breaking lap records in a display of dominance. No-one could get near the rear wheel of his Ducati and he was able to focus on riding the amazing Bend track layout. With Miller having made his way back up to 2nd ahead of Sissis and Allerton the race seemed to settle down until local rider Evan Byles went down in a dangerous area and needed medical attention (we hope you are OK Evan). This forced a red flag and the excitement once again grew.

As the riders made their way back around to re-form the grid we were informed by race control that the restart would be a 3 lap sprint, effectively undoing all Maxwell’s hard work. The 2nd race start of the day again saw Miller struggle with a launch but he manage to stay with the leaders. He then showed why he is a world class rider by outbraking everyone into turn 1 – classy stuff but short-lived as Maxwell grabbed the place back almost immediately along with Allerton. 

Epis also managed to slide by Miller as he saw the leaders pulling away. As Jack struggled with rear grip Wagner saw an opportunity but overcooked his corner entry up the inside of Miller. The result was a very inelegant dismount that took out the MotoGP star and made Wagner the most unpopular guy of the weekend. 

Back at the front Maxwell had again cleared out, with Allerton in hot pursuit. Epis and Halliday engaged in battle, with Halliday coming out on top to secure the final podium spot. The victory was enough for Maxwell to secure the title, his victory lap saw the now traditional gold helmet presented by his team.  

ASBK Grand Finale Race One Podium (Full Results Here)

1 Wayne Maxwell – Boost Mobile Racing with KTech / McMartin Racing Ducati
2 Glenn Allerton –  Maxima Racing Oils BMW (+0.906)
3 Cru Halliday – Yamaha Racing Team (+1.562)

Race 2
Race 1 earlier in the day had exposed some serious tyre degradation issues for many riders. By the time race 2 came around tarmac temps were even hotter at over 50°C, meaning everyone expected most riders to struggle with rear grip. 

The race start saw Miller struggle yet again as he just could not get to grips with the Ducati launch control. But that turned out not to matter as a series of incidents at turns 1 and 3 again brought out the red flag. The first involved Honda rider Hook and Yamaha’s Sissis, with both riders getting up immediately but bike debris littering the track. The 2nd incident was rather more severe however, with Falzon sustaining serious injuries to his back and pelvis, and breaking his femur, and privateer Cooper  knocking his head and having no memory of the incident plus his bike caught fire.

The 4th race start of the day was soon upon us. In another familiar sight, Miller bunny-hopped his Ducati off the line in pursuit of Maxwell, Allerton, and Bayliss. Bayliss showed his skill by passing Maxwell to take the lead, but then ran wide to allow him and Allerton back through.

Oli’s day got worse as he fell victim to Miller and slipped back to 4th. Allerton managed to challenge Maxwell somewhat until the new champion lit the blue touch paper and dropped his Ducati down into the 1:50’s – a time previously unthinkable on a race tyre that showed why he is the best in Australia. 

As the pace started to settle it was clear that Miller was struggling on his tyres. Halliday saw the opportunity and picked up the pace to get within a few tenths of the MotoGP star. It was not quite enough however, with Miller retaining the bottom spot on the podium behind Allerton and Maxwell.

The post-race celebrations saw stand up wheels and burnouts aplenty, with both Miller and Maxwell lighting it up in Parc Ferme. Everyone was on a high as they were finally able to see the guy they had travelled to the middle of nowhere to get a glimpse of. Jack was gracious with his time and open with the crowd. Wayne Maxwell remained cagey about his future and would not be baited on whether he would have another tilt at the title in 2022. 

As the post-race interviews wrapped up Jack was asked if he would be back for another cameo. His reply? “Let’s have a summer series so I can compete right around the country!” Hell yes!

ASBK Grand Finale Race Two Podium (Full Results Here)

1 Wayne Maxwell – Boost Mobile Racing with KTech / McMartin Racing Ducati
2 Glenn Allerton –  Maxima Racing Oils BMW (+3.823)
3 Jack Miller – Ducati / Ducati Corse / Dainese / AVG / Red Bull / Caterpillar / Rival Ink (+5.887)

ASBK 2021 Season Standings (Full Standings Here)

1 Wayne Maxwell – Boost Mobile Racing with KTech / McMartin Racing Ducati Panigale V4R
2 Glenn Allerton –  Maxima Racing Oils BMW
3 Cru Halliday – Yamaha Racing Team

For the full results and reports on all classes of the weekend, click here…

GALLERY BY OPTIKAL PHOTOGRAPHY

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Yamaha Motor Australia in association with YRD, invest heavily in Australian road racing and results like this are a fitting reward for riders, teams and Yamaha who are the driving force at ASBK events around the country.

The 600cc Supersport division came down to a three man, all Yamaha race with Broc Pearson taking a narrow points gap in over rivals Tom Edwards and Max Stauffer. Things got even tighter after race one when Edwards got the race win and closed the gap to just one point between himself and Pearson. It was a one race, winner-take-all shootout, to determine the 2021 champion.

Edwards was in the lead, Pearson snatched it from him, Edwards fought back, Pearson grabbed it again and then in the waning moments of the race, Edwards made another huge lunge, but was .05 of a second short at the finish, giving Pearson a hard fought and well-earned championship victory. Max Stauffer finished third in the championship.

The 300cc Supersport wasn’t anywhere near as intense with Ben Baker entering the final round with a very comfortable margin over his rivals. Baker had built his lead via race smarts and race victories when it mattered, and he needed nothing more than to grab a handful of points at the final round to take the 2021 championship.

Ben Baker made it a real weekend to remember as he also topped the podium in the Yamaha R3 Cup. Like the 300cc Supersport, Baker had dominated the opening rounds to build up a sizeable lead and he kept the throttle on in the final round to score a third-place finish on the day and lock in another championship for 2021. Baker finished well clear of Glenn Nelson in second and Cameron Dunker in third.

Cameron Swain is the 2021 OJR-R15 champion. This class has proven to be real winner not just for the riders but Australian road racing that has been crying out for an entry level category to attract new, young riders to the sport. Yamaha and YRD have been the main players behind the scenes getting this class up and running and it now has shown itself to be a genuine breeding ground for talented riders to show case their skills.

“Congratulations to all our Yamaha competitors on a tough and challenging 2021 racing season. It was please to see that despite the Covid issues we all faced, Yamaha riders and teams continued to show up and race at ASBK events. These championship class wins, combined with our strong showing in the Superbike class and the Manufacturers Cup all points to a successful season for Yamaha.”

“A special congratulations are in order for Broc, Ben and Cameron who won their respective classes. Championships are never easy to win, and we hope the riders and teams enjoyed their success and will use it as a platform for a bigger and better 2022 season,” said YRD’s John Redding.

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Competing on board the 2021 Ducati Panigale V4 R, Jack Miller will line up aside fellow Australian Ducati Riders Oli Bayliss, Mike Jones and Wayne Maxwell across the two races over the course of the event.  

Jack confirmed his participation in a statement “I am really excited to be able to have this opportunity and race the final round of Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK). I would love to say a massive thank you to the guys at Ducati for allowing me this opportunity amidst our busy testing schedule.

 “To go and race in front of the Australian fans is a massive privilege and honour. Thank you the team at ASBK and Motorcycling Australia for their support at such short notice. I am also thankful to Ben Henry from DesmoSport Ducati for his help in the organisation. As you can imagine it has not been easy to try and organise everthing from the other side of the world at such short notice, having Ben and Matty Macalpine there to help me organise most things, has been very easy. I am very excited to be able to race in front of the Australian fans at least one time this year, it is going to be fantastic. I look forward to seeing everyone there!”

Motorcycling Australia CEO, Peter Doyle, said he was ecstatic to have Jack Miller joining the Grand Finale of the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul.

“Having Australian MotoGP sensation Jack Miller compete in the ASBK is further testament to the tough and highly competitive nature of our ASBK Championship which is one of the best national superbike championships in the world,” Mr Doyle said.

“Australian race fans have been starved of on track MotoGP action here for two years due to COVID, but to now have their Aussie hero in Jack Miller come home and race ASBK, we are sure fans will flock to the ASBK Grand Finale at The Bend in South Australia.”

The ASBK Grand Finale will operate under a COVIDSafe Plan in accordance with SA Government regulations, and all interstate travellers, volunteers and race fans will be required to be double vaccinated for entry into South Australia. For those fans who are unable to be trackside, you can catch all the fantastic action through the ASBK TV partners SBS, FOXSPORTS Australia, Sky Sport NZ and via ASBK TV Live Stream.

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After many conversations between the team, rider, and sponsors, a tough decision was reached by Team Specialist Suzuki as the team confirms they will not contest the final round of the 2021 Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) at The Bend Motorsport Park early next month. 

Team Specialist Suzuki Principal, Scott Noble: “In our first ASBK season, the goal was progression both with Yanni’s results on the track, and how we worked as a team, and although our season was cut short due to the lockdowns and border closures around the country, I think we saw a lot of improvement on both fronts. We presented well, Yanni continued to improve, and we worked well together to keep improving the bike. The majority of our equipment has been held in Queensland, originally placed there after Darwin in preparation for the Morgan Park round, but essentially trapped there by the escalations in restrictions.”

“Being one of the few Sydney-based teams and the location of our equipment, it really limited Yanni’s ability to ride the Superbike in the five months since Darwin. It was a hard decision to make, but as team we decided that it would be best to forgo the last round of ASBK and instead focus our efforts on the 2022 season. I can’t thank our partners, and each individual that worked to create Team Specialist Suzuki. Their support throughout the year has been terrific, despite so many unknowns about how the season would progress with Covid restrictions across the country. In saying all this, I’m really excited for what 2022 brings!” 

#333 Yanni Shaw: “I’m disappointment to not be racing at The Bend for sure, but I completely agree with the decision we made. 2021 was about coming together and growing as a team, in every aspect, and in that respect the consensus to not race is another sign of our commitment to the longer term success of Team Specialist Suzuki. With restrictions easing, I’ll now take the opportunity to get back on our GSXR1000-RR Superbikes to keep working both on the development of the bike and bike fitness.”

“Our plan through summer involves as much track time as possible including the St. George Summer Series running this year at Sydney Motorsport Park. The whole Specialist Suzuki Team is amazing and we really have become a family. I can’t thank Scott enough for the opportunity to ride in their inaugural season and Dougie for the countless hours behind the scenes working to get the most from the bikes. Our sponsors have gone above and beyond to help us, I really appreciate the support they’ve shown and the whole team.” 

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