Bryan Staring Leads YMI Superbike Championship after Scintillating Sunday
25 February 2018
Bryan Staring (Kawasaki BCPerformance, ZX10R) has turned Round 1 of the Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli (ASBK) on its head, taking out the overall victory after a stellar ride from 13th on the grid to win Race Three of the YMI Superbike class. It’s a debut to remember on the BCPerformance Kawasaki, whilst Wayne Maxwell (Yamaha Racing Team, YZF-R1M) found redemption after a dark day on Saturday to claim Race Two at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.
The reigning ASBK Champion Josh Waters (Team Suzuki ECSTAR, GSX-R1000R) started his title defence with an ever so consistent weekend, grabbing two second place finishes and third place to leave him second overall.
Race One winner Troy Herfoss (Penrite Honda, CBR1000SP) rounded out the podium and sits level on points with Waters, leaving the pair one point a drift of Staring.
YMI Superbike Race 2
After yesterday’s dramatic race which saw Herfoss climb to the top step of the podium, Maxwell put a difficult Saturday behind him to take a well-deserved win for his Yamaha Racing Team outfit.
In the early stages of the race it looked like Waters was going to make a break for it, with Troy Bayliss (Desmosport Ducati, Ducati Panigale R FE) and Maxwell in tow. It didn’t take long however for Maxwell to blast past Bayliss and begin his charge against Waters in front.
On lap five, Maxwell made his move and took control of the race. Waters was always within relative striking distance thereafter, but could quite never quite get close enough to pull off an overtaking maneuver.
As Maxwell and Waters checked out at the front, an epic battle was on for the final spot on the podium between Bayliss, Daniel Falzon (Yamaha Racing Team, YZF-R1M), Troy Herfoss (Penrite Honda, Honda CBR1000RRSP) and Staring. By lap seven, Staring was on fire, passing all three of his rivals in short succession.
Another battle pack was forming between Matt Walters (Swann Insurance Superbike, Kawasaki ZX10), Michael Blair (Yamaha, YZF-R1), Glenn Allerton (NextGen Motorsports, BMW S1000RR) and Aaron Morris (Maxima Yamaha, Yamaha YZF-R1) for eighth.
On the final lap, Maxwell took victory by .935s, Waters unable to make a move on the Yamaha rider. The relief was evident for Maxwell after retiring from yesterday’s Race One.
The highlight of the race had to be the battle for third, which went to Staring who pulled off plenty of masterful overtakes, coming all the way from 13th of the grid.
Fourth went to yesterday’s winner Herfoss, followed by Bayliss (5th) and Falzon (6th).
Blair was outstanding on his privateer Yamaha, taking 7th after battling with Walters (8th) and Allerton (9th).
Notable riders that did not complete the race included Mark Chiodo (Team Suzuki ECSTAR, GSX-R1000R), Mike Jones (Allsite Concrete Cutting, ZX-10R) and Corey Tuner (Brisbane Motorcycles Suzuki GSX-R1000R).
Winner Maxwell stating; “Massive credit to Yamaha Racing Team, Josh has always been dominant here in the past so it’s a relief to get the win. My left ankle is still in pain after the crash yesterday, so it makes it difficult to change gear. Hopefully it will feel better for Race Three!”
The master overtaker Staring stating after the race; “Huge thanks to the Kawasaki BCperformance team, the ZX-10R just has so much horsepower. We were able to make up so much time and our ability to pass on the straight allowed us to make up so many places. Qualifying was a disaster so I’m very happy with our performance.”
Wayne Maxwell (47) and Josh Waters (1). Photo by Andrew Gosling/TBG Sport, courtesy of Motorcycling Australia.
Race Two Top Ten Provisional Results
1. Wayne MAXWELL (Yamaha Racing Team, YZF-R1M)
2. Josh WATERS (Team Suzuki Ecstar Australia, Suzuki GSX-R1000R)
3. Bryan STARING (Kawasaki BCPerformance, Kawasaki ZX10R)
4. Troy HERFOSS (Penrite Honda, Honda CBR1000RRSP)
5. Troy BAYLISS (Desmosport Ducati, Ducati Panigale R FE)
6. Daniel FALZON (Yamaha Racing Team, Yamaha YZF-R1M)
7. Michael BLAIR (Yamaha, YZF-R1)
8. Matt WALTERS (Swann Insurance Superbike, Kawasaki ZX10)
9. Glenn ALLERTON (NextGen Motorsports, BMW S1000RR)
10. Aaron MORRIS (Maxima Yamaha, Yamaha YZF-R1)
YMI Superbike Race 3
The YMI Superbike class had another action-packed affair won by Kawasaki BCperformance newcomer, Staring. After a tough last year, Staring has been sensational all weekend long at Phillip Island, coming from 13th on the grid to a race victory. Staring’s Kawasaki machine was an absolute demon down the main straight, which assisted him to overtake his way to victory.
The highlight of the race a massive battle between Waters, Maxwell, Bayliss, Falzon, Staring and Herfoss in a group. Lap eight was when the Kawasaki rider, Staring made his move and gained the lead, after this he didn’t look back on his way to the checkered flag. Maxwell and Waters both attempted to pass Staring, but could not get past the sheer grunt of the ZX-10R recording 297 km/ph down Gardner straight.
BCperformance Team Manager, Kelvin Reilly watched on as Staring and Waters had a drag race down Gardner straight to the finish line and this time Staring reigned supreme by only 0.19s. Filling the race podium alongside him was Waters and Maxwell.
Coming fourth was Herfoss, fifth Falzon, and the top nine was completed by Bayliss, Blair, Allerton and Walters.
Overall Staring came away with the Round 1 victory, leading the ASBK championship with 60 points, followed by Waters and Herfoss, both with 59 points. It’s all set up for another cracking YMI Superbike Championship in 2018!
Staring sharing; “I just knew I was getting murdered in several areas of the track in the last race. If we improved the bike in key areas than I knew we would be very strong. I really enjoyed that race and we’ve won the overall for the weekend. I’m so happy that we were able to recover from that qualifying performance. There’s almost nothing in it between the top competitors and I’m sure that’s the way it’s going to be all year long. Bring on Wakefield!”
2018 ASBK will now head to Wakefield Park in New South Wales for Round 2 on 16-18 March, for a round not to be missed with the racing at a level we have not seen in ages in Australia.
Race Three Top Ten Provisional Results
1. Bryan STARING (Kawasaki BCPerformance, Kawasaki ZX-10R)
2. Josh WATERS (Team Suzuki Ecstar Australia, Suzuki GSX-R1000R)
3. Wayne MAXWELL (Yamaha Racing Team, Yamaha YZF-R1)
4. Troy HERFOSS (Penrite Honda, CBR1000SP)
5. Daniel FALZON (Yamaha Racing Team, Yamaha YZF-R1)
6. Troy BAYLISS (Desmosport Ducati, Ducati Panigale R FE)
7. Michael BLAIR (Yamaha, Yamaha YZF-R1)
8. Glenn ALLERTON (NextGen Motorsports, BMW S1000RR)
9. Matt WALTERS (Swann Insurance Superbike, Kawasaki ZX10)
10. Aaron MORRIS (Maxima Yamaha, Yamaha YZF-R1)
2018 ASBK Calendar
Round 2- Wakefield Park Raceway, Goulburn NSW March 16 – 18
Official ASBK Test, The Bend Motorsport Park, Tailem Bend, SA April 3-4
Round 3- The Bend Motorsport Park, Tailem Bend, SA April 19 – 22
Round 4- Hidden Valley Raceway, Darwin NT June 28 – 1 July
Round 5- Morgan Park Raceway, Warwick QLD August 17 – 19
Round 6- Winton Motor Raceway, Benalla, VIC September 7 – 9
Round 7- Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC October 12 – 14
Stay up to date with all the latest news and updates from the ASBK by liking ASBK on Facebook, following the @asbk on Instagram and checking out the ASBK website here.
More, from a press release issued by Motorcycling Australia:
Toparis Completes the Trifecta of Supersport Victories
25 February 2018
Tom Toparis (Cube Racing, Kawasaki ZX-6R) has pulled of the hat trick at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, to start the 2018 Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli (ASBK) Supersport season in blistering form. Toparis was simply untouchable, starting all three races from fifth position on the grid, but taking no time to hit the front and gap his competitors.
Cru Halliday (Yamaha Racing Team, Yamaha YZF-R6) was consistent in his return to the Supersport class aboard the new Yamaha YZF-R6; grabbing three-second place finishes at a track that has not brought him the best results in the past.
Broc Pearson (Yamaha, YZF-R6) was flying on Friday in qualifying and earned himself pole position for the weekend, and with a tidy weekend, he finished in third position with a lot to look forward to this season.
Race Two
Toparis has backed up yesterday’s win with a Race Two victory in the Australian Supersport Class at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit for Round 1 of the Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli (ASBK). Not even a re-start could throw Toparis off his game as he continued his sensational form.
Toparis and Halliday left the field behind early, gaining a nine second advantage on the paddock by lap four, leaving these two to duke out for the race win. Toparis made a break from Halliday on lap six, to push his lead to five seconds, before claiming the race win by just over six seconds.
Toparis shared; “The race was a bit sketchy for us, the red flag on lap two left us on the grid with no tyre warmers on, which made the first lap of the re-start a real challenge. Really happy to get the win and another 25 points, which is really important for the long run. It’s a good start for us and hope we can take out race three later as well.”
Halliday was upbeat with his second place; “I was happy with that ride, I got second in the first race but I felt better in this race, the guys at Yamaha looked after me so well last night and made such an effort to get the set up right, we will keep improving as the year goes on with new parts becoming available as the season progresses. We will bounce back, I just need to find a bit more pace to catch Toparis, and make a few less mistakes on my end and we will be right up there.”
The battle for third went back and forth throughout the eight-lap race at Phillip Island with Damon Rees (Carl Cox Motorsports, Honda CBR1000RR), Broc Pearson (Yamaha, YZF-R6) and Nic Liminton (Yamaha, YZF-R6) trading places throughout, but Liminton got the better of the group and claimed the last spot on the podium. Pearson grabbed fourth whilst Rees rounded out the top five.
Next came Zachary Johnson (Bill Lambert MBW, Yamaha YZF-R6), Rhys Belling (LXI Racing, Yamaha YZF-R6), Brendan Clarke (Champions Ride Days Race Team, Kawasaki ZX-6R), Scott Nicholson (NextGen Motorsports, Suzuki GSX-R) and Dallas Skeer (Penrite Oils, Suzuki GSX-R) rounded out the top ten.
A causality from Race Two was Max Crocker (Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSX-R1000) who had a fall and did not return to the track, disappointing for Crocker who finished on the podium in Race One.
Australian Supersport Race Two Provisional Results:
1. Tom TOPARIS (Cube Racing, Kawasaki) ZX-6R
2. Cru HALLIDAY (Yamaha Racing Team, Yamaha YZF-R6)
3. Nic LIMINTON(Yamaha, YZF-R6)
4. Broc PEARSON (Yamaha, YZF-R6)
5. Damon REES (Carl Cox Motorsports, Honda CBR1000RR)
6. Zachary JOHNSON (Bill Lambert MBW, Yamaha YZF-R6)
7. Rhys BELLINFG(LXI Racing, Yamaha YZF-R6)
8. Brendan CLARKE (Champions Ride Days Race Team, Kawasaki ZX-6R)
9. Scott NICHOLSON (NextGen Motorsports, Suzuki GSX-R)
10. Dallas SKEER (Penrite Oils, Suzuki GSX-R)
Race Three
Race three continued the Toparis domination as he completed the perfect weekend with another victory. Coming second was once again Halliday on his Yamaha machine. Halliday also took the fastest lap of the race. Liminton kept up his strong form from Race Two with another third place.
Toparis claimed the victory by 4.667 seconds in front of Halliday, and Liminton 8.703 further seconds back from the first-place getter. Coming in fourth was Zachary Johnson (Bill Lambert MBW, Yamaha YZF-R6). Completing the top five was Broc Pearson (Yamaha YZF-R6).
Riders failing to finish the race included Brendan Clarke (Champions Ride Days Race Team, ZX-6R) and Steve Haslam (Melling Mechanical, Yamaha YZF-R6). Halliday took out the fastest lap of the race.
As a result of his three victories, Toparis now has 75 points to his name for 2018 so far, with Halliday (60) and Pearson (50) in second and third.
Australian Supersport Race Three Provisional Results:
1. Tom TOPARIS (Cube Racing, Kawasaki ZX-6R)
2. Cru HALLIDAY (Yamaha Racing Team, Yamaha YZF-R6)
3. Nic LIMINTON (Yamaha YZF-R6)
4. Zackary JOHNSON (Bill Lambert MBW, YZF-R6)
5. Broc PEARSON (Yamaha YZF-R6)
6. Damon REES (Carl Cox M-sports, Honda CBR600RR)
7. Giuseppe SCARCELLA (BCPerformance Junior Team, Kawasaki ZX-6R)
8. Rhys BELLING (LXI Racing, Yamaha YZF-R6)
9. Aidan HAYES (Cube Racing, Kawasaki ZX-6R)
10. Ryan TAYLOR (Arden Homes, Yamaha YZF-R6)
More, from a press release issued by Motorcycling Australia:
Oli Bayliss On Fire at Phillip Island with Overall Win
25 February 2018
A thrilling six-rider scrap in the third and final Australian Supersport 300 Championship race at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit this afternoon has resulted in the overall victory for Oli Bayliss (Cube Racing, Kawasaki Ninja 300). The Australian Supersport 300 paddock put on a mega show for onlookers, with nail biting racing all the way to the checkered flag, at Round 1 of the Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli (ASBK).
Race Three:
Tom Bramich (JLT, Yamaha YZF-R3) got off the line really well and led a group of six riders at the start of the Australian Supersport 300 Race Three, before making a mistake on lap two which saw him run wide and leave the door open for Hunter Ford (South Sydney Commercial, Yamaha YZF-R3), Zac Levy (Puma RV’S, Yamaha YZF-R3), Bayliss, Locky Taylor (LTR Racing, Yamaha YZF-R3), Jarred Brook (KTM Australia, RC 390) and Harry Khouri (Acid Racing, Yamaha YZF-R3) to slip past.
The lead pack only shared a gap of 0.992s from first to sixth, before Bramich made his move and rejoined the pack at lap six. The racing from lap six was a tight affair with Bayliss, Ford, Bramich and Taylor all having the lead at different stages.
The last lap saw Bayliss join the lead group, and make an unbelievable passing move finding space where there really wasn’t any room to snatch the win from Taylor, Bramich and Ford.
Bayliss was thrilled with his weekend; “That was one of the craziest finishes I’ve been involved in, I thought I was to far back to make the move, but I just went for it and it just worked out for me. I was so close to hitting the two bikes next to me but to make the pass I was so happy, it worked out perfectly. I’ve been working on my slip stream and studied it and it just came off.”
After leading at many different stages of the race Ford settled for fourth whilst Levy was just behind him in fifth and Khouri managed sixth with only .306s separated these riders from winner Bayliss.
Brook was solid throughout Race Three to finish in seventh position whilst Ben Bramich (GOWMoto, KTM RC 390) managed eighth and Corey Briffa (KTM RC 390) and Max Stauffer (Chris Watson Motorclycles, Yamaha YZF-R3)
rounded out the top ten.
Bayliss leaves Phillip Island as the points leader in the Australian Supersport 300 class with 70 points, ten points clear of Bramich on 60 points and Taylor is third overall with 55 points.
Australian Supersport 300 Provisional Race Three Results:
1 Oliver BAYLISS (Cube Racing, Kawasaki Ninja 300)
2 Locky TAYLOR (LTR Racing, Yamaha YZF-R3)
3 Tom BRAMICH (JLT, Yamaha YZF-R3)
4 Hunter FORD (South Sydney Commercial, Yamaha YZF-R3)
5 Zac LEVY (Puma RV’S, Yamaha YZF-R3)
6 Harry KHOURI (Acid Racing, Yamaha YZF-R3)
7 Jarred BROOK (KTM Australia, RC 390)
8 Ben BRAMICH (GOWMoto, KTM RC 390)
9 Corey BRIFFA (KTM RC 390)
10 Max STAUFFER (Chris Watson Motorclycles, Yamaha YZF-R3)
With the stage set for a hard-fought season ahead, boasting a host of emerging rising stars, Round 2 of the Australian Supersport 300 Championship will take place at Wakefield Park Raceway in New South Wales between 16-18, March.
2018 ASBK Calendar
Round 2- Wakefield Park Raceway, Goulburn NSW March 16 – 18
Official ASBK Test, The Bend Motorsport Park, Tailem Bend, SA April 3-4
Round 3- The Bend Motorsport Park, Tailem Bend, SA April 19 – 22
Round 4- Hidden Valley Raceway, Darwin NT June 28 – 1 July
Round 5- Morgan Park Raceway, Warwick QLD August 17 – 19
Round 6- Winton Motor Raceway, Benalla, VIC September 7 – 9
Round 7- Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC October 12 – 14
Stay up to date with all the latest news and updates from the ASBK by liking ASBK on Facebook, following the @asbk on Instagram and checking out the ASBK website here.
More, from a press release issued by DesmoSport Ducati:
INSPIRING RIDE FOR DESMOSPORT DUCATI’S BAYLISS ON RETURN
DesmoSport Ducati’s Troy Bayliss has completed the first step of his Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) comeback at Phillip Island’s opening round of the 2018 season, finishing in a fine fourth-place overall.
After putting in an impressive performance during practice and then qualifying on the front row of the grid in third, the 48-year-old triple Superbike World Champion (WorldSBK) scored a stunning podium in P2 during Saturday’s opening 12-lap affair.
In Sunday’s second and third races the gritty Gold Coast resident rode to fifth and sixth-place results, again in the mix for the podium and gaining valuable seat time a decade after retiring from his glorious international career. Those results saw him claim fourth overall for the weekend, within nine points of the round winner.
“With not a lot of preparation time, first up we’re leaving here reasonably happy,” Bayliss reflected. “I’ve got an idea that we can run towards the front of the field and I know a few areas where we can improve the bike as well. We haven’t got the setting just right yet, but I’m really happy and we’ve had a good weekend.
“In the first race yesterday, I had so many bikes around me and it was really hectic because I hadn’t been in that situation for some time. So it did take a little while just to get used to that, but it was good to ride around the guys with so much experience here in Australia. I felt like I’d been here a long time – it was all under control and we’re excited!”
Bayliss was spectacular on the brand new 1299 Panigale R Final Edition all weekend, one of the major storylines of the ASBK and WorldSBK double-header at the 4.445km Victorian circuit, also setting the fastest lap of race three with a 1m33.138s lap-time. And, according to he and the factory-supported DesmoSport Ducati team that Bayliss is co-owner of, there’s more to come.
“It was really impressive how Troy went and he is just such a special rider – it’s a privilege for us to work with him,” DesmoSport Ducati co-owner and team manager Ben Henry commented. “I think we are going to move forward and do a good job for sure. It was our first time working together as a team with a lot of new elements and it all takes time.
“I was really happy with the results and, honestly, I feel like if we give him the bike he needs, he will win on it. Troy’s really patient, working to get the bike to where he wants it and we have plenty of riding coming up, so it’s all coming together and it’s been a great weekend. Thank you to everybody who has been behind us.”
The 2018 Australian Superbike Championship will now travel to Wakefield Park in New South Wales for round two between 16-18 March.
Like DesmoSport Ducati on Facebook, Follow @desmosportducati on Instagram and visit www.asbk.com.au for further information. Cube Performance Centre also has an exclusive DesmoSport Ducati section on its website, available to view at www.cubeperformancecentre.com.au/desmosport-ducati.
More, from a press release issued by Cube Racing:
PHILLIP ISLAND VICTORIES FOR CUBE RACING’S TOPARIS AND BAYLISS
Cube Racing teenagers Tom Toparis and Oli Bayliss reigned supreme in Phillip Island’s opening round of the 2018 Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) series, winning the Supersport and Supersport 300 classes respectively.
For Toparis, 17, it was a double-header event in which he rode the three domestic races alongside a wildcard entry in the Supersport World Championship (WorldSSP). After qualifying fifth in the wet, Toparis went on to win all three ASBK Supersport races to lead the championship following round one.
The Goulburn racer also shined in his first-career WorldSSP appearance, finishing among a host of experienced world championship campaigners to score a point in 15th this afternoon. He learned a lot over the course of race week, which will benefit him into the national season.
“To win all three races was such a good reward for the team and I, we’ve worked so hard and it’s been a big week,” recalled Toparis. “Everybody has put in so much effort and it’s a great way to start to season with 75 points. I also got points in WorldSSP, learned so much riding and it was just good fun. It’s exciting for me and really opens your eyes up! Thanks again to the team for everything, it was so good.”
Bayliss was just as impressive in the nail-biting Supersport 300 ranks, rocketing from 10th on the grid to finish with 1-2-1 results in the trio of races. It was a coming of age of sorts for the 14-year-old, impressing onlookers throughout the round and establishing an early championship lead.
“It’s been such a good weekend, the pressure seems to give me that bit more adrenaline and I’m excited to win,” Bayliss commented. “It was so much fun and I’ve improved a lot since this time last year, so I’m really happy. That last one was one of the craziest races I’ve ever had! I’m pumped to win it.”
Cube Racing team owner and manager Ben Henry said it was an exceptional result for the team to begin the 2018 season in such commanding fashion and is proud of the two youthful riders’ performances. The start to the series couldn’t have been any more positive.
“Both of the boys are leaving here leading their national championships and it’s so good,” Henry explained. “I’m really happy for them and us as a team, plus Tom got points in WorldSSP, which was really impressive and a big effort for a young kid. He did really, really good all week in testing and the race weekend. I couldn’t be happier with how both Tom and Oli have performed to start the season.”
Next up will be round two of the 2018 championship at Wakefield Park in New South Wales, the home round of Toparis and an event that is certain to see the talented Bayliss among the front of the field once again.
Like Cube Racing on Facebook and visit www.asbk.com.au for further information. Cube Performance Centre also has an exclusive Cube Racing section on its website, available to view at www.cubeperformancecentre.com.au/cuberacing now.