Team Joe Rocket Suzuki will head into Round Four and Five of the Australian Superbike Championship at Queensland Raceway next weekend with form on their side following an impressive test session. In an official two-day test at the Ipswich circuit this week, Giles was the best of the Superbike competitors while Waters (pictured) emerged on top of the Supersport timesheets. Three-time Australian Champion Giles currently sits second in the standings after three rounds, just three points behind Glenn Allerton. Signalling his intentions for next weekend’s crucial double-header, Giles rode his Suzuki GSX-R1000 to a fastest lap time of 1:09.15 around the 3.12km circuit. Just outside the Superbike lap record, it was good enough to put him two-tenths of a second clear at the end of the test. “I’m pleased with how the test went; it was very productive and our performance was strong,” Giles said. “Everything this year is going really well, the bike is awesome and we’ve been putting together good results at each round. Topping the times is a nice reward for the Team Joe Rocket Suzuki guys for all of their hard work. Ultimately, it won’t mean anything once the race meeting starts next weekend, but it gives us a good platform going into the event.” The test brought contrasting fortunes for Giles’ Superbike team-mates. Craig Coxhell was fourth-fastest as he looks to continue his climb up the order after a frustrating start to the season, while Robbie Bugden crashed heavily at Turn Five. Bugden was unhurt and, while badly damaged, his new GSX-R1000 will be back on track for his home round next weekend. As development on the 2008 Suzuki GSX-R600 continues, Waters ended the test with the fastest Supersport lap time of 1:11.70. Waters is currently second in the Supersport standings and heads to Queensland Raceway having scored a win and a second-place finish at Winton last month. “The Suzuki GSX-R600 is going like a rocket at the moment; it’s a real credit to the team,” Waters said. “Every time we’ve had it on track we’ve improved the bike and this test was no different. I’m feeling really comfortable on it at the moment and I can’t wait to get out there next weekend.” Making it two Suzukis in the top four, privateer Judd Greedy was fourth fastest in his maiden run on a GSX-R600 as he switches to the bike for the remainder of the year. Despite limited preparation time before the test, Greedy was nearly a second faster than his previous best lap time at Queensland Raceway. 2008 AUSTRALIAN SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP: Superbike Championship Points (after three of seven rounds): 1 Glenn Allerton 114pts, 2 Shawn Giles (Suzuki GSX-R1000) 111, 3 Daniel Stauffer 101, 4 Jamie Stauffer 97, 5 Robert Bugden (Suzuki GSX-R1000) 96, 6 Craig Coxhell (Suzuki GSX-R1000) 93, 7 Jason O’Halloran 89, 8 Kevin Curtain 54, 9 Chris Trounson 52, 10 Zac Davies 51. Supersport Championship Points (after three of seven rounds): 1 Jamie Stauffer 141pts, 2 Joshua Waters (Suzuki GSX-R600) 117, 3 Wayne Maxwell 98, 4 Jeremy Crowe 83, 5 Ben Attard 80, 6 Judd Greedy 77, 7 Grant Hay 72, 8 Mitchell Carr (Suzuki GSX-R600) 65, 9 Chris Quinn 61, 10 Ian Andrews (Suzuki GSX-R600) 59.
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