Allerton storms to provisional Superbike pole in Tassie The QBE Australian Superbike class opened proceedings on day one of the Tasmania Microsoft Office 365 with Next Gen Motorsports Glenn Allerton throwing down the gauntlet from the onset. Allerton set the fastest time in practice, before storming to a provisional pole time of 53.967s, a staggering 0.647 quicker than Team Suzuki’s Wayne Maxwell. The two-time Australian Superbike Champion remained in his pit bay until half way through the 20 minute qualifying session then set his provisional pole time on just his second flying lap. “I feel great,” Allerton said. “The HP4 seems to be on rails this weekend. We basically had a plan to preserve our tyres during that session for tomorrows Superpole as we need to be in the top 13 to get through that first phase. “I only had to do two laps and managed to come out on top with quite a margin so we are all very happy. “The tyres are working really well and so is the team. I have a brand new set of tyres to take into tomorrow morning. Maxwell was second with a time of 54.439s ahead of Team Honda Racing’s Jamie Stauffer who piped Team Suzuki’s newcomer Robbie Bugden, by .037 of a second. Racers Edge Performance pilot Beau Beaton rounded out the top five and was the top placed privateer. Tomorrow’s on-track action will see the top 13 riders from todays qualifying session contest the new format Superpole at 7.50an before taking to the grid for the opening 30 minute race at 12.30pm. The QBE Australian Superbike races from the Tasmania Microsoft Office 365 will be broadcast live on the 7 Network (check local guides for details). QBE Australian Superbike Championship Qualifying Results 1. Glenn ALLERTON (NSW) / NextGen Motorsports / Dynotech / Maxima / BMW, BMW HP4, 53.967 2. Wayne MAXWELL (VIC) / Team Suzuki, Suzuki GSX-R, 54.439 3. Jamie STAUFFER (NSW) / Team Honda Racing / Motologic / Vantage, Honda CBR RR, 54.614 4. Robert BUGDEN (QLD) / Team Volvo Group Suzuki, Suzuki GSX-R, 54.651 5. Beau BEATON (NSW) / Racers Edge Performance / Suzuki Australia / PTR / Verngraham, Suzuki GSX-R, 54.966 6. Chas HERN (VIC) / C.M. Racing Team / Pope Building Services / Helmet House Perth, Suzuki GSX-R, 7. Linden MAGEE (QLD) / NextGen Motorsports / Dynotech / Maxima / BMW, BMW S-RR, 55.193 8. Ben HENRY (QLD) / CUBE Racing / Australian Outdoor Living / Underground Designs, Suzuki GSX-R, 55.536 9. Josh HOOK (NSW) / Team Honda Racing / Motologic / Vantage, Honda CBR RR, 55.727 10. Glenn SCOTT (NSW) / Team Insure My Ride Racing, Honda CBR RR, 55.900 11. Ben NICOLSON (VIC) / NextGen Motorsports / Dynotech / Maxima / BMW, BMW S-RR, 56.042 12. Phil LOVETT (NSW) / Cessnock KTM / Lovett’s Earthmoving / Central Coast Harley, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 57.301 13. Adam SENIOR (WA) / City Toyota / Silkolene / Radmix / Boreclean / Fine Riders, Honda CBR RR, 57.478 14. Josh KING (TAS), Yamaha YZF-R1, 57.808 15. Sophie LOVETT (NSW) / Cessnock KTM / Central Coast Harley Davidson / ARAI, Kawasaki ZX-10R, 58.995 16. Shaun MURFET (TAS) Honda CBR RR, 59.286 More, from a press release issued by Team Honda Racing: 5th April 2013 – A fantastic start to Round 2 of the Australian Superbike Championship at Symmons Plains Raceway with #27 Jamie Stauffer recording the 3rd fastest qualifying time of the session, a 54.614 seconds. Rookie Superbike rider, #34 Josh Hook recorded the 9th fastest time of the session with a lap time of 55.727 seconds. The event is being held in conjunction with the V8 Supercars Tasmania Microsoft Office 365 and with the weather report showing a clear weekend; it will be a fantastic start to the season for Team Honda Racing. The afternoon track temperature was a dry 27 degrees Celsius for the one and only qualifying session before tomorrow’s Superpole shootout. The session was a terrific opportunity for the team to try some of the changes made to the bike set-up of the CBR1000RRs since testing at Symmons Plains in March. Stauffer is pleased with the direction the team is heading at this first points scoring round and is looking forward to tomorrow’s Superpole. Stauffer: “It was really good to get out on the track on the Honda today and the qualifying session was really our first chance to put a few set-up changes to the test. I was 3rd fastest today and I’m confident of a strong result tomorrow. The Superpole shootout is very early in the morning tomorrow so the track surface will be very cold, but we will give it our all and see if we can place the CBR1000RR on Pole for the races.” The format of the Superpole shootout for 2013 places the top 13 riders from today’s qualifying session into Superpole 1 with the top 9 from that session going into Superpole 2 and finally, in Superpole 3 the top 5 riders will battle for Pole position. As such, both Team Honda Racing riders will challenge tomorrow for Superpole in what will be a very exciting spectacle. Josh Hook has started the ASBK season well on the Superbike and is looking forward to the challenge tomorrow for Pole position. Hook: “Today went really well. I qualified 9th fastest which gives me a chance to take part in Superpole tomorrow. The Honda feels really good and with a couple of small changes overnight I am confident that we will continue to reduce my lap times tomorrow. I am definitely aiming for a top 5 grid position so we’ll see how we go tomorrow.” The Superpole shootout will take place at 7:50am tomorrow with Race 1 for Superbikes at 12:30pm. The race will be televised at approx. 1:35pm AEST on Channel 7, 7 Mate or Seven 2 as part of the V8 Supercar program. More, from another press release issued by Fluid PR on behalf of QBE Australian Superbike Championship: QBE Australian Superbike Championship launches interactive website As part of the continued growth and development of the QBE Australian Superbike Championship, International Entertainment Group (IEG) today launched the series, brand new website. Aimed at connecting fans and sponsors to the sport, the new www.asbk.com.au website will provide visitors with a greater insight into the sport, up to date results for all classes and profile the stars of Australia’s premier road racing championships. The new site will also provide both competitors and spectators with the relevant event information. Yarrive Konsky, Director of championship promoter International Entertainment Group (IEG), said the new site is reflective of the sports new identity. “We’re excited to present a brand new website that reflects the ASBK’s new identity, one that represents change and progress during a key development phase for the sport. “This new site is an information hub for both compeitors and specatators and with live timing and race day video updates from the riders, will keep fans up-to-date with all the race day action.” The first point-scoring round for the QBE Australian Superbike class will run alongside V8 Supercars at the Tasmania Microsoft Office 365 this weekend. The QBE Australian Superbike races from the Tasmania Microsoft Office 365 will be broadcast live on the 7 Network (check local guides for details). For all the latest news, results, videos and updates from Symmons Plains visit www.asbk.com.au