This press release just came in from the Land of Oz:

“YAMAHA TRIO IN SEARCH OF AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP SUCCESS AT WINTON

“Winton Raceway in central Victoria hosts round two of the 2001 Shell Advance Australian Superbike and Supersport Championships this weekend, June 2-3. The round however, will be the first for the Radar’s Team Yamaha squad, as they did not make the trip to Wanneroo in Western Australia for the opening round. Team member Craig Coxhell did ride in WA, but rode as a private entrant. Mechanical problems plagued the Victorian teenager who emerged from the opening round in fourth position overall. Second place in race two of the new-look three-race Superbike format was the highlight of the meeting for Coxhell.

“At last year’s corresponding round at Winton, Coxhell finished third overall and will be looking to take the step to the top of the podium this weekend. ‘My aim at the start of this year was to win the Australian Superbike Championship,’ said Coxhell. ‘I’ve started the championship off okay at the first round at Wanneroo and now I just want to keep adding pressure to the other guys. I’m looking forward to Winton, as it is as close as I get to a home track. It’s a good little technical track and would really like to come away from there with the win. I’m 15 points behind Shawn (Giles) at the moment, but I feel that I can at least match him around Winton.’

“Joining Coxhell, and making his debut in the Australian Superbike Championship will be Jamie Stauffer. After finishing fifth in last years Australian Supersport Championship, Stauffer won a place in the Radar’s Team Yamaha squad and has shown that he has what it takes, as he currently leads the Yamaha Formula Xtreme Tri-State aboard his Yamaha YZF-R1. This weekend will be different though as he will be mounted on his Australian Superbike Championship spec YZF-R1 and will be up against some new opposition. ‘It will be interesting to see how competitive the Australian Championship is this year after we’ve run at three of the Formula Xtreme rounds so far,’ said Stauffer. ‘I raced the Yamaha R6 Supersport here last year and this will be my first visit there on the Yamaha R1 Superbike. It will obviously be a bit different on the ASC spec R1, but it is something that I’m looking forward to. I think it will be close at the end of the day.’

“Queenslander Robbie Baird, the third member of Radar’s Team Yamaha, will spearhead the team’s assault on the Australian Supersport Championship aboard his Yamaha YZF-R6. After finishing runner-up to teammate Kevin Curtain in last year’s Championship, Baird is looking at the top ranked position for 2001. ‘It will be a hard battle at Winton this weekend that’s for sure,’ said Baird. ‘It will be my first race meeting on the Yamaha YZF-R6 this year, so it will be interesting to see how we go against the others in the Supersport Championship. Winton isn’t one of my favorite tracks around the country, but that doesn’t mean that we won’t be trying hard to get maximum points. Josh Brookes has a handy lead in the championship, so we are going to have to produce something special if we are to overhaul him.’

“‘We’ve got a bit of work to do after missing the opening round at Wanneroo, but luckily no-one was a runaway winner there, so the points are still relatively close,’ said team manager Dave `Radar’ Cullen. ‘Our championship starts here and I still feel that we are a strong chance. Craig (Coxhell) is only fifteen points off the lead in the Superbike championship, while people have to remember that Robbie (Baird) was able to win six races straight in the Supersport Championship last year, so if he can repeat that, he’s in with a show.’

“2001 Shell Australian Superbike Championships (Points after 1 of 5 rounds) 1. Shawn Giles 52, 2. Damien Cudlin 42, 3. Stuart Adams 42, 4. Craig Coxhell 37, 5. Tony Rees 36, 6. Michael Edwards 29, 7. John Donohoe 29, 8. Craig McMartin 28, 9. Scott Tulk 23, 10. David Simpson 22

“2001 Shell Australian Supersport Championships: (Points after 1 of 5 rounds) 1. Josh Brookes 51, 2. Daniel Stauffer 32, 3. Scott Charlton 31, 4. Brendan Clarke 21, 5. Rodney Taplin 20, 6. Michael Brenton 16, 7. Greg Moss 16, 8. Jay Taylor 13, 9. David Johnson 13, 10. Dean Coote 11.

“2001 Shell Australian Superbike & Supersport Championships: 5-6 May Wanneroo (WA) 2-3 June Winton (Vic) 30 June – 1 July Queensland Raceway (Q’ld) 28-29 July Mallala (SA) 25-26 August Oran Park (NSW)”