More, from a press release issued by ASBK:
Allerton lights it up in Morgan Park Superbike practice
Veteran Glenn Allerton has produced a late burst of speed to set the fastest time in practice for round four of the 2024 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK) at Morgan Park Raceway in Queensland.
The 43-year-old three-time Australian Superbike champion, who won his first title way back in 2011, turned back the clock as he set himself up for his most productive round of the season after being held back by injury in the early part of the year.
The Superbike cohort was joined on track today by the Michelin Supersport, Race and Road Supersport 300, ShopYamaha R3 Cup and bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup classes. And with times extremely tight across the board, the circuit’s rich tradition for producing hair-raising battles is set to continue into 2024.
Friday results: www.computime.com.au
With glorious weather forecast across the weekend, there will also be plenty of fun to keep the whole family entertained, including pit walks, ‘Mini Moto come and try’ sessions for the kids, the ASBK Trade Alley and autograph sessions with riders and ASBK ambassadors Garry McCoy, Chris Vermeulen and Steve Martin.
To purchase tickets for Morgan Park Raceway, click here. Tickets will also be available at the gate.
Alpinestars Superbike
Allerton made his way to the sharp end in qualifying after uncorking a 1m12.917sec in the final session.
The New South Welshman was the only rider to dip into the 12-second bracket around the 2.96km 12-turn circuit – the lap record is 1:12.251 – with the balance of the Superbike sharp-shooters all in the 13-second range, starting with Cru Halliday (Yamaha Racing Team) ahead of a resurgent Arthur Sissis (Stop and Seal Yamaha), Morgan Park lap record holder Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team), Broc Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati) and championship leader Josh Waters (McMartin Racing Ducati).
Anthony West (Addicted to Track Yamaha), Max Stauffer (Penrite Racing Yamaha), Bryan Staring (MotoGP Yamaha) and Cameron Dunker (Penrite Racing Yamaha) saw out the top 10 in the 18-rider field.
Halliday was fastest in the first two practice sessions, while former junior speedway star and Moto3 campaigner Sissis – who has a new lease of life after a mid-season team switch – threatened to upstage everyone before dropping back to third.
Final practice will be held on Saturday morning before afternoon qualifying and two 16-lap races on Sunday.
Michelin Supersport
There was a fair bit of carnage in the Michelin Supersport paddock at Morgan Park Raceway today, with a number of riders going down, a messy oil leak for last-start winner Archie McDonald (Yamaha) and a couple of red flags.
After three sessions, two-time Australian Supersport champion Tom Toparis Racing (Yamaha) was fastest, ahead of series leader Jonathan Nahlous (Yamaha), 2023 Morgan Park pole man Hayden Nelson (Kawasaki), 2023 Morgan Park race winner Olly Simpson (Yamaha), Jack Favelle (Yamaha) and Tom Bramich (Yamaha).
McDonald and Jake Farnsworth (Yamaha), who both went down today, were seventh and eighth.
The riders and teams will now regroup ahead of qualifying at 9:30am tomorrow.
Race and Road Supersport 300 and ShopYamaha R3 Cup
It was a case of catch me if you can for Valentino Knezovic (Yamaha) in Race and Road Supersport 300 practice, as he led every session to take a heap of confidence into the business end of the round.
Knezovic is part of a runaway trip in the championship, just behind Kawasaki duo Josh Newman and Harrison Watts. But today it was New Zealander Jesse Stroud (Yamaha) who was the second fastest as his 2024 ASBK Championship baptism of fire continues: learning new circuits at every round!
Casey Middleton (Yamaha) was third fastest, with Will Nassif (Yamaha), Watts and Newman next.
Knezovic also dazzled in ShopYamaha R3 Cup practice, as the series makes its first ASBK appearance for the year. Nassif, Stroud and Jordan Simpson (Yamaha) were next.
Qualifying is tomorrow for both classes, followed by the first of three races.
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
It was a Hunter – Charlett and Corney – benefit in practice for the Yamaha YZF-R15 juniors, followed by Rossi McAdam and Ethan Johnson.
Charlett was clearly the fastest – by nearly a second – but the pressure gauge will ramp up tomorrow as the stars of tomorrow give it their all.
