The standard of racing in the Australian Superbike Championship for 2010 is undoubtedly high and the need for testing paramount as the Ducati Motologic Racing Team prepare for Round 3 at Queensland Raceway. The next event is a crucial one for the factory Ducati team as they currently sit in 4th place in the championship. As a developing team this is certainly encouraging however, team owner and manager Paul Free and indeed the entire team will not be settling for anything less than a podium going into the Qld event. The 1 ½ day test was attended by many Superbike teams including the smaller ones and was extremely valuable for the Ducati Motologic Racing Team in gaining more detailed knowledge of the 1198R moving into the third round. Both #27 Jamie Stauffer and team mate #33 Jordan Burgess were extremely keen to take the 1198R out on track again after a less than satisfying round at Hidden Valley. Burgess in particular was eager to get back on his Ducati to test not only the bike set-up at Qld Raceway, but also his injured leg which has seen him in full rehabilitation mode since Darwin when a fellow racer crashed into Burgess’ bike at the beginning of a wet race, badly injuring his knee. Although his leg is recovering strength and mobility every day it did appear to hamper the young rider’s progress at the test on the 17th and 18th May. His goal now is to maintain his fitness levels as much as possible and continue the recovery process so that he is race-ready in June. Currently in 4th place with 60 points on the board, #27 Jamie Stauffer is also looking to Round 3 to make better headway in the championship and move on from a frustrating event in Darwin. Stauffer is still very much in the running for the Australian Superbike title on the Ducati 1198R and now moves into Round 3 with a renewed sense of purpose and motivation after the test at Qld Raceway. Stauffer and his Ducati have definitely found their rhythm. Another exciting aspect of the test days on May 17th and 18th was the Hot Lap program offered to anyone able to handle the pace put down by some of the top Australian Superbike riders. Jamie Stauffer was certainly kept busy between testing and Hot Lap sessions and if the beaming smiles of the pillions was anything to gauge the success of the program by then we can be sure that there will be more such programs to come. The young factory Ducati team appears to be finding its feet in the championship going into the third round and combined with the recent success of the test days, Stauffer’s years of experience racing at Qld Raceway will be a huge benefit as the team sets its sights on the podium.