From a press release issued by Yamaha Australia:

2003 Shell Advance Australian Superbike Championship
Round 3, Winton Motor Raceway, Victoria
Event preview

YAMAHA STARS REJOIN THE BATTLE AT WINTON

The past two months have proven to be a very difficult time for a number of the leading Yamaha stars, but this weekend, they will all be aiming to get their championship prospects back in order as they head to the third round of the Australian Superbike Championship at the northern Victorian Winton Motor Raceway.

Nikon Yamaha stars Kevin Curtain and Daniel Stauffer were involved in a horrifying high-speed fall at the last round of the championship at Phillip Island and after sacrificing points lost in the second and third races of that round, will be aiming to get their Yamaha YZF-R1s back amongst the major points over this weekend. The month’s break between rounds has allowed both riders to recuperate as best they can, but both are looking forward to getting back aboard their bikes once more.

Curtain currently holds down third place overall, just six points shy of points leader Shawn Giles (107 – 101), while Stauffer sits in fifth place with a total of 62 points.

Another in search of a good result will be Stafford Yamaha’s Stephen Tozer. The Victorian veteran has been in good form this year, but like Curtain and Stauffer suffered injury at the Island. Currently ninth on the table, he is recovering from a broken wrist but will be fit to give the young guns another run for their money.

The Australian Supersport Championship features a quality line up of Yamaha supported riders at this event. Leading the way once more is Curtain as he continues to double up his race duties where he currently holds a handy 15-point lead in the championship chase aboard his Nikon Yamaha YZF R6.

He will be ably supported by a strong contingent of youngsters aiming to do well. On the second Nikon Yamaha R6, Queensland teenager Brendan Clarke sits third in the championship, one place ahead of Sydney Yamaha privateer Glen Allertion, who is growing in confidence after taking a race win from Curtain at the Island and then took victory at the last Formula Xtreme round in Queensland two weeks ago.

Three more Yamaha runners lie in the top ten of the championship at this stage, with Sydney’s diminutive Shaun Geronimi (Procycles Yamaha) seventh, one place ahead of Queensland’s Judd Greedy, while Melbourne’s Glen Holland (Geoff Taylor Yamaha) rounds out the top ten.

Not to be overlooked by those in the top ten, will be South Australia’s Michael Brenton (Yamaha World), Victorian brothers Deon (Gary O’Brien Yamaha) and Jordan Coote (Pakenham Yamaha) and New South Wales hard charger Mark Stanley (Lismore Motorcycles). Each are more than capable of running within the top ten at Winton and could spring a surprise amongst their more fancied rivals.

Taree teenager Alex Cudlin (Fineline Motorcycles) trails Leigh McKenzie by 47 points as they head to the third round of the Australian Superstock Championship. The 16-year-old has shown a huge amount of potential in what has been his debut season of senior road racing. He continues to improve with each outing and will eat into McKenzie’s early points advantage.

Qualifying for the weekend’s round commences on Friday morning, before racing commences on Saturday afternoon, followed by a full program of action on Sunday.

AUSTRALIAN SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP (Points after 2 of 5 rounds)

1. S Giles (Suzuki) 107; 2. C Coxhell (Suzuki) 105; 3. K Curtain (Yamaha) 101; 4. S Johnson (Honda) 71; 5. D Stauffer (Yamaha) 62; 6. B George (Honda) 56; 7. S Charlton (Honda) 39; 8. A Maxwell (Honda) 37; 9. S Tozer (Yamaha) 37; 10. J Taylor (Honda) 36.


AUSTRALIAN SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP (Points after 2 of 5 rounds)

1. K Curtain (Yamaha) 122; 2. S Johnson (Honda) 107; 3. B Clarke (Yamaha) 88; 4. G Allerton (Yamaha) 85; 5. R Holland (Kawasaki) 57; 6. J Brookes (Honda) 54; 7. S Geronimi (Yamaha) 51; 8. J Greedy (Yamaha) 45; 9. M Aitchison (Suzuki) 28; 10. G Holland (Yamaha) 25.


AUSTRALIAN SUPERSTOCK CHAMPIONSHIP (Points after 2 of 5 rounds)

1. L McKenzie (Suzuki) 119; 2. A Cudlin (Yamaha) 72; 3. A Tomasetti (Kawasaki) 65.