Stauffer sets qualifying pace in mixed conditions at Phillip Island The late, great Barry Sheene once referred to Phillip Island as ‘the gateway to hypothermia’, and for much of the opening day of round 6 of the Viking Group Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) the circuit lived up to the label. Ten degree temperatures rose slightly and heavy rain relented late in the day, allowing Superbike and Supersport competitors a chance to thaw out and take a shot at a good grid position for tomorrow’s opening races. Demolition Plus GAS Honda’s Wayne Maxwell was the wet weather pioneer this morning, with his quickest lap of the 4.45km circuit 2.67 seconds clear of fellow Honda pilot, Valvoline Superbike Team’s Glenn Allerton. Champion’s Ride Days racer Brendan Clarke showed his skills in the wet, setting the fourth fastest time on the Superstock-spec Honda ahead of North Coast V-Twins racer Craig McMartin aboard his Ducati. A delay to clean up an oil spill on track saw the Superbikes complete their second qualifying session against the backdrop of a setting sun this afternoon. Ducati Motologic Racing’s Jamie Stauffer maintained the pace he showed at the previous round, snaring provisional pole with a 1.35.116 effort on the sixth of nine laps completed. “We tested here recently and the bike was really good so its no surprise that it was fast again today,” said Stauffer. “This morning’s session didn’t give us much to go on, so it was important to get up to speed quickly this afternoon. “I’m looking forward to Superpole tomorrow where I think we have a real shot at being fastest and setting up for a strong run in the race.” Maxwell and Allerton finished second and third-quickest respectively, with the former’s lap recorded in the dying seconds of the 20-minute session. KTM Superbike Team rider Shannon Johnson bumped returning Honda rider Kris McLaren out of a Superpole spot, also on his final lap. Championship leader, Cougar Bourbon Honda’s Bryan Staring was fifth fastest and is hoping to find more pace tomorrow. Today’s top eight qualifiers advance to the single flying lap Motul Superpole session in a final bid for the best place on the grid. ASBK promoter IEG and series supplier Dunlop today teamed up to provide an additional rear tyre for Superpole, ensuring all 8 riders have the chance to showcase their skills in front of the large crowd of two and four-wheel fans. Queenslander Des Darby was the early pacesetter in the first Insure My Ride Australian Supersport qualifier of the day. The Triumph-mounted, wet-weather specialist excelled in tough conditions early but was unable to match the pace of points leader, Team Suzuki’s Troy Herfoss, who was over a second faster than Darby’s teammate, Christian Casella, on the dry track. Aaron Morris secured third place on the grid before bringing out the red flag after the wave of the chequered following a turn 12 crash. Both Superbike and Supersport classes will contest 10-lap races tomorrow, and a second and final 10-lap race each on Sunday. Grandstand ticket holders, circuit campers and L&H Group ticket holders will meet a handful of leading ASBK riders at the Island Pavilion tomorrow from 5.30pm. Riders will be interviewed alongside V8 Supercar and V8 Ute drivers before mixing and mingling with fans. Viking Group Australian Superbike Championship, Round 6 Qualifying 1. Jamie STAUFFER (NSW) / Ducati Motologic Racing, 1:35.116″ 2. Wayne MAXWELL (VIC) / GAS Honda Racing, 1:35.336” 3. Glenn ALLERTON (NSW) / Valvoline Superbike Team, 1:35.890 “4. Shawn GILES (VIC) / Team Suzuki, 1:36.318” 5. Bryan STARING (QLD/WA) / Cougar Bourbon Honda Racing, 1:36.523 “6. Shannon JOHNSON (VIC) / KTM Superbike Team, 1:36.886 “7. Robert BUGDEN (QLD) / Team Mack Trucks Suzuki, 1:37.349” 8. Scott CHARLTON (NSW) / Racers Edge Performance, 1:37.365 “9. Kris McLAREN (VIC) / McLaren Motorsport, 1:37.829″ 10. Craig COXHELL (VIC) / CJC Racing, 1:37.917 Insure My Ride Australian Supersport Championship, Round 6 Qualifying 1. Troy HERFOSS (VIC) / Team Suzuki, 1:38.604″ 2. Christan CASELLA (VIC) / Aark Electrics / Peter Stevens M-cycles / Triumph, 1:39.858″ 3. Aaron MORRIS (NSW) / YRD / Yamaha / Harvest Pools / Watson Demolition, 1:39.960” 4. Brodie WATERS (VIC) / Sunstate Waters Racing, 1:40.086 “5. Dylan MAVIN (QLD) / Mavin Industries / Jetset Alice Springs, 1:41.678” 6. Des DARBY (QLD) / Aark Electrics / Peter Stevens M-cycles / Triumph, 1:41.777 “7. Ben BURKE (NSW), 1:41.859” 8. Aaron GOBERT (NSW) / Gobert Motorsports / Bell Helmets / Yamaha / Dynojet, 1:41.944 “9. Andy LAWSON Jnr (QLD) / Champion’s Ride Days Race Team / Palfinger Aust., 1:42.494” 10. Michael JONES (QLD) / California Superbike School Race Team / Yamaha, 1:42.596 More, from a press release issued by Ducati Motologic Racing Team: It was an extremely wet beginning to Round 6 of the Australian Superbike Championship today with persistent rain throughout the morning. The schedule comprised 3 qualifying sessions for the Superbikes after the second session was split in two due to delays. The initial qualifying session was a very definite wet session out on track and the lap times reflected this with the fastest time recorded being 1:44.083 by Wayne Maxwell. Ducati Motologic Racing’s #27 Jamie Stauffer used the session to trial a different setting in the 1198R and finished the session in 9th on the timesheets. Grey clouds beginning to thin and sunshine appearing, the second session was a dry one in the afternoon and Stauffer’s lap times topped the timesheets with a 1:35.987 sec. Although a brief session of only 10 mins, Stauffer was well and truly on the pace. The day could only get better. The 3rd Qualifying session saw Stauffer top the timesheets once more with a lap time of 1:35.116 seconds, .220 seconds in front of Maxwell. Stauffer is pleased with the day overall; “We finished the 3 sessions on top of the timesheets which is great. We have a good set-up in the 1198R and I’m looking forward to Superpole tomorrow.” Team Manager, Paul Free found the day’s sessions valuable for the Ducati Motologic Racing team, saying; “The first session in the wet was pretty ordinary to be honest. A poor choice on my behalf made Jamie’s job fairly difficult. We did rebound quickly though in the 2nd and 3rd sessions and made some positive steps forward. I’m really pleased for Jamie to be back on top of the time sheets. We will make some very small changes prior to the warm-up and Superpole and hopefully Jamie can start the races this weekend in P1.” Tomorrow’s schedule will see the top 8 riders from today’s Qualifying sessions battle for Superpole in the morning and take to the grid for Race 1 of Round 6 in the afternoon. With the weather forecast to clear, it will be an exciting day indeed.