Redemption for Waters, elation for Allerton Josh Waters ran away with today’s second race of the QBE Australian Superbike Championships at Tasmania’s Symmons Plains on a day where Glenn Allerton battled injury to secure his second premier class title. The Suzuki-mounted Waters annihilated his own lap record, set in February, to win by a comfortable margin after a race-long battle between the factory Honda and Suzuki teams. Crucially, it was the fifth place finish for Procon Maxima BMW’s Glenn Allerton which saw him lock away an unbeatable points lead and secure a triumphant second Superbike title, only the fifth rider in the ASBK’s history to do so. Yesterday’s clash with Robbie Bugden resulted in a severely-swollen arm for Allerton, who dismissed the discomfort and finished the job he had come to do. The 30-year-old won his first championship in 2008, and his success in 2011 has been led largely by his own determination and the chances taken by his Hepburn Motorsport crew on a potent but unknown quantity in the BMW S 1000 RR. “We have to race this bike this year,” were the words spoken by the Sydney-based rider after the team’s first test just weeks before the ASBK season-opener in February. 11 consecutive podiums, including 6 race wins, validate the decision which sees him crowned the 23rd Australian Superbike Champion. “I didn’t get a great start today and though I passed a few people straight up I just didn’t feel strong enough under brakes with my arm the way it is,” said Allerton. “I kept pushing and pushing but in the end held onto 5th, at the end of the race I honestly thought I was a point off taking home the championship but my team let me know I’d done it which was a great feeling. “So many people in the team have worked hard for this, I have to thank everyone at Procon Maxima BMW for their hard work week in, week out but also all of those people behind the scenes as well that have helped me make the most of this opportunity including BMW who have been so supportive. “I’d like to dedicate the win to my grandfather who passed away last week, he’s played a huge part in my career and my life.” For Waters, the result was redemption after he retired to the pits yesterday while enjoying a similar lead in the opening race. “Yesterday was just one of those things, the engine problem was disappointing but we bounced back today,” said Waters. “I got a good start but made a mistake at the hairpin on the first lap. It probably made for a great race for the crowd to see us all battling it out at the start. “I worked my way through and made a bit of a break, I was lucky to be fast enough to keep the other guys just behind me. “Breaking the lap record again shows just how fast the bike is here and I’m looking forward to getting to Phillip Island and finishing the year off really well.” Race 1 winner Jamie Stauffer finished second on the Team Honda machine, while Troy Herfoss added another race podium to his name in third. Stauffer locked down another round win with the result today, and was only 2 points shy of forcing Glenn Allerton to wait another week to race for the title. “It was a pretty hard race again from seventh on the grid, I attacked early on and was able to move forward but there was no catching Josh in today’s race,” said Stauffer. “It’s good to get the round win and keep focused on the goal of second in the championship. “Congratulations to Glenn on a great win, he was always going to be tough to beat with such a big lead.” As it did yesterday, the 2.4km circuit’s hairpin proved a challenge to riders who pushed their bikes to the limit under brakes. A heart-stopping moment for Allerton typified the nature of the corner, missed by a narrow margin after a late-braking lunge by Waters. Like yesterday, the large Tasmanian crowd was treated to a spectacular display of racing, with the Superbikes proving an exceptionally-popular support class to the V8 Supercars. Brodie Waters won both Prostock Challenge races this weekend, showing versatility in switching between his regular ride in the 600cc Supersport class to step up to Suzuki’s 1000cc machine. It wasn’t, however, enough to prevent Linden Magee from claiming top honours in the championship, with the Coastline Motorrad BMW winning by a 20-point margin at the conclusion of the three-round showdown at the 2+4 events. The final round of the QBE Australian Superbike Championships, a multi-discipline ‘festival’ of two-wheel racing, will be held at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit from November 18-20. Race 2, Symmons Plains Results 1. Joshua WATERS (VIC) / Team Suzuki 2. Jamie STAUFFER (NSW) / Team Honda Racing 3. Troy HERFOSS (NSW) / Team Suzuki 4. Wayne MAXWELL (NSW) / Team Honda Racing 5. Glenn ALLERTON (NSW) / Procon Maxima BMW 6. Robert BUGDEN (QLD) / Team Mack Trucks Suzuki 7. Craig COXHELL (VIC) / GAS Honda / Demolition Plus 8. Brodie WATERS (VIC) / Team Suzuki 9. Ben HENRY (QLD) / CUBE Racing / Australian Outdoor Living / Weld West 10. Chris TROUNSON (VIC) / Procon Maxima BMW Round 7 Overall Results 1. Jamie STAUFFER (NSW), 45 2. Joshua WATERS (VIC), 38 3. Troy HERFOSS (VIC), 38 4. Wayne MAXWELL (VIC), 33 5. Craig COXHELL (VIC), 32 6. Robert BUGDEN (QLD), 31 7. Glenn ALLERTON (VIC), 30 8. Ben HENRY (QLD), 30 9. Chris TROUNSON (VIC), 24 Championship Points after round 7 of 8 1. Glenn ALLERTON (VIC), 293 2. Jamie STAUFFER (NSW), 241 3. Troy HERFOSS (VIC), 223 4. Craig COXHELL (VIC), 213 5. Wayne MAXWELL (VIC), 210 6. Joshua WATERS (VIC), 97 7. Ben ATTARD (QLD), 196 8. Robert BUGDEN (QLD), 179 9. Ben HENRY (QLD), 151 10. Cole ODENDAAL (NSW), 123 More, from a press release issued by Team Honda Racing: Stauffer Takes Round 7 Overall and Focuses on 2nd in Championship 13 Nov 2011- Another extremely successful ASBK event for Team Honda Racing completed with Jamie Stauffer taking the overall round win for Round 7 and Wayne Maxwell 4th overall. The championship title was decided today after Allerton won the coveted title based on points available. With a round remaining Team Honda Racing is focused on retaining their 2nd place in Stauffer and moving Maxwell onto the podium to take 3rd. Race 2 today was equally as exciting as the 1st one if not quite so dramatic with Stauffer getting off the line strongly from his P7 start to move into 2nd by mid-way through the race. There he remained to the chequered flag behind ultimate race winner Josh Waters. From P1 on the grid Maxwell battled valiantly for 3rd place with Troy Herfoss, but had to settle for 4th place. Maxwell: “I would have liked to convert my P1 position into a race win today but I wasn’t able to so I just have to focus on Phillip Island next weekend to finish the season strongly and possibly move into a podium position for the championship. We will make a few changes to the set-up of the CBR1000RR in the days we have before the final round to suit the Phillip Island circuit, it is a circuit I am strong at so I am really determined to get a place on the podium in 2011. Congratulations to Glenn on the championship title.” Stauffer is really pleased to take the overall round win for the penultimate round of the championship and appears to have found the momentum he needs on his CBR1000RR to finish the season impressively and retain his current 2nd ranking. Stauffer: “Congratulations to Glenn taking the championship today; that was a great effort. I’m really happy to take my second round win of the season and I would like to thank Team Honda Racing for their hard work this weekend. We had a couple of dramas in qualifying which the team responded to quickly and clearly sorted for me to go out confidently in the races. Next weekend is the final one for the year and I am planning to hold onto to my 2nd place for the championship so I’m not taking my eye off the goal with such a strong field.” With many strong competitors emerging through the season the final round of the Australian Superbike Championship will be a fantastic spectacle to decide the remaining championship positions. Team Honda Racing’s Team Principle Paul Free is proud of his team’s effort this weekend. Free: “The team have put in 110% this weekend as with every event and I’m really proud of them. It was fantastic for Jamie to win the overall for Round 7 and we are looking forward to getting to Phillip Island next weekend for the final round. I would like to congratulate Glenn on his championship title on behalf of all the team. It was disappointing for Wayne to have crashed in race 1 as he was looking very strong from his P1 start. Still, we will move into next weekend with a clear goal for our final round, to consolidate 2nd place for Jamie and get Wayne into 3rd.” Round 8 of the ASBK will be held at Phillip Island 18th 20th November.