Stauffer and Elliott lead the way in practice
Beautiful conditions greeted teams and riders at Phillip Island for Practice at the final round of the 2015 Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli.
In glorious sunshine, it was Team Honda Racing’s Jamie Stauffer in the Superbike class, and Brayden Elliott (Hankook Tyres Australia) in the Supersport class that lead the way.
Yamaha Motorcycle Insurance Superbikes
Team Honda Racing dominated the opening session at Phillip Island with Troy Herfoss (1:34.675) clocking the fastest time in the 20-minute session on the last of his 10 laps.
Teammate Staufer was the next fastest rider (1:34.834) ahead of new ASBK Champion Mike Jones (Australian Outdoor Living – Cube Racing Team) who managed a 1:35.356 on his Kawasaki.
The top-10 riders all recorded fastest lap times in their final two laps of the session, with Kiwi Ryan Hampton (Next Gen Motorsports) and Daniel Falzon (JD Racing) rounding out the top five times.
Session two saw a slight reshuffle of at the top with Stauffer clocking a 1:33.940, while Herfoss beat his opening session time with a 1:34.548.
Jones and Falzon were less than a second behind Hefoss’ time, with LMR Honda rider Linden Magee finishing the session fifth fastest.
Stauffer again took it up a level in the final session, a 1:33.750 to be the fastest time of the day on lap five of 10.
Jones became the only other rider to break the 1:34.00 mark with a scorching 1:33.939 on his sixth lap of the session, with Herfoss rounding out the top three.
Falzon and Magee claimed top-five spots in the session.
Yamaha Supersport
Elliott came out on a mission in the opening session, and on lap eight of his nine laps clocked the fastest time of the session – a 1:37.872.
Chas Hern piloted his Suzuki into second spot with a 1:38.360, while Ryan Taylor (YRD) was the first Yamaha on the timing list with a 1:38.735.
Queenslander Kane Burns (GJ Gardner Homes) and Northern Territorian Sam Lambert (Sam Lambert Racing) rounded out the top five.
It was again Elliott leading the way in the second session posting a slightly faster 1:38.273, with Taylor second fastest (1:39.026) and Aaiden Coote (YRD) rounding out the top three with a 1:39.075.
Elliott then took it to another level in the third session claiming a time of 1:37.459, while Burns signaled his intentions for the weekend posting the second fastest time of the day with a 1:38.099.
Hern, Lambert and Thyron Van Vuuren (GB Racing) rounded out the top five in practice session three.
Honda Moto 3 / 125GP
Victorian Matt Barton (CB Racing) claimed the fastest time across all sessions in the Moto 3 / 125GO class, despite a poor opening practice session.
Barton rode his Honda to the fastest time of the day in session three – his 1:44.481 just shading out the best time of Championship leader Brian Houghton (K1 Racing).
Tom Bramich had the third fastest time of the day, managing a 1:44.547 in the second practice session for the class.
Production
Drew Sells (Race Centre) clocked the fastest time across the three Production practice sessions with a 1:55.745 in session two.
Series leader Justin Hall (The Boltbarn) and Robbie Menzies (Australian Outdoor Living) rounded out the top three – also posting their fastest times in the second session of the day.
In the Women’s Production class it was Victorian Illish Ross (Chas Hern Racing) leading the way with a 1:57.129 in the final session, from sisters Michelle and Lara Marais (SP Racing).
Sidecar F1 / F2
Duncan Rogers and Warren Grubb (Ashburton Service Centre) were the fastest F1 duo in the class getting progressively faster throughout the day.
Jeff Brown and Darren Sheldrick (APW M-cycles) were more than two seconds behind in second spot, with Western Australia pair Jeremy Joyce and Corey Blackman (Rick Hanger Racing) rounding out the top three.
Victorians Ron Marten and Damien Edis posted the fastest F2 time with a 1:51.833 in the second session – the only session they competed in.
Hartwell Rising Stars
Twenty-three riders competed through practice in the Hartwell Rising Stars category, and it was Ryan Lawes (Ryan Lawes Plumbing & Gasfitting PL) who was the quickest with a 1:41.145 lap time.
Brook Coobs (Coombs Building & Construction) was over three seconds behind in second, with Ali Tajvar (Race Centre) rounding out the top three.
For a full list of results and information head to www.asbk.com.au
More, from a press release issued by Team Honda Racing:
Team Honda Racing on track at ASBK Finale
2nd October 2015 – Having successfully defended their lead in the Australasian Superbike Championship last weekend at Wakefield Park, Team Honda Racing are out on track again for this weekend’s ASBK Finale at Phillip Island.
With the Australian MotoGP Event just 2 weeks away, Team Honda Racing is eager to keep the momentum going. Taking to the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit today for Free Practice, Troy Herfoss will compete under #28 at this event and also at the MotoGP event.
#28 Herfoss and #27 Jamie Stauffer have gained valuable information from today’s sessions and it was Stauffer who topped the time sheets by the end of proceedings with a lap time of 1:33.750 sec.
Stauffer is pleased to have the opportunity to get back on the race track this weekend, saying “It’s great to be racing again this weekend and it will really help to set us up for the MotoGP event in a couple of weeks. The bike feels good today and we have been able to try a few different things heading into Qualifying tomorrow so we’ll see how we go.”
Herfoss echoed his teammate’s sentiments. “After a great weekend at Wakefield Park for the ASC last weekend, I’m excited to be able to hop back on the bike for this event. The conditions are perfect so far and the Honda is circulating like a dream. Qualifying is tomorrow, racing on Sunday and I feel we will have a strong weekend here at the island.”