Team Honda Racing Leads the Australasian Superbike Championship!
16th March 2014
#27 Jamie Stauffer now leads the Australasian Superbike Championship after Round 1 at Wakefield Park! It was a fantastic day of racing at the New South Wales circuit as Team Honda Racing made their mark on the ASC with Motul Honda rider #47 Wayne Maxwell now 3rd in the championship and #17 Troy Herfoss placed 5th.
The starting grid for the 3 Superbike races today saw Herfoss on Pole after recording the fastest lap of the day yesterday, a lap record 58.793 sec. Stauffer started today’s races from P3 and Maxwell from P5.
Superbike Race 1 was a very close race and although Stauffer got a strong start and lead the field into lap 1, the battle that ensued was a sign of things to come with much dicing throughout the 11 laps. Stauffer finished Race 1 in 3rd place, Herfoss 5th and Maxwell in 6th onboard his Motul Honda.
The first race gave the Team Honda Racing riders the incentive needed to push hard for the win and with some terrific battles once again out on track in Superbike Race 2, it was Stauffer who managed to break away and take a very convincing win, his fastest lap time of the race a 59.240 sec. Maxwell finished 2nd with a fastest lap time of 59.212 sec and Herfoss 5th, his fastest lap of the race a 59.558 sec.
The final battle in Race 3 this afternoon was very fierce and Team Honda Racing had no plans to give up the win with all 3 Honda CBR1000RR SPs battling it out with Allerton on the BMW one final time. It was the Motul Honda of #47 Wayne Maxwell that crossed the line 1st, his fastest lap a 59.025 sec with team mate #27 Jamie Stauffer just .146 sec behind in 2nd place. Stauffer’s campaign saw him not only record the fastest lap of the race, but also break team mate, Troy Herfoss’ lap record for Superbikes at Wakefield Park with a lap time of 58.693 sec. Herfoss raced extremely well in Race 3, often battling for the lead until ultimately finishing 5th.
Team Honda Racing went from strength to strength this weekend as they familiarized themselves with the Wakefield Park circuit and the format of the ASC programme. Team Principal and Team Honda Racing Owner, Paul Free could not be more pleased with his team. “Prior to testing here recently, we had not raced at Wakefield Park for many years. Going into the weekend we were cautiously optimistic of a strong weekend, but to come away with the lap record for Superbikes and the overall win just shows the strength of our team and the package we have in the Honda CBR1000RR SP. I am extremely proud of the team for their effort this weekend and would like to thank Troy for the fantastic job he has done to step in for Josh whilst he recovers. Congratulations to Jamie on taking the overall win and Wayne for his Race 3 win onboard the Motul Honda CBR1000RR SP. We still have much work to do before Round 2 at Mallala and look forward to getting back out on track to defend the championship lead.”
The man now leading the championship after Round 1 who previously described Wakefield Park as one he struggles most at, Jamie Stauffer is really happy with the weekend’s results. “We had a really strong weekend to start the season and I am obviously really happy to take the overall win and the championship lead. The Honda CBR1000RR SP is a great package and I felt strong through the weekend to push hard. I would like to thank the team for all their effort and I am looking forward to Round 2. It is just the beginning of the season so we will see what unfolds, but we are certainly off to a good start.”
Wayne Maxwell, riding under the Motul Honda banner for Team Honda Racing, is now 3rd in the championship after a fantastic weekend of racing. “I am starting to find my feet on the new CBR1000RR SP and it is great to get my first win under my belt. I believe we have a great platform to build on heading into Mallala. Thank you to the team for a great weekend.”
Filling in for Josh Hook at Round 1, #17 Troy Herfoss enjoyed his weekend with Team Honda Racing. “I want to say a huge thank you to Team Honda Racing and all involved. It was a pleasure working with the team. On a personal note, I am happy to take pole position and race with the front runners after having such a long break from racing. I feel better each time on the track and I am looking forward to racing a little better at Mallala.”
The next event for Team Honda Racing will be held 16th – 18th May at Mallala circuit in South Australia.