2003 Shell Advance Australian Superbike Championship - Round 5 - Eastern Creek

Nikon Yamaha

The Nikon Yamaha Factory Racing Team is celebrating another title after Kevin Curtain wrapped up the Australian Supersport Championship today (August 31) at the fifth and final round of the Shell Advance Australian Superbike Championships at Sydney’s Eastern Creek International Raceway.

The success marked Kevin Curtain’s fifth Australian title and his third in the 600cc middleweight class after similar success in 1996 and 2000 stamping in him in the record books as one of the all-time greats of Australian road racing.

Curtain is the only rider in the history of the Shell Advance Australian Championships to win three titles in three different classes: 250cc Production (1995), Supersport (1996,2000,2003) and Production Superbike (1998).

The victory also gave the all-new, fuel-injected, Yamaha YZF-R6 its first major championship success anywhere in the world

While the win may have seemed a formality considering his dominant performance in the class this year it was certainly hard fought as Curtain wrapped up the title without winning a race. Also the final race of the year was abandoned after a serious accident that in turn saw the final Superbike race also being called off.

The meeting may have been cut short but there is plenty for the Nikon Yamaha Factory Racing Team to celebrate as team-mate Brendan Clarke finished second in the title giving the team a rare quinella adding to the two titles won by Curtain in the separately run Formula Xtreme series.

In the Superbike class the Nikon Yamaha Factory Racing Team finished with Curtain in third place and his teammate, Daniel Stauffer, fourth overall – a remarkable achievement for both riders considering the races that were missed during the season that negated their charge.

Both riders led the two Superbike races today at various stages but could not convert the challenge into wins with Curtain carding two third places with Stauffer finishing fourth in both legs that were run.

"We cannot be disappointed," expressed Nikon Yamaha Team Manager Steve Trinder. "We have had a remarkable year in our first attempt at the major Australian competitions and have made sure that if we didn’t win, the opposition had to fight very hard to gain those victories.

"We have set some enviable benchmarks with our riders who I rate as the best line-up in Australia. Sure we would’ve liked to add the Superbike trophy to our cabinet but considering the run of luck we had at a couple of rounds I am thoroughly impressed - and satisfied - with our results.

"It has certainly given us the impetus for further success in the future."

Yamaha Racing

Nikon Yamaha’s Kevin Curtain capped off a fantastic season adding yet another title to his impressive résumé after clinching this years Australian Supersport Championship at the final round of the championship at Eastern Creek.

The win gives the experienced Novocastrian a total of five national championship wins that include three Supersport (1996, 2000, 2003), a 250 Production (1995) and Production Superbike (1998) crowns.

Curtain has been one of the star performers in this year’s national road racing calendar where he has also clinched a fifth Formula Xtreme title and a second FX Supersport title in a jam packed season that also netted him third overall in this years Australian Superbike Championship.

Curtain’s victory also gave the exciting new fuel injected 2003 model Yamaha YZF R6 its first national Supersport title anywhere in the world. In addition to the rider’s championship, Yamaha also dominated the manufacturers championship in the class, scoring a total of 1006 points in the series, more than double the points scored by their closest rival.

“It’s always nice to win a national title and given how competitive the Supersport class is, this makes it even better, “said Curtain. “Arriving here with a points lead in that class definitely helped as you can watch what everyone else is doing and plan a strategy from there. The year has gone really well for us and the Yamaha YZF R6 just seems to get better and better each time we take it out.”

With the Supersport title secure, Curtain was in a different position in the Superbike class where he arrived at Eastern Creek lying third in the championship. He made an early move by taking pole position for the round on Saturday, but two very hard fought races on Sunday saw he and Nikon Yamaha teammate Daniel Stauffer finish third and fourth to the Suzuki’s of Craig Coxhell and Shawn Giles, with Coxhell emerging as the new Australian Champion after winning both of Sunday’s 9-lap races. Curtain maintaining third in the championship with Stauffer fourth.

“Obviously we wanted to win the Superbike title as well this weekend, but we were really up against it from the start,” added Curtain. “It has been an up and down year with results in that class and that cost us in the end. The team did a great job in preparing all of our bikes this year and we were always in the lead group wherever we went. Dunlop also provided us with some very good tyres as they always do and they have really stepped up the development with them this year.”

Victorian veteran Stephen Tozer (Stafford Yamaha) capped off yet another good season where he again mixed it with the best of the privateer Superbike riders finishing the season ninth overall after a tenth and twelfth place finish at the final round.

The Australian Supersport Championship again proved to be very competitive with a number of Yamaha riders shining through. Curtain led home a Yamaha one – two in the championship with teammate Brendan Clarke, with the pair finishing with a 2 / 5 and a 5 / 1 result respectively from the weekends two hotly fought out races.

Sydney Yamaha privateer Glenn Allerton showed that he is a star in the making as he finished the weekend with a 4 / 2 scorecard and a very creditable fifth overall in the championship given the number of distributor backed riders competing in the class this year.

Making it a total of six Yamaha’s in the top ten of the championship points table were Queenslander Judd Greedy (7th), NSW’s Shaun Geronimi (Procycles Yamaha, 8th) and Victorian Deon Coote (Gary O’Brien Yamaha, 10th).

The Australian Superstock Cup saw Taree teenager Alex Cudlin mount a serious challenge to his rivals throughout the season and capped off his year with two more solid race wins at Eastern Creek aboard his Fineline Motorcycles Yamaha YZF R6.

His late season charge however came a little to late and he placed second overall in the series to Victorian Leigh McKenzie.

The final round of the championship was brought to an early end after a multi rider accident at the start of the third Supersport race forced race officials to abandon the remainder of the program. Young Sydney rider Reece Bancell suffered fatal injuries as a result of the accident. Our condolences go out to his family, friends and teammates.

Team Suzuki

Team Suzuki’s Craig Coxhell has won the 2003 Shell Advance Australian Superbike Championship today at Eastern Creek, delivering Suzuki Australia its fourth consecutive Championship.

Coxhell finished first in today’s round with a clean sweep of both races and his team-mate Shawn Giles was second after a pair of runner-ups.

"I am really stoked to have won the Championship, especially for Phil Tainton, Suzuki Australia and the rest of our sponsors," said Coxhell.

"It was a day of mixed emotions with what happened to Reece Bancell," he concluded referring to an accident that left Suzuki Supersport rider Reece Bancell in a critical condition in hospital.

Three-time and defending Champion Giles was obviously disappointed not to win his fourth title but pleased to have secured first and second in the Championship for Suzuki.

"I probably could have pushed Craig a little more in the first race, but I was determined that we would deliver the Championship to Phil Tainton and Suzuki and I couldn’t risk either of us falling off," said Giles.

"Unlike a lot of young guys, Craig really listens to the advice you give him and this makes me feel part of his Championship"

In qualifying the top five riders were all under the previous qualifying record and separated by just over two-tenths of a second – Giles was third with Coxhell in fifth.

Race one saw Coxhell make an excellent start, jumping to second position with Giles not far behind in fifth.

Giles overtook Suzuki’s main Championship threat, Kevin Curtain, at the beginning of lap two and then broke the current lap record to power his Suzuki GSX-R1000 past Josh Brookes.

Daniel Stauffer encountered problems with his machine, which allowed Coxhell to move into the lead with Giles not far behind.

The thrilling racing continued with Coxhell and Giles battling for the lead and vital Championship points while holding off challenges from Curtain and Brookes.

Coxhell took the chequered flag with Giles second and only seven-tenths of a second covering the top four riders.

Race two saw Giles and Coxhell slot into third and fourth position behind Curtain and Stauffer on the first lap

Coxhell slipstreamed past Curtain and Stauffer at the beginning of lap four to take the lead with Giles in third.

Giles used the power of his GSX-R1000 to move into second, and with a sniff of a Championship, he then set about passing Coxhell.

The evenly-matched Phil Tainton-prepared Suzukis engaged in a thrilling dual for the lead with Coxhell eventually out-dragging his team-mate and Curtain to win the race the barest of margins, and the 2003 Championship.

Coxhell had an unassailable points lead when the final race of day was cancelled due to Bancell’s serious accident in the Australian Supersport race.

Team Kawasaki

A lightning fast Russell Holland posts an incredibly quick 1:35.319 in Race #2 to take out fastest lap honours for round five of the 2003 Shell Advance SuperSport Championship Series and smash his previous personal best race time by .311 of a second!

Saturday 30th August – QUALIFYING - Team Kawasaki Rider Russell Holland’s strong performance in qualifying saw him qualify second to place his Ninja ZX-6RR on the front row of the grid for the final three races of the 2003 SuperSport Championship. Russell repeated his recent excellent form to register the second fastest time (1:35.585) just behind local rider Josh Brookes (1:35.034.) Brookes and Holland (both on Michelin tyres) held off a strong Dunlop challenge from Team Yamaha riders Brendan Clarke and veteran Kevin Curtain.

Russell commented, “The times are close and I should be able to run with the leaders, the wind is slowing everyone a few tenths but this will be the same for everyone. My Michelin tyres are working great and my NINJA ZX-6RR is also working well. I’m really happy with today’s qualifying session. That’s my best time around Eastern Creek.”

Saturday 30th August – RACE #1 - Dark clouds threatened rain just as the field completed the warm up lap. The race started as the sun came out and Brookes (from pole position) put his head down to take the lead and leave Curtain and Holland fighting over second and third position around the first two corners. Curtain and Holland continued to follow in formation with the gap never changing more than a few tenths of a second. As the field crossed the line it was Brookes first, Curtain second and Holland close behind in third.

Holland was a little disappointed with third place as he felt he was riding well and may have caught Curtain with another lap. Russell moved up a place from 6th to 5th in the points score and at this stage he still had a mathematical chance to secure 4th. The second and third races followed on Sunday after a morning warm up. With the weather still to play its final hand, riders were hoping for a dry day and fast times.

Sunday 31st August – RACE #2 - Riders were greeted with fine cool weather on Sunday morning. Team Kawasaki rider Russell Holland came out all guns blazing to set the fastest warm up time. Wanting to conserve his tyres for the remaining two races, Russell headed back to pits after completing only three laps. With a new front Michelin tyre and using his qualifying rear tyre, Russell was feeling confident after his speedy warm up, determined to improve on his third place finish in race one.

RACE NEWS - Russell got a great start from second position on the grid, and led the field on the first lap from Brookes who had a gap over Brendan Clarke, Glenn Allerton and series leader Kevin Curtain. He continued at a fast pace on the second lap with Brookes in close formation as both riders pulled away from Clarke who held on to third.

Brookes tried to pass Holland down the straight on lap three but did not have the power to slipstream past. Not to be deterred, Brookes slipped under Holland on Turn 12 on the fourth lap only to be passed by Russell’s very fast ZX-6RR down the straight to give Team Kawasaki the lead again. Lap five started to shape up as another crucial lap as Brookes hounded Holland around the back of the circuit, Holland maintained his fast lap times and looked to have the measure of the CBR600RR mounted Brookes. Brookes attacked Holland again at Turn 12 – Russell taking a conventional race line – Brookes tried to pass on the inside. Both riders touched several times, then Brookes crashed out and Holland was forced off the track. Russell tried to control his Ninja ZX-6RR in the dirt but eventually lost the front end and crashed… luckily without major injury.

Russell was winded and took a few minutes to regain his composure, he picked his bike up and found the left hand footrest bracket broken and he was unable to continue. Brookes picked up his Honda and was able to complete the race however he finished well down in the final points. Following the race, Russell was
diagnosed to have sustained a mild concussion and he was not cleared to participate in the final race.

A dejected Russell Holland was clearly disappointed over the incident and praised the performance of his Kawasaki and felt he had the race package to rebuff the attacks from Brookes. He had smashed his Personal Best race lap time of 1:35.63 for Eastern Creek with a blitzing 1:35.319, the quickest lap for the round, and was faster than Curtain’s long standing fastest lap of 1:35.4 (for a Shell SuperSport Championship Series Race at Eastern Creek.) The only thing missing was a first place finish.

Team Manager Murray Sayle sums up the teams disappointment “It was an unfortunate way to end the series as it did not let Russell show his determination to take his first win of the series on the still relative new Kawasaki ZX-6RR. We would also like to thank the Team’s sponsors who have backed our Teams re-emergence as a competitive force in the two road race series in 2003 and beyond.”

“Clearly the bike has been getting stronger as the series culminated with pole position at the fourth round and second grid position in this final round of the series. Russell’s breaking Curtain’s long standing Shell SuperSport Championship lap record demonstrates just how well we’ve managed to get the Kawasaki NINJA ZX-6RR going. This is true testament the quality of our sponsor’s products, the Kawasaki ZX-6RR and our team’s ability to improve the bike with each race. The 2004 ZX-6RR promises to be even quicker so we’re looking forward to some great results next season!”

“We’d like to thank Silkolene for their great oil – it’s given us the extra performance we need and also outstanding engine protection.”

“We use and recommend Michelin tyres which have helped our strong finish to the year with our qualifying and race results. We, along with all teams, are restricted to two sets of tyres for qualifying, warm up and racing during each round of three races. The S2 compound Michelin tyres have performed brilliantly and they provide exceptional performance that’s second to none.”

“We would also like to thank our other team sponsors including NGK spark plugs, AFAM sprockets, Goodridge brake products, RK Takasago chains and Akrapovic exhaust systems for their continued support.”

Russell Holland finished the round in 8th position after a 3rd in Race #1 and a DNF in Race #2, and finished 6th overall in the 2003 Shell SuperSport Championship Series. Next race Phillip Island support races at the MotoGP event in 16-19th October.

On a more sombre note, Kawasaki would like to offer our condolences to SuperSport rider Reece Bancell’s family and friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief.

Castrol Honda

The final round of the exciting 2003 Australian Road Racing Championship took place at Eastern Creek over the weekend with the Castrol Honda Racing team competing in both Supersport and Superbike championships.

Josh Brookes was a stand out performer for the team over the weekend on his Castrol Honda CBR600RR when he claimed pole position in qualifying and then won the first Supersport race on Saturday by 3.7secs over Kevin Curtain. On Sunday his luck ran out on him at turn 12 when he collided with Russell Holland while fighting for first place, but he managed to pick his machine up and salvage 10th place.

After missing out on a double Pole Position by just .017sec, Brookes started from 2nd place on the grid in the first Superbike race. This first race was extremely close and Brookes was involved in a tight four-way battle for the lead in race one and ended up claiming 4th position with the top four riders crossing the line within 0.7 of a second. Race two saw Brookes claim a strong 5th position.

Meanwhile Kirk McCarthy on the teams other CBR954RR, struggled to hold the extremely fast pace of the lead group and finished 6th in race one and 8th in race two. McCarthy finished the championship in 8th overall which is a tremendous result when you consider that he only officially joined the team mid-season and missed one round. McCarthy will be looking for more strong results in the coming race meetings.

Shannon Johnson finished a solid 5th overall in the Supersport class at the Creek with a 7th in race one and a hard-fought 3rd in race two. This was enough to get him 3rd overall in the Supersport championship aboard his CBR600RR, certainly not the result he was looking for but in this extremely competitive series it was a strong result none the less.

After finishing 3rd in the Australian championship Johnson will now head over to Europe for several weeks to compete in the final two rounds of the World Supersport championship in a support ride with the Moto One team aboard a CBR600RR. Johnson will not be alone in the WSS paddock with several other Aussies competing in the series.

Paul Free, team manager of the Castrol Honda Racing team was very pleased with the results from the weekend and said “We had an awesome weekend. Josh won a race and was is in line for another, he rode exceedingly well. Kirk and Shannon struggled a little at times but overall they had a good weekend. We’ve still got support class races at Phillip Island MotoGP in October so we’ll do some more testing down at the Island to keep the development of our motorcycles moving forward.”

The Eastern Creek round will be televised on Channel 9 this coming Saturday at midday. Coverage will also be provided on Foxtel and SBS. Check your TV guide for details.

The days racing was marred by a serious accident in the third Supersport race involving several riders including young Suzuki rider Reece Bancell. The remainder of the day’s racing was abandoned due to the seriousness of the incident. Sadly Bancell suffered critical injuries in the accident and has passed away due to those injuries. The Castrol Honda team would like to extend our condolences and deepest sympathies to Reece’s family and friends at this difficult time.”