YMF Australian Superbike 2005 - Round Three - Wanneroo Raceway

Unedited rough notes from Friday's live coverage

1642 - Full results from sidecar first qualifier - Shutting this down now, navigation will be available in late braking news shortly
1627 - Coxhell 6th quickest in European 1,000cc Superstock first practice at Silverstone
1612 - Sidecars out now for their first qualifier. Steve Abbott will not go as fast as he can thus he disqualify half the field under the percentage above pole qualifying rules but he thinks that a 57 might be possible come Sunday if conditions are right.....
1610 - C&D first qualifier just wrapped up with Tuddenham leading the way on 60.991 from Mike Ward on 61.322. Full results from C&D first qualifying
1601 - Pictorial - Gallery B
1600 - Full combined Friday practice results from both Superbike sessions
1545 - Provisional results from Superbike second practice (Results deleted after full results posted above at 1600)
1544 - Flag is out now so they are on their final flyer... The top 22 are all under the magic 60 second mark
1540 - Fergusson improves a little again, down to 56.547 now. Dan Stauffer goes quicker than Shannon with a 56.697 but Shannon responds instantly with a 56.423 to slot both past Dan and Adam for third quickest
1539 - Five minutes to run... Brookes (55.866), Giles (55.875), Fergusson (56.635), Johnson (56.737), D Stauffer (56.768), J Stauffer (56.810), Charlton (56.839), Allerton (56.863)
1536 - Forecast for both Saturday and Sunday is fine and 26c. Shannon Johnson up to fourth now (56.737), Dan Stauffer right behind him now also (56.796)
1535 - Jamie Stauffer up to fourth quickest with a 56.810
1532 - Giles knocking on Brookesy's door now however with a 55.875... Only a hundredth in it... Fergusson has improved to 56.635. 10 minutes to run
1530 - Giles down to 56.108 now but that's still only good enough for second
1528 - Halfway now in this 30 minute session and the order is Brookes (55.866), Giles (56.459), Fergusson (56.832), Charlton (56.839), Allerton (56.863), Bugden (56.985), Jamie Stauffer (57.004), Johnson (57.008). The factory Yamaha men either doing tyre longevity runs or struggling a little...
1524 - 10 minutes into this second Superbike session now and Brookes is down to 55.8 to clearly lead the way from Giles who in this session has put down a 56.4. Brookes' 55.866 is only two-tenths off the qualifying record and nearly half a second under the race lap record
1523 - Superstock qualifying results might change slightly as there was a problem with one transmitter.
1515 - Superbike men heading out of pit lane now for their second and final practice session for the day. This session will be 30 minutes and as it is only free practice of course the rankings will not affect the grid placings which will be decided during two qualifying sessions tomorrow. Superbike and Supersport are the only classes with no qualifying sessions today.
1510 - Superstock qualifier just wrapped up - Local newcomer Ben Henry sits on provisional pole on his Ducati 749 from Bartlome, Bennett, Edwards, Ward, Quinn, Ingram, Furlong, Figueiredo, Hay, Bonthorne, Casella. Full Superstock first qualifying results
1505 - While I am never amazed by the heights of stupidity some of you might and it is with this in mind when I think about how a Yamaha representative just caught me in a weak moment and has talked me into going on the back of Dan Stauffer for a lap of Wanneroo during the lunch break in racing on Sunday. I will be on the back of an MT-01... I think I need my head read, Dan just looks at me and says "I'll look after you Trev" with a sly smile but I know him better than that and know he will do his utmost to care me shitless... I think this time my stupidity has even managed to astound me, when will I learn.....?
1500 - Superstock first qualifying has 8 minutes remaining in this session and Ward is leading the way from Bartlome at this stage
1459 - Statement concerning Harrison's decision to hang up the boots <Quotes from both Harrison and Jeff Leisk>
1458 - Pro Twins first qualifying results
1443 - On the dirt scene I just got some news that young Brisbane star Brenden Harrison has decided to hang up his boots and concentrate on his new apprenticeship and other ventures in life. Those with even a passing interest in motocross will know of Brenden and I must say what a shock it is to see him pulling out at age 15. It's obviously a smart decision as he no longer feels his heart in it to concentrate on racing 100% and there is little use in further damaging his young body if not with a future goal in sight to race for. He will still be around bikes as his apprenticeship is as a motorcycle mechanic and I hope he can at least still enjoy riding and also hope that we might possibly see him return to the national scene at some stage in the future. I wish Brendan all the best, he was always such a pleasant kid when ever I had the pleasure to meet him at various events and I'm sure Aussie motocross will be poorer for him pulling out. He has had some incredibly bad luck with injuries this past couple of years and this is no doubt had an effect on his decision but it's still terrible for the sport to be losing such a bright young star. All the best Brenden.
1441 - Pro Twins just wrapping up their first qualifying session now with Archibald and Allen clearly on top in the limited 15 strong field. Not quite as limited though as the combined Nakedbike and NK Lites classes which had a combined total of 10 riders in their first qualifier
1437 - Full combined Friday times for Australian Supersport
1418 - Provisional Supersport second practice results. This is only the second session results and does not take into account riders that had a better result in the first session such as Brendan Clarke who will be 9th on combined times but had dramas this session but he is the only one of the quicker guys that this will affect. (Times deleted for space reasons after full results posted at 1437)
1415 - Flag is out, they are on their last flyer now but I would say that Brookesy will remain on top with that 57.978 from Staring (58.128), Baird (58.200), Waters (58.386), O'Halloran (58.67), Aitchison (58.684), Seaton (58.685), Fergusson (58.689)
1414 - The whole top 16 are under the magic 60 second mark and 1 minute remaining in this session...
1413 - Staring a 58.4 that time around, not going as quick as he did early in the session, might be looking for a race set-up rather than the quickest time of the day...
1412 - Looks as though Brookesy is just tweaking his back shock but he will have to be out quickly as only 3 minutes left in the session
1409 - Brookes 57.978 that time around, Starting second quickest on 58.128 and the Padbury youngster has just gone out of pitlane to see if he can go quicker...
1407 - Brookes on top now, but only by a matter of a hundredth of a second over Staring, 8 minutes to run
1359 - Staring still on top with a 58.1, surprised they are not going quicker here yet. A lot of the fast boys are in the pits making adjustments however and I'm sure they'll be out to crack some 57s shortly.
1351 - Staring the leader thus far in this final Supersport practice for the day with a 58.1, still very early days yet however with 25 minutes remaining in this session and I expect to see the top boys well into the 57 second bracket before this session comes to an end
1347 - Supersports out now for their second and final practice session for the day
1345 - Pictorial - Gallery A
1344 - The 125 first qualifier just wrapped up with WA youngster Tom Hatton on top with a 61.1 ahead of Simmonds (61.5), Campbell (62.0), Thompson (63.5), Galvin (63.8), Rigoli (64.0), Bell (64.4), Humphreys (64.4), Moller (64.6), Scott (64.7), Panayi (65.4), Coleman (65.4)
1328 - Nakedbike first qualifying - 125s on their first qualifier now
1250 - Sidecar first practice times - Lunch break on now, won't be too long before action is on again. Working on a first gallery now and should have it ready in about 30 minutes
1240 - Abbott & Biggs already under the lap record in their first look at the circuit after putting down a 61.1 lap, what can we see expect from the come race day... 59s perhaps? 58s?
1230 - Sidecars well into their first practice session now and after they are done then it is a lunch break before we get back into it with Nakeds followed by 125 and then Supersport
1220 - Superbike first practice times
1217 - Flag is out now and Giles is The Man with a 56.242 ahead of Brookes (56.671) and Jamie Stauffer (56.840). Next best is Dan Stauffer (57.1), Adam Fergusson (57.1), Scott Charlton (57.2), Shannon Johnson (57.2), Glenn Allerton (57.3)
1215 - Jamie Stauffer joins Brookes and Giles in the 56 second bracket with a 56.8 to take third quickest
1212 - Giles has put in a 56.2 to raise the stakes further, just off race lap record pace but half a second off the best ever pole time
1211 - Jamie Stauffer has been in the pits making some adjustments to his ZX-10R but looks as though he is getting ready to go out again to try and go quicker
1210 - 7 minutes remaining in the session and Gilesy has just shot back to the top with a 56.554
1208 - Brookesy down to 56.671 now to go to the top of the charts. The youngster obviously not troubled by the life threatening injuries he sustained here last year which required him to be taken to hospital by helicopter and spend a period of time convalescing in Perth.
1207 - Dan Stauffer down to 57.1 now but then was soon eclipsed and pushed out of that second place spot by Josh Brookes who just went across the line to record a 56.80, just hundredths of Gilesy's time
1206 - Jamie Stauffer up to 2nd now with a 57.2 just ahead of Johnson and Charlton on their 57.3s. Giles half a second quicker than everyone else
1203 - Full results from C&D practice session
1200 - Giles down to 56.8 now. The Suzuki squad came to WA to test a couple of weeks but were rained out for most of their time here but did manage to get some dry track time to try and prevent the same sort of set-up dramas that plagued them at Eastern Creek early this month. Shawn likes this circuit and he loves the new GSX-R, he is also looking fitter than I have seen him before. Quicker again now, he goes through with a 56.7 this time
1158 - Still Gilesy on top with that 56.9 while Shannon Johnson just went down to a 57.3, Charlton also on 57.3 then it's Brookesy on 57.4 and Fergusson 57.5
1152 - Allerton's first flyer was a 58.5 for the quickest first flying lap but next time around the boys were starting to get into it a bit more with Shawn Giles straight down to 56.9! This session will see some 55 seconds lap times for sure if this early session form is anything to go by. The race lap record here is 56.1 and the qualifying record a 55.6 with current #1 plate holder Adam Fergusson the man with both of those records
1148 - C&D sessions just wrapped up with Ward on top from Tuddenham and Henry. Superbikes heading out of pit lane now, stand by for updates as they get on the first real flying lap in a couple of minutes. The track is a little sandy in places and should clean up a little through the session
1137 - Full results from Superstock first practice, 7 minutes left in the current C&D practice session with Ward leading the way from Tuddenham at this stage
1128 - Full results from Pro Twins first practice
1122 - Superstock session wrapping up now with Edwards and Ward on top with 61.5 and 61.7 respectively. Then it's Bartlome, Bennett, Ingram, Quinn, Jones, Hay, Allan, Figueiredo, Bonthorne, Liddicoat, Smith, Higgins, Sawtell, Riddle, Furlong, Casella, Vogel, Watson, Anset, Black, Doddrell, Christie etc. Next up is C&D boys
1102 - Superstock riders heading out of pit lane now
1100 - Twin practice just wrapped up, full results shortly but at the top it is Archibald with a 60.1 ahead of Allen on 60.6, McMartin 61.3, MacDonald 61.6, Fripp 61.9 followed by WA newcomer Ben Henry in his first year of racing. Ben is the won of well know Ducati tuning expert Brooke Henry
1037 - Provisional times from Supersport first practice, next out are the Twins followed by Superstock and then C&D before the big Superbikes hit the track for their first run around the heavily cambered 2.41km circuit today
1034 - And it was Josh Waters who was on the flyer with the young Kawasaki man shooting to the top with a 58.546 so after first practice it is Waters on top from Staring (58.678), Baird (58.712), Brookes (58.849), Fergusson (58.938), O'Halloran (59.090), Clarke (59.105) and Eastern Creek surprise package Mark Aitchison 8th (59.540)
1033 - Flag out now and that order remains, just have to wait and see if someone is on a final flyer...
1031 - Only a couple of minutes to run now and still it is Staring, Baird, Brookes, Waters, Fergusson the top five and the only men in the 58s
1030 - Trawling through some of our older content I have found where I chose the top five teenage road racers in Australia back in 2001 and the five I selected that year were Josh Brookes, Craig Coxhell, Brendan Clarke, Alex Gobert and Damian Cudlin. Click here to read a story on Clarke back then <opens in new window> or click here to read the story of him scoring a 500 GP ride back in July 2001 <opens in new window>
1026 - Staring to the top now, 58.6. Seven minutes remaining in this session, Bairdy is now up to 2nd on 58.7 then it is Brookes, Waters and Fergusson with Jason O'Halloran and Brendan Clarke running 59.1 and 59.2 respectively.
1019 - Three riders in the 58s now on this bright and sunny Wanneroo morning. We are expecting a warm 26c here today which will be quite pleasant and other good news is that the chance of some rain for Sunday seems to be lessening and we might not see a drop of moisture all weekend. The 58 second men thus far are Brookes, Waters and Fergusson
1017 - Brendan Clarke is again in the field this weekend and it is really pleasing to see the young Queenslander back racing after his recent disappointments. From being dragged out of school for a 500 GP ride a few years ago things haven't been rosy for Clarke but hopefully he can surge back up the domestic ranks this year. When he first came to Australian Supersport as a 47kg schoolkid he at times completely dominated the series on a Springwood Suzuki backed and Pirelli shod GSX-R600 and he is a huge talent, of that there is little doubt, and hopefully the lack of form shown over the past year or so can be put behind him this weekend
1016 - Fergusson first man in the 58s
1015 - Waters also in the 59s now. The Mildura youngster recently competed in a WA round at Wanneroo but had major troubles with set-up. Staring just went to the top of the times with a 59.2. This is the WA youngsters chance of trying to crack a podium here at his home circuit and with him running on Bridgestone tyres that would certainly be a turn up for the books. When was the last time a Supersport rider stood on the podium after a dry Supersport or Superbike race in the Australian Championship.... Like Barry Sheene would have said, 'answers on a postcard'...
1011 - Provisional times from 125 first practice
1010 - Brookes first man in 59s, but they will be down to 58 in this session for sure and perhaps even 57
1006 - 125 first practice just wrapped up, Supersport on first flyer now
0940 - Okay readers we are up and running here at Wanneroo Raceway on this fine Friday morning. Normally an Australian Superbike round at Wanneroo is normally good enough to break any drought but here in WA we haven't had much of a drought this month with more rain this May than there has been for nearly two decades. While the crystal ball readers we call weather forecasters have much of an idea or not is still open to discussion but early indications point to a fine day today and Saturday but with the likelihood of possible showers rearing their ugly head on Sunday... Just to give the teams something else to think about. First up why don't you peruse the team previews we have received thus far for this round - Honda Preview - Yamaha Preview - Kawasaki Preview
0939 - 125 GP first practice on now
0938 - Nakedbikes have just done their first practice - Archibald 61.5, Hoare 62.4, Allen 63.0, Rattenbury 63.4, Cartwright 63.6, Smith 67.3, Whyment 68.5, Olm 69.6, Mills 70.0