Adam Fergusson (Joe Rocket Honda) continued his love affair with the Winton circuit in north-east Victoria after a superb performance in round five of the YMF Loan Australian Superbike Championship from August 19-21.

In a day where intermittent showers played havoc with tyre choice, 30-year-old Fergusson made all the right moves, claiming overall honours in both the Supersport and Superbike classes on his rapid-fire CBR Hondas for the second year in succession.

Fergusson’s latest bout of belligerence has also served to tighten up the overall standings in both classes, with the Victorian now only 3pts behind teammate Josh Brookes in Supersport, and nine in arrears of the same rider in Superbike – with Shawn Giles (Team Suzuki GSX-R1000) sandwiched in between.

Fergusson (CBR1000RR), who started from pole position in Superbikes, finished first and second in the two races, and was the only rider to stand on the podium both times – although Brookes and Daniel Stauffer (Yamaha Racing Team YZF-R1) came close.

The opening race saw Fergusson score the holeshot from Shannon Johnson (Yamaha Racing Team YZF-R1) and Anthony Gobert (Redwing Honda CBR1000RR), although Daniel Stauffer, returning to action after an injury layoff, was into third place by the end of lap one.

That set a pattern for the next eight laps, with Johnson and Daniel Stauffer stalking Fergusson the whole time, but unable to find a way past the defending champion. However, that didn’t preclude Stauffer making a move on his own teammate, when he successfully passed under brakes on lap nine.

Meanwhile, gun privateer Robbie Bugden (Northstar Yamaha YZF-R1) and Brookes were both fighting back after listless starts, with the latter moving into fourth on lap 11 of 17 – just as another rain squall kicked in.

After a number of ‘hints’ from Fergusson, the race was eventually red-flagged during lap 14, with results taken at the end of the previous lap – which was fortuitous for Daniel Stauffer, who had run off the circuit by that time.

Gobert, who had dominated the wet practice sessions on Friday, held on for sixth place, over five seconds ahead of Giles. Glenn Allerton (Team Suzuki GSX-R1000), Scott Charlton (Active Electrical/BTX Motorcycles GSX-R1000) and Jamie Stauffer (Kawasaki Racing Team ZX-10RR) rounded out the top 10.

The victory was Fergusson’s fourth successive Superbike triumph at Winton, and his third in 2005, which placed him on equal terms with Brookes and Giles.

Race two was a superb exhibition, and saw 24-year-old Budgen fend off Fergusson for 11 laps straight to score his maiden Superbike win.

“I knew we had all the right ingredients, and it was just a matter of time,” said Bugden.

“This afternoon, it all came together, but it was the longest 17 laps of my life. I just pushed and pushed, and managed to come home – I’m over the moon.”

When asked what the future may now hold, Budgen said: “I’d ride a factory donkey at this stage of if I could! I’ve now won the privateers’ cup a few times and I’m now after a new challenge. If that comes, great, great, or there may be some potential overseas.”

In one of the more bizarre post-race ‘celebrations’, seconds after Fergusson and Bugden crossed the finish line, they both crashed – unhurt – at Turn One.

Fergusson kickstarted the shenanigans, with Budgen seemingly following suit.

“That was plain stupid. I came across the line and gave Robbie the thumbs up and grab the front brake – and then the front wheel locked up,” said Fergusson.

“I then thought ‘I’m going straight on here’. It’s the old case scenario – you don’t ride on wet grass with slicks. The thing doesn’t want to go straight, let lone turn, and it sort of dumped me on my head. At least I did it after the finish!

“I’m happy to come away with a round win, and close the championship up – that’s what it’s all about.

“I came here 17pts behind Josh in Supersport, and now I’m only three behind him, and we are a hell of a lot closer to Giles in Superbike.”

Johnson held third place for the majority of race two, but the intermediate front tyre he gambled with didn’t last the distance, and he ran off the track on lap 14. That allowed Brookes to move into the final podium position, ahead of Daniel Stauffer, Jamie Stauffer, Russell Holland (Pirelli Tyres CBR1000RR), Judd Greedy (Rocket Racing CBR1000RR), Giles and Deon Coote (Valentino Bread Makers CBR1000RR).

With two rounds now remaining (a maximum of 102pts), there’s a logjam building up at the sharp end of the field, with Brookes now back in the lead for the first time since round two. He’s on 200pts, ahead of Giles (197), Fergusson (191) and Jamie Stauffer (165). Bugden (144pts) made up two spots at Winton, and may have a big say in who ultimately wins the title.

In Supersport, Brookes (CBR600RR), who finished sixth in the torturous Suzuka 8 Hours in early August, claimed his third successive pole position. The 22-year-old unleashed a 1:25.776 in the second qualifying session, and was joined on the front row by Fergusson (CBR600RR, 1:26.963), Mark Aitchison (Fraser Motorcycles Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:26.023) and Albury’s Chris Seaton (Kawasaki ZX-6RR, 1:26.319).

However, the qualifying paradigm meant very little in the damp race day conditions, as a number of privateers came to the fore – just as some of the factory-backed clientele wallowed.

One of those wasn’t Fergusson, who strolled to a strong 6.258sec win over Brookes in the opening 17-lapper, while last year’s 125 GP champion Bryan Staring (Allect Racing CBR600RR) proved adept in the wet to comfortably take out race two.

Undoubtedly, the trickier conditions were reserved for the opening Supersport race, with a number of tyre combinations in use. It was a race of halves - those riders with wet tyres prospered in the early laps, before slowly wilting as the track dried out. For others, the opposite came into play, which was why the battle for third place in race one was such a thriller.

It eventually fell in favour of the fast-finishing Jordan Coote (Valter Moto/GYTR YZF-R6), who passed dual Australia dirt track champion, Seaton, on the final lap – after being nearly 15 seconds behind him at one stage!

B-grader Gareth Jones (TeamMoto Gold Coast YZF-R6) was fifth, from Mark Stanley (Lismore Motorcycles YZF-R6), Staring and Zac Davies (Australian Security Concepts YZF-R6).

Among those to struggle included Brendan Clarke (Pro Yamaha YZF-R6) in 10th and Jason O’Halloran (Rocket Racing CBR600RR) in 14th, while Aitchison and Josh Waters (Kawasaki Racing Team ZX-6RR) didn’t last the distance.

With full wets the tyre of choice in race two, Fergusson (laps 1-3 and 8-10) and Stanley (4-7) both took turns in the lead, but Staring was the real master, taking control on lap 11 until the chequered flag.

“Unbelievable. I just figured that Krusty (Fergusson) would stay right behind me all the way,” said Staring, who became the fourth different Supersport winner in 2005. “Then on the last lap I looked around and had all this room.

“After I crashed last weekend, I didn’t think this weekend was going to be too special, but it’s turned out great.”

With no rear grip left, Fergusson fell back to fourth in race two, behind Aitchison, while Davies, Seaton, Clarke, Jones, Waters and Coote filled positions 5-10.

Brookes was a distant 14th in that one, but still remains the championship leader by 3pts (225 to 22) over Fergusson. Staring is now equal third with Aitchison on 170pts, ahead of Waters (153).