2006 Australian Superbike Championship (YMF Loan)

Report (Honda)

Joe Rocket Honda’s Adam ‘Krusty’ Fergusson concluded his South Australian attack on the Australian Superbike Championships last weekend with two hard earned podium finishes.

After a one round points delay due to injury, Fergusson has managed to catapult himself up the Championship ladder in both the Superbike and Supersport classes by five and three places respectively.

Adam’s second place Supersport round result at the Mallala Motorsport Park came after a very wet qualifying session saw him chasing Jamie Stauffer and Mark Aitchison from the third spot on the grid.

A second and third place in the 1000cc class just behind Honda privateer Russell Holland gave the veteran his next podium finish at the track that he so completely dominated in 2004 and 2005.

“I was pretty happy with my qualifying results and the overall round wasn’t too bad,” the 31 year old ’04 Dual Champion said.

“The racing was close for sure. It would have been good to get a couple more race wins under my belt, but we just need to find that little bit extra and will keep working on that goal over the coming weeks.”

Whilst Krusty now sits ninth in both classes, team mate Glenn Allerton had a weekend he would rather forget.

During a practice session on Friday, Allerton unceremoniously highsided out of the Northern Hairpin knocking himself unconscious and eventuating in a trip to the hospital for observation after the Honda Racesafe medical team tended to him at the circuit.

Although stiff and sore, the #34 rider was eventually given the all clear to participate in qualifying on Saturday where he came away with a second row grid start in each class.

“Considering that crash I had in practice, I was glad to qualify where I did,” the Camden, NSW rider commented.

Allerton’s highlight for the weekend came in the form of a third place finish behind Fergusson and Stauffer in the first Supersport clash of the day, followed by a fifth place in Superbike race one. However his weekend was cut short after another crash in Sunday’s second Supersport race resulted in an injury to his fingers, and another knock to the head.

“I did struggle a bit for sure and so I was happy with that third place in the 600’s after a big battle for position. The first Superbike race was okay….not as good as I would have liked but I really wasn’t feeling right.”

“I was pretty deflated at the end of the day though after not being able to ride in the last race, and am just looking forward to getting back to full fitness for the next round.”

Jardine Honda’s Bryan Staring was also not overly impressed with his seventh place results, but is grateful for the points that have now moved him up one place in the 600 class.

Nineteen year old Staring had an unavoidable ‘off’ in his second race that marred his showing for the day but not before claiming a very hard earned fifth place in the first trip to the line.

“This was a tough round. The bike feels good, but I wasn’t happy with my riding,” he said.

“In the first race I did manage to work up about five places after a bad start so that was good. I ran wide in the second race though; just didn’t have anywhere to go so I’m pretty disappointed with the overall result. At least I got up a few more series points.”

Team Manager Paul Free said the Team will continue with what they have been doing and count on some “better luck” with the next round in one month’s time.

“Once again the weekend started off well in practice and qualifying, but the races didn’t come together as they should have for various reasons,” he said.

“Bike development is happening as it should and it will keep progressing, so there is no reason we can’t be winning races. I think the riders have each had their own bit of bad luck since the start of the season and hopefully that will turn around at Queensland Raceway next month.”

Whilst the factory riders continue to look for their edge, Honda privateer Russell Holland once again impressed the paddock onboard his Robern Racing CBR1000RR after two impeccable race performances that gave him overall honours for the day. The 22 year old's first and second placings have moved him to within 16 points of the Championship lead.

"I was worried in the first race that my rear tyre wouldn't last the full 19 laps, but we gambled with the air pressure and it worked out okay," Holland said.

“I have been aiming for a round win so it’s great that it has come so early in the season.”