2006 Australian Superbike Championship (YMF Loan)

Report (Shannon Johnson)

Event: Rd 3 Aust. SBK Championship
Date: 2nd - 4th June
Venue: Mallala Raceway, South Australia
Weather: Fine, light breeze

Qualification: 5th

Race Results:
Race 1: 4th
Race 2: DNF

Overall Results:
1st: R Holland Honda CBR1000RR
2nd: J Stauffer Yamaha R1
3rd: A Fergusson Honda CBR1000RR
4th: D Stauffer Yamaha R1
5th: A Stroud Suzuki GSXR
11th: Shannon Johnson Kawasaki ZX10R

Rider Report:
Although this weekend turned out to be a little disappointing as far as results and position in the championship, One thing is for sure - my team, my bike, and the package that I have to work with is one of the best in the paddock. It's comforting to know that even on a bad day we are able to fight for the podium.

Friday practice we continued with the same program we have used successfully this year, concentrate on the base setting and get the rider up to speed. We ended the day fourth fastest and confident that we had a fast and consistent package, added to that it was the best place we had been all year on Friday night.

The feeling was good. Saturday morning qualification we fine turned some settings and used only the race tyre. Confirming our pace as we ended up provisional fourth.

Second qualification I continued on the same rear tyre from the morning to understand how things would be in the later part of the race. I did my run on the soft option and improved slightly, not as much as I would have liked. Having to spend the final minutes in the pits I sat and watched the monitor like a hawk, unfortunately what I was expecting did happened and I was dropped down the order. Finally fifth on the grid come session end, after thinking about it might well be a better starting position that fourth if I could get a good jump.

Race one I started well and ended lap one in fifth. I was getting held up as the front two started to make a gap. Under heavy braking I moved from fifth to third and set about chasing second place. I closed the gap and was feeling great, then under hard acceleration exiting a turn I spun the tyre on the rim - I probably should have been smoother on the gas- this caused the incorrect balance of the rear wheel. I continued the same lap time maintaining the gap, with slightly more movement of the tyre coming of each turn. Until the vibration became severe, I had to give up my third and the chase to second- not without fighting for as long as I could though! Luckily the pace I had gave me a large buffer over fifth place.

Race two both my team and Michelin was sure they had fixed the problem from the first race, and true to their word they had. I made a better start and moved right into fourth, I was in a three way battle for second place. Quietly confident that my fitness and package over race distance would show in the end I sat and waited, unfortunately I was never able to find out. After having a few little problems throughout the race on exiting a turn I lost forward drive and with that my race was over.

I rolled to a stop and could only wonder what if. Coming back to my earlier quote I found some happiness in the fact that I was in the battle at the very front and had well over six seconds lead to fifth, also the fact that my team will leave no stone unturned to find the problem and do all they can to make sure it will be a one off.

I have dropped down in the overall championship position but rest assured I don't plan on been there long at all...

A big thanks to all my sponsors and supporters, it's great to know that there is a lot of people out there coming along for the ride.

Thanks

Shannon