2006 Australian Superbike Championship (YMF Loan) - Round Four - Queensland Raceway

250 Race

Jorge Lorenzo started from pole position for eighth time thus far this year but he failed to capitalise on that advantage at Brno and was back in fourth position at turn one while Hiroshi Aoyama led the way from Andreas Dovizioso and Alex De Angelis. Dovizioso took the lead from Aoyama with a smart move on the change of direction and a group of five had started to break away from the rest of the field after only a lap and a half and Alex De Angelis has taken his turn at the front to lead from Lorenzo, Dovizioso, Aoyama and Cardoso while Roberto Locatelli was starting to look dangerous in sixth place and edging his way towards the front pack.

With 16 laps to run Alex De Angelis slid out of contention while Dovizioso was cutting some fast laps to challenge Lorenzo for the lead while Hiroshi Aoyama was looking increasingly threatening in a strong third place. Locatelli continued to close and as the race entered its second half took Dovizioso for third place and the pair started trading paint all the way around the 5.4 kilometre Brno circuit.

Well back in the pack around 15th place was Anthony West who had been struggling with engine problems all weekend on his customer Aprilia and was not having it any easier in the race to complete a frustrating weekend for the Australian. At the halfway point of the race he was nearly a minute behind the race leaders and for the first time was also along way behind his team-mate Heidolf suggesting that his machinery problems has continued through to the race. Meanwhile up front a KTM was battling for the lead which would be making Westy wish he hadn't fell out with KTM team boss Harald Bartol. Westy finally gave up the ghost with six laps to run and rolled into pitlane on his troublesome machine to yet again retire with mechanical dramas. MotoGP commentator Mark Bracks mentioned during the race that Westy can have a factory Aprilia next year, but there is one small catch.... He needs to bring more than a million dollars with him to secure the ride and he will need more than the new merchandise range he just launched in order to raise that sort of cash.

As the laps progressed Dovizioso started struggling to match the pace of Lorenzo and Aoyama and started to lose touch with the leading pair.

Lorenzo then broke Aoyama with five laps to run and started to edge away.

With two laps to run Dovizioso started to challenge Aoyama for second place but Lorenzo had escaped up front and looked set for a safe run home for the win.

Dovizioso sneaked his way in front of Aoyama on the final lap to take second place in a photo finish while Lorenzo enjoyed his safe run to the flag to take the major 25 point haul from the round.