Wayne Maxwell signalled his intent by topping the opening 30-minute practice session at Eastern Creek this morning.

Yamaha Motor Finance ASBK 2017 – Round Six – Sydney Motorsports Park

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Wayne Maxwell tops first practice at Sydney Motorsports Park

Images by TBG

Free Practice for the penultimate round of the 2017 Australian Superbike Championship at Sydney Motorsports Park this morning under a fine and sunny sky.

Robbie Bugden's BCperformance ZX-10R awaits the action at Sydney Motorsports Park this morning - Image by TBG — Robbie Bugden’s BCperformance ZX-10R awaits the action at Sydney Motorsports Park this morning – Image by TBG

First out of the blocks this morning were Yamaha Motor Finance R3 Cup competitors for a 15-minute session immediately followed by a 25-minute term for Supersport 600.

Tommy Edwards topped the R3 Cup session ahead of Broc Pearson, Jack Mahaffy and Corey Briffa. That last duo both fell heavily at Morgan Park and will be eager to stay out of trouble this weekend in Sydney.

Yamaha Motor Finance R3 Cup FP1 Results

Tom Edwards 1m48.369
Broc Pearson 1m49.218
Jack Mahaffy 1m49.621
Corey Briffa 1m49.710
Locky Taylor 1m51.592

Motul Supersport

23-riders took to the track for Supersport FP1 and it was Mark Chiodo that proved the pacesetter on the Triumph Daytona 675R ahead of Aaron Morris, who was making his return to competition after laying low throughout most of season 2017. Tom Toparis was third quickest ahead of Championship leader Ted Collins. It is highly likely that 18-year-old Collins will clinch the #1 plate in the Motul sponsored Supersport 600 category this weekend, such is his hefty 68-point buffer in the series standings over Mason Coote.

Motul Supersport FP1 Results

Mark CHIODO Triumph Daytona 1:35.514
Aaron MORRIS Yamaha YZF-R6 1:35.859
Tom TOPARIS Kawasaki ZX-6R 1:35.990
Ted COLLINS Suzuki GSX-R 1:37.157
Chris QUINN Yamaha YZF-R6 1:37.365
Hayden SPINKS Kawasaki ZX6R 1:37.422
Sam CONDON Yamaha YZF-R6 1:37.534
Jordan CARLSSON Yamaha YZF-R6 1:37.774
Mason COOTE Yamaha YZF-R6 1:38.177
Cambridge OLIVIER Yamaha YZF-R6 1:38.179

Hi-Tec Batteries Supersport 300

The sensational Supersport 300 category hit the track for their opening practice session at 0950 this morning and Yanni Shaw was quick to display his pace, getting straight down to 1m47s.

In the second session it was young Billy Van Eerde setting the pace on the KTM with a 1m45.396 head of Jack Mahaffy and Tom Edwards

Hi-Tec Batteries Supersport 300 FP2 Results

Billy Van Eerde 1m45.396
Jack Mahaffy 1m46.115
Tom Edwards 1m46.181
Yanni Shaw 1m46.182
Brandon Demmery 1m46.396
Zac Levy 1m46.430
Reid Battye 1m46.436
Oli Bayliss 1m46.482
Max Croker 1m46.729
Broc Pearson 1m46.760

YMI Superbike

Yamaha Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship points leader Wayne Maxwell signalled his intent by topping the opening 30-minute practice session at Eastern Creek this morning.

On a track temperatures climbing past 30-degrees Maxwell put in 12 laps, the best of which came on lap nine with a 1m31.801 to head Josh Waters who crossed the stripe with a best of 1m32.221 in the opening session.

Morgan Park pole man and race two winner Cru Halliday was third quickest ahead of Glenn Allerton. The YRT man continues to return from terrible arm injuries sustained at Wakefield Park early in the year but proved he has good pace here at his home circuit with a 1m32.382.

Early series leader Daniel Falzon posted the fifth quickest time on the JD Racing Yamaha displacing defending champion Troy Herfoss who circulated the 3.93km circuit in a best of 1m32.587.

Robbie Bugden holds the qualifying lap record here on a 1m29.8 on a Suzuki but the five-time NZ Superbike Champion could only post a 1m32.944 this morning just ahead of Josh Hook, who makes a return to the series on a Ducati.

Michael Blair was ninth quickest while Honda’s Bryan Staring rounded out the top ten ahead of Beau Beaton and Alex Phillis.