Maxwell makes his mark in Superbike qualifying
Phillip Island qualifying and race lap record-holder Wayne Maxwell has put his Team Honda Racing CBR1000RR on the top of the timesheets at the conclusion of today’s first 30-minute Viking Group Australian Superbike Championship qualifying session.
Maxwell’s thirteenth lap, a 1:33.442, was enough to dislodge teammate Jamie Stauffer from the top spot, a position he had maintained until the session’s closing stages.
The form of the factory Honda machines is an ominous sign to their opposition, with Maxwell saying he felt there was more time to be made up in tomorrow’s second qualifying session.
“The team is working really well,” said Maxwell. “I started off slowly in qualifying but finished fast, and we’re making improvements in every session.
“The development of new parts and components are coming along great.”
A two-time Australian Superbike Champion, Stauffer is itching to go racing on the Honda and feels race wins are achievable this weekend.
“We’re still trying a few things out with the bike but today it felt really good,” said Stauffer. “It was a successful day for the team with Honda 1 and 2 on the track.
“We’re not at 100% but this will be sorted out in the second qualifying session tomorrow.”
Just three-tenths of a second off Stauffer’s best lap, Thursday pacesetter Glenn Allerton was again a factor aboard his Procon Racing BMW S 1000 RR.
Like Stauffer, Allerton was quick early in the piece, needing just three laps to set his best time of 1:33.886.
Superbike rookie Troy Herfoss continues to trade top times with an experienced field.
The factory GSX-R1000 pilot laid down a 1:34.425 lap late in the piece, and will look to close the gap to the top three with further track time tomorrow.
Team Mack Trucks Suzuki rider Robbie Bugden rounded out the top five, with the ever-reliable rider the first of five in the 1-minute-35-second bracket with a 1:35.297 lap.
Yamaha rider Cru Halliday backed up his solid Thursday effort with the quickest Prostock time today.
The eight-rider Superpole session will follow a further 20-minute final qualifier tomorrow for the Superbike/Prostock field.
Brodie Waters is another to maintain an unmatched run of results this weekend. The Team Suzuki GSX-R600 rider converted practice pace into provisional pole position after topping both Supersport qualifying sessions today.
Waters’ best lap was an impressive 1.484 seconds quicker than Triumph rider Mitchell Carr, the day’s second-fastest qualifier.
“Team Suzuki did a fantastic job today,” said Waters. “I’m really looking forward to tomorrow’s Superpole and the weekend’s races.
“Today’s result was a team effort and I have to thank everyone involved.”
Two Yamaha’s round out the top four times and positions 3 and 4 on tomorrow’s race 1 start grid.
Yamaha Racing Team rider Kevin Curtain used his experience to set a best lap of 1:38.237, just seven-thousandths of a second shy of Carr’s time.
Aaron Gobert had a solid showing and was fourth fastest on his R6.
The top four Supersport qualifiers advance to tomorrow’s Superpole session to decide the grid for their first race.
In the Superstock ranks, Mike Jones needed just five laps today to smash his standing qualifying record, raising the bar with a 1:38.592 in the morning session.
The Yamaha R6 pilot will start from pole for tomorrow’s two 8-lap races.
Zack Thackeray, Josh Hook and Mark Wilkinson all made solid improvements in the day’s second qualifying session and round out the front row of the grid in positions 2-4 respectively.
Superbike – Round 1, Qualifying 1*
1. Wayne MAXWELL (VIC) / Team Honda Racing, Honda CBR-RR, 1:33.442
2. Jamie STAUFFER (NSW) / Team Honda Racing, Honda CBR-RR
3. Glenn ALLERTON (VIC) / Procon Racing, BMW S 1000 RR
4. Troy HERFOSS (VIC) / Team Suzuki, Suzuki GSX-R1000
5. Robert BUGDEN (QLD) / Team Suzuki, GSX-R1000
6. Craig COXHELL (VIC) / Demolition Plus GAS Honda Racing, Honda CBR-RR
7. Ben ATTARD (QLD) / iStyle The Natural Aprilia Racing, Aprilia RSV4
8. Beau BEATON (NSW) / North Coast V-Twins, Ducati 1198 R
9. Kris McLAREN (VIC) / Kirk McCarthy Memorial Award, Honda CBR-RR
10. Ben HENRY (QLD) Suzuki GSX-R1000
*Full results not available at time of release.
Supersport – Round 1, Qualifying (Merged results)
1. Brodie WATERS (VIC) / Team Suzuki, Suzuki GSX-R, 1:36.746
2. Mitchell CARR (NSW) / Carr Bros. Motorsport, Triumph Daytona, 1:38.230
3. Kevin CURTAIN (VIC) / Yamaha Racing Team, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:38.237
4. Aaron GOBERT (NSW) Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:38.257
5. Nicholas WATERS (VIC) / Waters Racing, Suzuki GSX-R, 1:38.315
6. Rick OLSON (VIC) / Yamaha Racing Team, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:38.388
7. Christan CASELLA (VIC) Triumph Daytona, 1:38.437
8. Blake LEIGH-SMITH (QLD) Suzuki GSX-R, 1:39.640
9. Chris QUINN (NSW) Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:39.682
10. Ryan TAYLOR (VIC) Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:39.793
Superstock – Round 1, Qualifying (Merged results)
1. Michael JONES (QLD) / Reece Bancell Scholarship, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:38.592
2. Zach THACKERAY (NSW) Kawasaki ZX6R, 1:40.313
3. Josh HOOK (NSW) Honda CBRR, 1:40.328
4. Mark WILKINSON (VIC) Kawasaki ZX6, 1:40.631
5. Sean CONDON (NSW) / Swann Insurance / Bike Biz Racing, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:40.854
6. Daniel FALZON (SA) Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:41.009
7. Adrian DI GIANDOMENICO (VIC) Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:41.043
8. Timothy McGREGOR (NSW) Kawasaki ZX6R, 1:41.312
9. Andrew KINGS (NSW) Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:41.334
10. James BECK (NSW) / Evermil Pty Ltd, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:42.344
