Staring survives treacherous Tassie conditions to claim Superbike title
It was a case of ‘to finish first, first you must finish’ for Bryan Staring today who endured torrid conditions at Tasmania’s Symmons Plains circuit to win a maiden Australian Superbike Championship title.
The Cougar Bourbon Honda pilot held the advantage over fellow Honda rider Wayne Maxwell going into the race, needing simply to finish today’s 16-lap finale to take victory.
A plume of spray rose as the field headed into the first corner and it was the wet weather warriors that reigned supreme as Staring played it safe.
Ducati Motologic Racing’s Jamie Stauffer led momentarily before Team Suzuki’s Josh Waters took over, controlling proceedings until lap 3 where Maxwell made his move.
The odds were stacked against Maxwell who needed to win or take second and have Staring fail to finish, and he gave himself every chance should misfortune have struck the points leader.
The Demolition Plus GAS Honda rider soldiered on to take an impressive victory ahead of Waters, but the overall spoils went to Staring who survived a breath-taking moment negotiating lap traffic to finish 8th.
Staring was elated with his championship victory and said he fought hard to control his nerves during the closing stages of the race.
“I feel funny about it because that last race went so terribly. I couldn’t see a thing out there and it was a real battle to finish,” explained the 23-year-old.
“I couldn’t help but think about the championship in today’s race, I told myself I’d race to my own agenda but there were people passing me left, right and centre and it was certainly on my mind.
“I’m so glad to have raced this season with Honda and the Cougar Bourbon Honda team, we’ve had such a successful year and this championship has come down to the effort of so many people.
“This is a huge achievement for us and it will probably take a while to sink in.
“Thanks also to Wayne (Maxwell) and the other riders who have pushed me every step of the way.”
The title of Australian Superbike Champion will be added to Staring’s previous achievements of Supersport and 125GP victories, making him the only rider in the history of national road race competition to achieve the elusive ‘triple crown’.
The Gold Coast based rider started the 2010 season without a race victory next to his name and leaves with 5, an incredible feat considering his team was formed just weeks before the opening round in February.
Wayne Maxwell was gracious in defeat and admitted that a few errors earlier in the season cost him the chance to launch a real challenge today.
“We were a bit behind the eight ball this year and it probably did cost us the championship but second is a great result,” he said.
“I’m a racer, I want to win every time but that’s the way it goes. I’ve had a great year with all the guys and my team has really gotten behind me.
“The only option for me today was to go for the win and let the rest take care of itself.
“Congratulations to Bryan who absolutely deserves this championship, he’s had a fantastic year.”
Maxwell finished season 2010 just 6.5 points shy of Staring after 6 rounds and a total of 12 races.
Valvoline Superbike Team rider Glenn Allerton was third today and, combined with his race 1 victory, also secured his first round win for the year.
Allerton rounds out a Honda 1-2- 3 in the championship with his eventual finishing place of third outright.
Racer’s Edge Suzuki rider Scott Charlton was the first GSX-R1000 home in 2010, building a consistent campaign to finish a credible 4th.
Ducati Motologic Racing’s Jamie Stauffer rounds out the overall top 5 on the 1198R after an up-and-down season aboard an all-new bike.
A close battle for Viking Group Australian Superstock 1000 A&B honours went the way of Champion’s Ride Days Race Team’s Brendan Clarke, who held out CJC Racing BMW rider Craig Coxhell despite the latter winning both of this weekend’s class races.
Team Suzuki’s Troy Herfoss recorded a clean sweep of round 7, capping off his Insure My Ride Australian Supersport Championship victory in spectacular fashion in today’s wet race.
A number of riders shone in the difficult conditions, with Aaron Gobert showing his experience on the Yamaha R6 and Triumph racer Des Darby also in contention.
Darby was hot on the heels of Herfoss as the laps counted down, and put everything on the line in the final corner in an attempt to take his first race victory.
The slippery conditions caught him out, however, and his Triumph 675 slid out from beneath him, allowing the freshly-stickered #1 machine of Herfoss to claim victory uncontested.
Herfoss described his season as ‘incredible’ but has already set his sights on bigger and better achievements in 2011.
“My second season in Supersport has been close to perfect aboard the GSX-R600, it’s all panned out how I had planned and now I am hoping to get the chance to get on a Superbike and keep chasing my dream,” explained Herfoss.
“The Australian championship is very competitive and I really want to get a season or two behind me on a 1000cc machine before I look towards a ride overseas.”
Triumph rider Christian Casella finished second for the round and second overall in the championship, a top effort in the team’s first year.
Sunstate Racing’s Brodie Waters made it two Suzuki’s in the top three this year, finishing 21 points adrift of Casella.
| Viking Australian Superbike Championship Race 1 1. Wayne MAXWELL (VIC) / Demolition Plus GAS Honda | Viking Australian Superbike Championship Race 2 1. Glenn ALLERTON (NSW) / Valvoline Superbike Team |
| Viking Australian Superbike Championship Points 1. Bryan STARING (QLD), 241 | Insure My Ride Supersport Championship Points 1. Troy HERFOSS (VIC), 275 |
| — Cougar Bourbon Honda Report Staring and Cougar Bourbon Honda Racing win 2010 Australian Superbike Championship Cougar Bourbon Honda Racing’s Bryan Staring battled a rain-soaked Symmons Plains circuit to slide to his first Australian Superbike title in Tasmania this afternoon. Staring, 23, wrapped up a sensational year aboard his Honda CBR1000RR, but the result was far from certain as the heavens opened overnight and a sodden track greeted riders this morning. With poor visibility on track it was a matter of survival for Staring, who needed to finish the race in order to take the title. He took a conservative approach from his grid placing of 8th, and held on to finish in the same position to seal the deal. The feat writes Staring into Australian road racing record books. He is now the only rider to have won the 125GP, Supersport and Superbike titles, claiming the elusive ‘triple crown’ for Cougar Bourbon Honda Racing in its first year. The Gold Coast-based rider started the 2010 season without a race victory next to his name and leaves with 5, an incredible feat considering the team was formed just weeks before the opening round in February. Staring was elated with his championship victory and said he fought hard to control his nerves during the closing stages of the race. “I feel funny about it because that last race went so terribly. I couldn’t see a thing out there and it was a real battle to finish,” explained the 23-year-old. “I couldn’t help but think about the championship in today’s race, I told myself I’d race to my own agenda but there were people passing me left, right and centre and it was certainly on my mind. “I’m so glad to have raced this season with Honda and the Cougar Bourbon Honda team, we’ve had such a successful year and this championship has come down to the effort of so many people. “This is a huge achievement for us and it will probably take a while to sink in. “Thanks also to Wayne (Maxwell) and the other riders who have pushed me every step of the way.” — Aaron Gobert Report Gobert Motorsports Yamaha’s Aaron Gobert finished in third place on the podium at Symmons Plains Raceway in Tasmania on 13-14 November, clinching fourth in the InsureMyRide Australian Supersport Championship for season 2010. The season finale marked a breakthrough of sorts for the experienced international star, qualifying his Yamaha YZF-R6 on the front row during Saturday morning’s qualifying session before going on to finish the opening race of the weekend in fourth after leading early on in dry conditions at the two-plus-four event alongside the V8 Supercars Championship Series. Sunday’s second and final race of the weekend saw Gobert again lead in the early laps after a thrilling dice with newly crowned champion Troy Herfoss in the rain, before vision difficulty in treacherous conditions forced him to settle for third to round out the weekend. “The weekend has gone really well and it’s great to get the Gobert Motorsports Yamaha on the podium overall to round out the season here in Tasmania,” Gobert, a former AMA champion in the U.S, commented. “We lead both races after qualifying on the front row, so it’s been a really positive finish to the year for us. We’ve worked hard all year, so to finish 2010 on the podium means a lot and I really appreciate the support that I’ve been given this year.” The result clinched Gobert a well deserved third overall for the round, his first overall podium of the season in his first year contesting the Australian series after a successful career in the United States from 2001-2009. Following a consistent season, Gobert completed the year fourth in the national Supersport championship, also claiming third overall in the Privateer Cup after an 11th-hour decision was made to contest the series just weeks out from the season opener in February. Gobert Motorsports is proudly supported by Yamaha Motor Australia, YRD, Graves Motorsports, Bell Helmets, Alpinestars, Hotbodies Racing, Galfer, Bel-Ray, D.I.D, Terry Hay’s Shock Treatment and Ian Irving Race Engines. |
