Herfoss tops Friday ASBK practice at Wakefield

Troy Herfoss (Penrite Honda Racing, Honda CBR RR SP) had a great start to Round 2 of the Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK, March 22-24), taking out fastest time of a rain-shortened Free Practice for the Kawasaki Superbike class at Goulburn’s Wakefield Park Raceway in Southern NSW on Friday.

Herfoss’s time of 57.455 put him almost three tenths clear of Wayne Maxwell (Team Suzuki ECSTAR, Suzuki GSX-R EL R, 57.754) and the Yamaha Racing Team pair of Daniel Falzon (Yamaha YZF-R1M, 57.757) and Cru Halliday (Yamaha YZF-R1M, 57.916). The day was mostly cloudy with some sunny patches, however a sudden downpour and lightning just after 3pm led to the last session being cancelled, leaving Herfoss’s time from Free Practice 2 (FP2) as the fastest of the day.

Troy Herfoss – Image by TBG Sport

Despite the cancelled session, Herfoss was happy to perform well in front of his home crowd. “I really enjoy riding here.” Herfoss explained. “Even if it wasn’t my home track I’d still enjoy the track, but it is pretty cool coming back and visiting all my friends and family. The track been good for me in the past, results-wise.

“I haven’t always been the fastest guy but I’ve had a lot of good luck here, and I think part of that’s been being at the front of the race at the start, so it’s really important to qualify well. We had a good session in FP2, made a few little improvements with the bike and I got a clear run midway through the session and got a good lap in. It was nice to be able to repeat the laptime in the dry and now we’ve jut got to hope it doesn’t rain or hope we can go as well if it rains tomorrow.”

The day saw two spectacular crashes, the first of which came when championship leader Aiden Wagner (Landbridge Racing, Yamaha YZF-R1M, 58.677) tumbled through the gravel trap at turn two with two minutes to go during FP1. After a short delay, he was up and OK but the bike was subsequently carried off the recovery trailer in a series of bits and pieces.

ASBK Round 2, 2019, Wakefield Park – Image by TBG Sport

Wagner returned to contest the second session and finished the day in eighth. Free Practice 2 was red flagged after Ted Collins (NextGen Motorsports, BMW S RR) crashed heavily at the pitlane entry. Collins luckily managed to get up and walk away, and he finished the day in 14th (59.417).

Injured Troy Bayliss’s Desmosport Ducati ride appears to be in safe hands this weekend with replacement Mike Jones (Desmosport Ducati, Ducati 1299 Final Ed., 58.116) consistently running near the top of the table throughout the day. The 2015 ASBK Champion was one of the first riders into the 58 second bracket, and ended the day fifth fastest behind Halliday. Maxwell’s Team Suzuki ECSTAR Australia teammate Josh Waters (Team Suzuki ECSTAR, Suzuki GSX-R EL R) was sixth fastest with a 58.193.

Troy Bayliss – Image by TBG Sport

The action from Wakefield Park continues Saturday with Round 2 of the Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship taking place this weekend (March 22-24). Tickets are still available, head to ASBK.com.au for information, or to purchase.

Watch live coverage of the ASBK on Fox Sports and SBS, check your local guides for details. For live, online extended coverage available worldwide, head to ASBK.com.au

Combined Friday Superbike Practice Results

Troy HERFOSS (Penrite Honda Racing, Honda CBR RR SP, 57.455)
Wayne MAXWELL (Team Suzuki ECSTAR, Suzuki GSX-R EL R 57.754)
Daniel FALZON (Yamaha Racing Team, Yamaha YZF-R1M 57.757)
Cru HALLIDAY (Yamaha Racing Team, Yamaha YZF-R1M 57.916 )
Mike JONES (Desmosport Ducati, Ducati 1299 Final Ed. 58.116)
Josh WATERS (Team Suzuki ECSTAR, Suzuki GSX-R EL R 58.193)
Alex PHILLIS (Team Suzuki ECSTAR, Suzuki GSX-R EL R 58.676)
Aiden WAGNER (Landbridge Racing, Yamaha YZF-R1M 58.667)
Bryan STARING (Kawasaki BCperformance, Kawasaki ZX10RR 58.699)
Damon REES (Carl Cox Motorsport, Honda CBR RR SP 58.760)

ASBK Supersport – Wakefield Park Friday

After a clean sweep at the previous round of the Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) back in February, Tom Toparis (59.507) extended his dominance during Free Practice. Finishing almost a second quicker than second-placed Oli Bayliss (Cube Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 1:00.471), the Landbridge Transport rider was the only rider in the Supersport category to crack the 60-second barrier.

Tom Toparis – Image by TBG Sport

“Good day today,” Toparis said after qualifying. “We’re still a little bit off where we were at the test, but I think there’s still more in it and hopefully it stays dry tomorrow.”

Reid Battye (Suzuki ECSTAR Australia, Suzuki GSX-R) claimed fourth fastest with a 1:00.635, Ty Lynch (Australian Outdoor Living, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:01.060) fifth.

Round 1 runner-up Nic Liminton (Yamaha Motor Aust. Yamaha YZF-R6) was hampered by mechanical issues during the second session. He will be hoping for better luck in qualifying, as his practice time of 1:01.666 was only good enough for sixth place.

Combined Supersport Friday Practice Results

Tom TOPARIS (Landbridge Transport Yamaha YZF-R6 59.507)
Oli BAYLISS (Cube Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 1:00.471)
Broc PEARSON (Yamaha YZF-R6 1:00.565)
Reid BATTYE (Suzuki ECSTAR Australia, Suzuki GSX-R 1:00.635)
Ty LYNCH (Australian Outdoor Living, Yamaha YZF-R6 1:00.060)

ASBK YMI Supersport 300 – Wakefield Park Friday

Max Stauffer once again showed that he will be a force to be reckoned with throughout the 2019 YMI Supersport 300 season, backing up his first place finish at Round 1 at Phillip Island with a fastest time of the day in Practice here at Wakefield Park. With the top 10 covered by less than a second, The Supersport 300 class promises to be another close battle at the Southern Tablelands location, and should make for very exciting racing over the weekend.

Stauffer’s second session time of 1:06.306 would be enough to edge out fellow Yamaha rider Harry Khouri (Excite M-sports, Yamaha R3 321). Khouri made a late run in Free Practice 2 to post 1 :06.478, however Stauffer showed his class by conjuring up the time that would leave him fastest on the day.

Ben Baker (Motostars, Yamaha YZF R3 321) set the early pace in Practice 2 but was eventually eclipsed by Stauffer and Khouri, ending the day on a 1:06.572. Zac Levy (Puma RV’s, Yamaha R3 321) claimed fourth place on a 1:06.677, ahead of Travis Hall (1:06.828) and Hunter Ford (1:06.834).

Max Stauffer – Image by TBG Sport

Combined Supersport 300 Friday Practice Results

Max STAUFFER (Yamaha, Yamaha R3 321 1:06.306)
Harry KHOURI (Excite M-sports, Yamaha R3 321 1:06.478)
Ben BAKER (Motostars, Yamaha YZF R3 321 1:06.572)
Zac LEVY (Puma RV’s, Yamaha R3 321 1:06.677)
Travis HALL (Stitchsmith, Yamaha R3 321 1:06.828)

ASBK YMF R3 Cup – Wakefield Park Friday

Max Stauffer also claimed the fastest time of the day for the YMF R3 Cup. With all the field riding identical bikes, the riders were pushing hard to gain an advantage over their similarly-equipped rivals.

Stauffer claimed fastest time in the all-Yamaha class, clocking in a 1:06.208 ahead of John Lytras (Caboolture Yamaha, YamahaR3 321), who improved on his performance in the Supersport 300 category by almost six tenths of a second to claim second place. Third was NSW’s Ben Baker (Motostars, Yamaha YZF R3 321 1:06.762) and fourth was Travis Hall (Stitchsmith, Yamaha R3 321 1:06.828).

Locky Taylor (Yamaha Australia, Yamaha R3 321 1:06.844) posted a 1:06.932 to end the day fifth fastest, and sixth was Laura Brown (WNR, Yamaha R3 321 1:07.212).