Maxwell takes win three to lead 2020 ASBK from Halliday & Waters

Wayne Maxwell took the triple after winning race three from Cru Halliday and Josh Walters in the final race of the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul, at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit this afternoon. Words & Pics: MA.

In front of more than 25,000 people Maxwell led the epic 12 lap Kawasaki Superbike class race from the drop of the green flag, Halliday and Waters were hot on his heels for most of the race and in the last few laps Halliday recorded faster lap times than Maxwell closing the gap to him.

The battle behind was just as intense early on with Penrite Honda’s Troy Herfoss dicing with Desmosport Ducati Mike Jones, Kawasaki BC Performance Bran Staring, Maxima BMW Glenn Allerton, William Adams Cat’s Daniel Falzon, Kawasaki Australia Matt Walters, Metcher Motorsports Jed Metcher, Unitech Racing’s Arthur Sissis and Yamaha Racing Team’s Aiden Wagner, all in the 1:32s but unable to catch the three front runners.

Herfoss, Allerton, Staring and Jones tried to stay with the top three but ended dicing with each other losing time. Wagner at one point was making a solid charge forward but mechanical issues caused him to slip to 16th. He will undergo surgery again this week on his left thumb and be fighting for the win at Wakefield Park, NSW next month.

In the end it was as 2019 ASBK Champion Jones and Staring who battled down the main straight on the final lap, with Jones winning out by millimetres. Fifth place through to tenth respectively was Herfoss, Staring, Allerton, Falzon, Sissis and Walters.

Maxwell praised his team after race 3.
“It’s a true testament to Craig McMartin Racing Team Boost Mobile K-tech machine was unbelievable,” he said. “The scary thing is it’s got room for improvement and I can improve. “I’ve never walked into an environment where people have believed in me more than I have my self. So for me that’s fantastic and the relationship makes me want to work harder”.

Jones struggled to catch the front runners this weekend despite catching Maxwell at times, while Halliday said he may have cooked his tyres early chasing Maxwell and defending against Walters.
“I’m not going to lie, Wayne was just a bit quicker, I got a bit greedy on the throttle early and it probably hurt me a little,” said Halliday.

“I kept closing the gap and then making mistakes, but that was really hard, that little micro second you stuff up on, it can cost you when Wayne is riding so hard, but hats off to the Yamaha Racing Team and bring on Wakefield.

Josh Waters was smiling having only early in the week officially announced his team plans.
“That was great, we changed the bike back to how it was in race one, my pace was a lot better, but something moved and I had quite a bit of chatter in the end,” he said. “A huge thanks to everyone that has jumped on board and supported me”.