Battye Claims Hi-Tec Batteries Supersport 300 Round Win

Tightly-contested Hi-Tec Batteries Supersport 300 Championship races had spectators on the edges of their seats today at Morgan Park Raceway (QLD), for Round 5 of the 2017 Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli (ASBK).

Race One got off to a clean start on favourable track conditions with the exception of Warrick Nowland (WNR, Kawasaki EX 300) who incurred a ten second penalty for a jump start. The front eight of the fully stocked grid making a quick break away from the group. The nine lap circulation quickly settled into an order made up of ‘Up to 300’ and ‘Over 300’ categories, as they sliced and diced for the duration.

Hi-Tec Batteries Supersport 300

Jack Mahaffy (JDS Moto, Yamaha YZF- R3) suffered a crash on lap six, but was quickly up uninjured and able to re-join the race. With no time at all separating the front runners, the fastest through the speed traps was Zac Levy (Puma RV’s, Yamaha YZF-R3), who was clocked at 163kph.

Over 300

Billy Van Eerde (KTM Australia, KTM RC 390) was the fastest rider on track, finishing first in class, ahead of fellow ‘Over 300’ counterpart, Locky Taylor (Locky Taylor Racing, Yamaha YZF-R3). Zac Levy (Puma RV’s, Yamaha YZF-R3) came third to complete the the ‘Over 300’ podium for Race One of the class.

Up To 300

Reid Battye (DB Racing, Kawasaki EX 300) was fastest for the ‘Up To’ category. Oli Bayliss (Cube Racing, Kawasaki EX 300) took second place, leaving fellow competitor Lachlan Epis (Nextgen Motorsports, Kawasaki Ninja 300) third, ahead of Sunday’s two remaining races at 9:35am local time.

The super tightly contested development or ‘feeder’ 300 categories will prove to be a spectacle, given the near capacity grid that will line up in the fight to turn one. The third race will commence at 2:45pm.

Hi-Tech Batteries Supersport 300 Race One Provisional Top 10 Results

Billy VAN EERDE (KTM Australia, KTM RC 390) ‘Over’
Reid BATTYE (Bcperformance Junior Team, Kawasaki Ninja 300) ‘Under’
Oliver BAYLISS (Cube Racing, Kawasaki Ninja 300) ‘Under’
Locky Taylor (Locky Taylor Racing, Yamaha YZF-R3) ‘Over’
Zac LEVY (Puma RV’s, Yamaha YZF-R3) ‘Over’
Tom EDWARDS (Alpinestars, Yamaha YZF-R3) ‘Over’
Lachlan EPIS (ResponseRE, Kawasaki Ninja 300) ‘Under’
Max CROKER (KTM Australia, KTM RC 390) ‘Over’
Broc PEARSON (YRD, Yamaha YZF-R3) ‘Over’
Seth CRUMP (Jason Crump, KTM RC 390) ‘Over’

Hi-Tec Batteries Supersport 300 Race Two

The races certainly displayed an incredible level of on track craft from all riders. It was Tommy Edwards (Alpinestars, Yamaha YZF-R3) and Reid Battye (BCperformance Junior Team, Kawasaki Ninja 300) who shared the overall race wins for the ‘Over’ and ‘Up To’ subcategories of the fully subscribed class in Race Two.

In Saturday’s opening nine lap affair, Edwards inched to a 0.141 second victory over Jack Mahaffy (JDS Moto, YZF-R3) and it was even tighter behind them in the battle for the final podium position of third outright which would go to Max Crocker (KTM Australia, KTM RC 390).

Billy Van Eerde

The field got away to a clean start with no jump start penalties awarded to any of the 36 competitors. Billy Van Eerde (KTM Australia, KTM RC 390) quickly got to work and led the pack for four laps until Edwards caught up to him.

Oliver Bayliss (Cube Racing, Kawasaki Ninja 300) was with the front runners until lap five when he ran off track at Turn One. Bayliss was up uninjured. Van Eerde also crashing out, and gifting his position on the final lap, ending his podium chance. Mahaffy took the second position, bringing it over the line behind Edwards.

The first three riders taking the chequered flag, were within 0.457 of each other.

‘Over 300’
Climbing onto the podium in the end was top ‘Over’ 300 finisher Edwards , overcoming Mahaffy and Croker.

‘Up To 300’
Reid Battye (BCperformance Junior Team, Kawasaki Ninja 300) took charge of the ‘Up To’ category, spitting the spoils over second place getter Lachlan Epis (ResponseRE, Kawasaki Ninja 300) and Yanni Shaw (BCperformance Junior Team, Kawasaki Ninja 300) following in third in category, but 14th outright.

Provisional Race 2 Top Ten Results

Tommy EDWARDS (Alpinestars, Yamaha YZF-R3) ‘Over’
Jack MAHAFFY (JDS Moto, YZF-R3) ‘Over’
Max CROKER (KTM Australia, KTM RC 390) ‘Over’
Reid BATTYE (Bcperformance Junior Team, Kawasaki Ninja 300) ‘Under’
Broc PEARSON (YRD, Yamaha YZF-R3) ‘Over’
Zac LEVY (Puma RV’s, Yamaha YZF-R3) ‘Over’
Lachlan EPIS (ResponseRE, Kawasaki Ninja 300) ‘Under’
Locky TAYLOR (Locky Taylor Racing, Yamaha YZF-R3) ‘Over’
Seth CRUMP (Jason Crump, KTM RC 390) ‘Over’
Joel KELSO (Deborah Motorsports, Yamaha YZF-R3) ‘Over’

Hi-Tec Batteries Supersport 300 Race Three

Race Three saw Bayliss take the win for the Up To 300 class, only a hair ahead of Battye as Drew Sells (Race Centre, Kawasaki Ninja 300) finished third in category but 21st outright.

It was yet another barn-burner behind the front men, this time with the front four riders finishing within one second of Eerde who led the pack, trailed by Edwards and Broc Pearson (YRD, Yamaha YZF-R3)

In a great start for Bayliss, he took command of the field into Turn One followed by Battye and Mahaffy. However, slicing and dicing quickly ensued as tyre temperatures and confidence levels rose.

Billy Van Eerde

Eerde overtook the lead on lap two and stayed out there for the duration. Battye, Bayliss and Mahaffy locked in a tussle until lap three when Mahaffy ran wide. The mistake allowed Eerde to reclaim first and pull a.145 of a second gap, in front of Edwards, Pearson, and Bayliss.

Reid Battye, “Awesome races all weekend. The last race I managed to get a bit of clean air which meant I could concentrate harder, to take the win overall. I can’t thank my team enough for putting together a really great package that is a strong podium contender in the class. Bring on Round 6!”

Billy Van Eerde, “It was a good race, but I didn’t get off to the best start as I did in Race One and Two, but I fought through the whole race. It was definitely the most fun I’ve ever had on the track. I managed to get up the inside of Tommy on Turn 6 and take it from there.
The KTM 390, having an extra 90cc’s than the ‘Under’s’ really helps down the straights if I can hold it pinned in the corners too!”

Oli Bayliss, “I had a bingle in Race Two and was lucky enough to get back out there and compete in the next race. The competition is crazy out there. It’s easy to drop places very quickly. Racing in such a close and large field forces us to be better and more driven on track. I am looking forward to gridding up next time!”

Provisional Race 3 Top Ten Results