Successful The Bend ASBK test concludes

The Official ASBK Test at The Bend Motorsport Park is now in the books and it was Wayne Maxwell (Yamaha Racing Team, YZF-R1M) to set the benchmark.

Riders were full of praise for the world class facility and layout and attention now turns to Round 3 of the Australian Superbike Championship on April 19-22, and joined by the FIM Asian Road Racing Championship.

YMI Superbike

The last session for the day was full of excitement, as Maxwell flew to the top of the timesheets. Maxwell set his fastest lap in the dying seconds of the Official ASBK Test.

Maxwell saying; “It was a very successful test and there’s a lot of guys towards the front. We know we’ll have to watch out for the guys behind us. Looking forward to coming back to The Bend for Round 3.”

Wayne Maxwell – Image by TBG Sport

Second to Maxwell was Troy Herfoss (Penrite Honda Racing, Honda CBR1000SP). Herfoss set the fastest time yesterday but was just pipped to the line by his rival Maxwell. Incredibly, only 0.010 of a second separated the two.

In third position was three time WorldSBK Champion Troy Bayliss (Desmosport Ducati, Ducati 1299 Panigale FE). The Ducati looks at home at The Bend Motorsport Park and Round 3 could perhaps see a Bayliss victory, should the cards fall in his favor. Bayliss was a further 0.26 behind the fastest time of the day.

Also finishing in the top five was the reigning champion, Josh Waters (Team Suzuki ECSTAR, GSXR-R1000R) and multiple Champion Glenn Allerton (NextGen Motorsports, BMW S1000RR) who is looking strong again and appears to be recovering well after a significant fall at Round 1.

It’s all setup for a brilliant YMI Superbike battle when ASBK returns to the Bend!

YMI Superbike Provisional Top Ten Times

Wayne MAXWELL (Yamaha Racing Team, YZF-R1M) 1:54.020
Troy HERFOSS (Penrite Honda Racing, Honda CBR1000SP) 1:54.030
Troy BAYLISS (Desmosport Ducati, Ducati 1299 Panigale FE) 1:54.280
Josh WATERS (Team Suzuki ECSTAR, Suzuki GSXR-R1000R) 1:54.544
Glenn ALLERTON (NextGen Motorsports, BMW S1000RR) 1:54.630
Daniel FALZON (Yamaha Racing Team, Yamaha YZF-R1M) 1:54.994
Bryan STARING (Kawasaki Bcperformance, Kawasaki ZX-10R) 1:55.441
Arthur SISSIS (SA Demolition, Suzuki GSXR-1000) 1:56.539
Michael BLAIR (Yamaha, YZF-R1) 1:56.784
Kyle BUCKLEY (Kawasaki Bcperformance, Kawasaki ZX10R) 1:57.033

Kawasaki Supersport

Fastest was Cru Halliday (Yamaha Racing Team, YZF-R6) who was without a doubt the strongest rider in his class. As the test progressed, Halliday become very comfortable with the layout of the track.

In second was the championship leader Tom Toparis (Cube Racing, Kawasaki, ZX-6R). The gap to Halliday was significant, as much as 1.785s. Toparis will be looking to take the fight to his title rival at Round 3.

Cru Halliday dominated the Supersport class where he was untouchable – Image by TBG Sport

Giuseppe Scarcella (Kawasaki BCperformance, ZX-6R) managed to place himself in third. He will be seeking to elevate himself onto the podium for race weekend. He was a further 2.213s off the leading pace.

Slotting themselves into fourth and fifth was Broc Pearson (Yamaha Motors Australia, Yamaha YZF-R6) and Max Croker (Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSXR-600).

Kawasaki Supersport Provisional Top Ten Times

Cru HALLIDAY (Yamaha Racing Team, Yamaha YZF-R6) 1:56.464
Tom TOPARIS (Cube Racing, Kawasaki, ZX-6R) 1:58.249
Giuseppe SCARCELLA (Kawasaki BCperformance, ZX-6R) 1:58.677
Broc PEARSON (Yamaha Motors Australia, Yamaha YZF-R6) 1:59.398
Max CROKER (Mat Mladin, Suzuki GSXR-600) 1:59.652
Zac JOHNSON (Rebuilder, Yamaha YZF-R6) 1:59.695
John HUNT (Looking For Sponsor, Suzuki GSXR-600) 2:00.461
Damon REES (Tony Rees Motorcycles, Honda CBR600RR) 2:00.954
Jack PASSFIELD (Stay Upright Australia Rider Training, Yamaha YZF-R6) 2:01.556
Dallas SKEER (Ron Angel Classic Racing, Suzuki GSXR600) 2:01.839

Australian Supersport 300

Putting in a scintillating lap on his Yamaha was Hunter Ford (South Sydney Commercial, Yamaha YZF-R3). Despite not taking part in the final session, Ford’s fastest lap from the third session of the day was enough to secure top spot. Topping the test will be a huge boost to Ford, who currently resides sixth in the championship.

Hunter Ford didn’t head out on track for the final session but still pulled the overall top time in the Supersport 300 class – Image by TBG Sport

Coming in second was the Olly Simpson (Simpson Crash, Yamaha YZF-R3), who was one of the highlights of the Official ASBK Test. Simpson, a former Red Bull Rookies Cup rider was fastest yesterday and is planning to compete at Round 3. The difference between the top two was 0.117s.

Tayla Relph (Yamaha YZF-R3) was also one of the big improvers over the two days. After sustaining an injury at Round 1, Relph has been in a strong run of form. It will be fascinating to see she can contend for the podium come race weekend. Relph finished a further 0.474 off Ford.

Also establishing themselves in the top five was Oli Bayliss (Cube Racing, Kawasaki Ninja 300) and Ben Baker (BC Performance Junior Team, Kawasaki Ninja 300).

Australian Supersport 300 Provisional Top Ten Times

Hunter FORD (South Sydney Commercial, Yamaha YZF-R3) 2:11.506
Oliver SIMPSON (Simpson Crash, Yamaha YZF-R3) 2:11.623
Tayla RELPH (Yamaha YZF-R3) 2:11.980
Oli BAYLISS (Cube Racing, Kawasaki Ninja 300) 2:12.238
Ben BAKER (BC Performance Junior Team, Kawasaki Ninja 300) 2:12.566
Tom BRAMICH (Yamaha YZF-R3) 2:12.804
Harry KHOURI (Excite M-sports, Yamaha YZF-R3) 2:12.999
Travis HALL (Yamaha YZF-R3) 2:13.237
Mitchell KUHNE (Shark Leathers, Yamaha YZF-R3) 2:13.875
Zane FORD (South Sydney Commercial, Yamaha YZF-R3) 2:14.509

ASBK will return to the track for a motorcycle spectacular with the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC) 19-22 April. The best riders from Australia and Asia will be burning rubber, it won’t be one to missed!