ASBK Support Classes Shine at Winton
Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli (ASBK) support classes put on a show at the Spokes.com.au presents Round 3 at Winton Motor Raceway. The YMF R3 Cup, GP Juniors Cup and Australian Sidecar Championships all delivered strong competition between the competitors.
YMF R3 Cup
The YMF R3 Cup featured a skirmish between Jack Mahaffy (JDS Moto, Yamaha YZF-R3), Corey Briffa (Alex Cudlin M-sports Yamaha YZF-R3) and Jack Passfield (Stay Upright Yamaha YZF-R3) for Race One.
Jack Mahaffy took his second win for the day after winning the Over 300’s Hi-Tec Batteries Race One earlier in the day. Mahaffy took an impressive victory finishing 2.849 ahead of Corey Briffa. Mahaffy discussed his methodical approach ahead of the first race; “I just tried to keep my mind straight and focused for as long as I could and it worked out that I got my second win of the day, I’m very happy with my performance today. We had some issues with the ignition switch causing the bike to cut out back at Wakefield, which didn’t mix well for racing, the issue is now resolved thankfully.”
In Second place was Corey Briffa. Briffa couldn’t quite get the win but the podium place is a great place to start. “It was a good move on Hunter Ford with the slipstream. I’m happy to come away with second place. Every time is a new learning curve and we’re happy with the results.”
Rounding out the podium was Jack Passfield who fought his way through the pack for an impressive third place “I had to come back from a disappointing qualifying but everyone that’s been helping me out today did a great. It was great to come through the field! The track was more slippery this afternoon but we managed to keep it on track. “
Tomorrow’s YMF R3 Cup races will be taking place at 9:40 AM and 1:30 PM.
YMF R3 Cup Results
1. Jack MAHAFFY(JDS Moto) Yamaha YZF-R3)
2. Corey BRIFFA (Alex Cudlin M-sports Yamaha YZF-R3)
3. Jack PASSFIELD (Stay Upright Yamaha YZF-R3 )
4. Hunter FORD (O Fox, Yamaha YZF-R3)
5. Tommy EDWARDS (Alpinestars Yamaha) YZF-R3
6. Ben BRAMICH (Ron Angel Classic Racing, Yamaha YZF-R3)
7. Boyd HOCKING (DPH Motorsport Yamaha, Yamaha YZF-R3)
8. Andrew HANNAN (Ringwood Automatics, Yamaha YZF-R3)
9. Dan THOMAS (LTR Honda, Yamaha YZF-R3)
10.Tayla RELPH (North Star Yamaha, YZF-R3)
GP Juniors Cup
Race One
The GP Juniors Cup engaged in a tight battle at the front, with the top four having an exciting duel. Tommy Edwards, Joel Kelso, John Lytras (Cabooture Yamaha, YZF-R-15 and Ben Baker were dicing and slip-streaming each other all race long.
Ben Baker took the lead into turn one and tried to build a gap behind him, but was unsuccessful. Within a few laps it became clear that this battle was going to last for the duration of the race. Joel Kelso eventually took the lead from Ben Baker and put his case forward to win the race.
Eventually Tommy ‘Gun’ Edwards gained the lead from Kelso and established himself as the favourite for the win but it wasn’t going to be smooth sailing from there.
In the closing stages of the race Joel Kelso regained the race lead and was looking strong but Tommy Edwards pulled off a masterstroke by slipstreaming his way into turn one. Edwards managed to hold on to his advantage to win the race! Quite incredibly only a tenth of a second was between the top three at the line.
Joel Kelso reflected on a hard fought race after just missing out on the win “It was a great race, unfortunately I got done on the slipstream, it was heaps of fun. We made a mistake and entered the corner too early but I still managed to come away with the second place. I have learned that it’s probably better to be in second position leading into the final lap as the slip stream is difficult to break.” Kelso said.
John Lytras discussed how slip-streaming came into play during the race; “It’s good fun these small bikes. For this race it was all about who can get the best slip-stream. I nearly high sided a few times but I held on to it luckily enough. I’m having so much fun out there and shoving it up the inside!” Lytras stated.
Tomorrow’s GP Juniors Cup races will take place at 10:50 AM and 4:05 PM
GP Juniors Race One Results
1. Ben BAKER (Yamaha YZF-R15)
2. Joel KELSO (JDS Moto Yamaha YZF-R15)
3. Tommy EDWARDS (Enemies Everywhere, Yamaha YZF-R15)
4. John LYTRAS (Caboolture Yamaha, YZF-R15)
5 COUSENS (TM Performance, Yamaha YZF-R15)
6 Max STAUFFER (Dyno27, Yamaha YZF-R15)
7 Harry KHOURI (Excite Motorsports Penrith, Yamaha YZF-R15)
8 Luke POWER (APT Wealth, Yamaha YZF-R15)
9 Reece OUGHTRED (VIC) (Carl Cox Motorsport, Yamaha YZF-R15)
Australian Sidecar Championship
The Australian Sidecar Championship Race One kicked off at the end of the ASBK race day for the eight lap dash to the flag featuring F2 and F1 sidecars on track in a three- wheeled frenzy for delighted spectators.
F2 Sidecars Race winners Terry GOLDIE / Jamie CRASS (Suzuki LCR) won the F2 class, Jamie saying on the podium; “Terry did a great job with the machine getting it going this morning, and it was just such an awesome race to be mixing it with the big boys (F1) on track! We are quite confident around here- we have some work to do on the bike tomorrow with the handling and then see what we can do! All that we are trying to do is our best, we dont really care what the others are doing” He finished.
F1 Sidecars fast men Jero JOYCE / Corey BLACKMAN (Rick Hanger Racing Kawasaki RHR) were delighted in their result today winning F1 class and outright for Race One. Joyce sharing; “I saw how much of a gap we had through the back section of the track and saw Howard (Ford) and Dave (Boughen), but then saw Terry cruise past on a F2! They did really well. I’d like to thank Corey (passenger) for hanging on and Chamberlin for their help. The 2016 Kawasaki ZX-10 engine really gets up and boogies! It has some real mumbo! We really cannot wait to get out there again and improve our pace without bin-ing it.”
Australian Sidecar Championship Race 1 Results
1 Jero JOYCE / Corey BLACKMAN (Rick Hanger Racing Kawasaki RHR)
2 Terry GOLDIE / Jamie CRASS (Suzuki LCR)
3 Howard FORD / Lee MENZIES (Suzuki LCR)
4 Dave BOUGHEN / Lok O’KANE (Sidefx, Suzuki LCR)
5 Bruce COLLINS / Peter DE ANGELIS (Suzuki LCR)
6 Jeff BROWN / Darren SHELDRICK (APW Motorcycles)
7 Mick ALTON / Chrissie CLANCY (J & C Contracting Honda Shelbourne)
8 Richard GOODALE / Scott GOODALE (Turn-A-Part Engineering Shelbourne)
9 Matthew McKINNON / Peter CUMMINGS (Matty’s PC’s, Suzuki GSXR)
10 Darryl McLEOD / Paul MATTHEWS (Turn-A-Part Engineering, Suzuki GSXR)
DNF John CLANCY / Warren GRUBB (Golden Age Homes Suzuki LCR)
2017 Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship Presented by Motul Pirelli Calendar:
Round 3 Spokes.com.au presents Winton Motor Raceway, VIC 28-30 April
Round 4 Hidden Valley Raceway, NT 7-9 July
Round 5 Morgan Park Raceway, QLD 25-27 August
Round 6 SMSP Eastern Creek, NSW 8-10 September
Round 7 Spokes.com.au presents Phillip Island Circuit, VIC 6-8 October
Stay up to date with all the latest news and updates from the ASBK by liking ASBK on Facebook, following the @asbk on Instagram and checking out the ASBK website here.
Don’t forget to watch ASBK on Live Stream and SBS this Sunday. Straight from the track to you!
Pictured: Tommy Edwards
Photo courtesy of Andrew Gosling TBG Photography.
Media Contact:
Tristen Spragg
Media and Public Relations Officer
p: 03 9684 0526
m. 0417153920
