‘Podium Hunter’ Ford Takes out Hotly Contested YMF R3 Cup
Hunter Ford (YRD, Yamaha YZF-R3) has taken out the overall victory at Morgan Park Raceway for the YMF R3 Cup at Round 5 of the Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli (ASBK). Ford took out the first two races and a fifth in race three gave him the overall victory by just one point.
Tom Bramich (JLT, Yamaha YZF-R3) was ever so consistent throughout his weekend, and even his victory in the final race just wasn’t enough to get him the overall win. It was a positive weekend for Bramich as he didn’t miss the podium and finished second overall.
Locky Taylor (Shark Leathers, Yamaha YZF-R3) started the weekend as the rider to beat in the YMF R3 Cup, grabbing pole position with a superb qualifying session. In the races it didn’t just quite come together in terms of wins, but in race three Taylor missed the win by just .003s. A consistent weekend handed him third overall here at Morgan Park Raceway.
Race Two
“Podium Hunter’ Ford has made it two from two in the YMF R3 Cup after making a last lap move to take the victory at Morgan Park Raceway.
As expected the lead pack got up to as many as six riders battling it for the victory, but the last lap move from Ford on Bramich saw him take the win in a drag to the line.
Bramich would have to settle for second despite leading for most of the race, but with racing so close the last lap makes it anybody’s race.
Zac Levy (Puma RV’s, Yamaha YZF-R3) would take the final step on the podium, but it would be tough for Levy to cop as he was right in the mix throughout the race.
The rider who started from pole position Taylor would have to settle for fourth position.
Rounding out the top five was young gun Max Stauffer (Rock Oil, Yamaha YZF-R3), putting in his best performance of the season in the YMF R3 Cup class.
Brother of the race two winner Zane Ford (YRD, Yamaha YZF-R3) would cross the line in sixth position.
Unlucky was Tayla Relph (Earnold Aust, Yamaha YZF-R3) who was in the battle with the lead group, but a crash on the last lap ended her chances of a podium finish.
ASBK YMF R3 Cup Race Two Provisional Results
1. Hunter FORD (YRD, Yamaha YZF-R3) 11:28.849
2. Tom BRAMICH (JLT, Yamaha YZF-R3) 11:29.068
3. Zac LEVY (Puma RV’s, Yamaha YZF-R3) 11:29.212
4. Locky TAYLOR (Shark Leathers, Yamaha YZF-R3) 11:29.253
5. Max STAUFFER (Rock Oil, Yamaha YZF-R3) 11:29.456
6. Zane FORD (YRD, Yamaha YZF-R3) 11:30.588
7. Travis HALL (Ricondi Road & Race, Yamaha YZF-R3) 11:32.397
8. John LYTRAS (Caboolture Yamaha, Yamaha YZF-R3) 11:37.159
9. Harry KHOURI (Excite M-sports, Yamaha YZF-R3) 11:41.828
10. Simon DICKSON (Motorcycle Sportsmen Of Qld, Yamaha YZF-R3) 11:44.122
Race Three
The YMF R3 Cup saw an absolute classic, you couldn’t take your eyes off the track as a pack of five at the front swapped positions at every corner, but it would be Bramich who would win the drag to the line.
Bramich at points of the races dropped to fifth, but he got the drive out of the final turn and put it all on the line as he was first to the chequered flag.
Taylor who started from pole position had to settle for second by just .003 seconds, what a finish.
In third position, it was young gun Khouri who could have easily taken the win in what was the most exciting race of the day.
Just missing the podium was Levy, and as funny as it might be to say he very easily could have taken the win, but fourth is what the number 87 had to settle for.
Ford who had won the first two races here at Morgan Park had to settle for fifth as he just couldn’t find the speed to drag with the pack to the line.
Stauffer will leave Morgan Park Raceway with great confidence as he showed this weekend he can mix it with the best in the YMF R3 Cup as he finished in sixth position.
ASBK YMF R3 Cup Provisional Race Three Results
1. Tom BRAMICH (JLT, Yamaha YZF-R3) 11:23.034
2, Locky TAYLOR (Shark Leathers, Yamaha YZF-R3) 11:23.037
3. Harry KHOURI (Excite M-sports, Yamaha YZF-R3) 11:23.094
4. Zac LEVY (Puma RV’s, Yamaha YZF-R3) 11:23.184
5. Hunter FORD (YRD, Yamaha YZF-R3) 11:23.373
6. Max STAUFFER (Rock Oil, Yamaha YZF-R3) 11:25.512
7. Travis HALL (Ricondi Road & Race, Yamaha YZF-R3) 11:28.269
8. Callum OBRIEN (Banhams WA, Yamaha YZF-R3) 11:28.324
9. John LYTRAS (Caboolture Yamaha, Yamaha YZF-R3) 11:30.013
10. Tayla RELPH (Earmold Aust, Yamaha YZF-R3) 11:30.958
Levy will leave Morgan Park Raceway with the points lead as he has 187 points to his name, in second position its Ford with 185 points and rounding out the podium is Bramich with 162.
The next time you will see ASBK in action will be at Winton, Victoria on September 7-9.
ASBK is pleased to announce the arrival of the digitalised Official ASBK Round 5 Program.
The program can be found on the website ASBK.COM.AU.
Public access to the digital ASBK Program will feature many interesting and informative sections including; rider entry lists, race schedules, previous round wrap ups, championship points standings, track information, biographies, getting started in racing information, partnership information, race pictures and so much more.
2018 ASBK Calendar
Round 6- Winton Motor Raceway, Benalla, VIC September 7 – 9
Round 7- Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC October 12 – 14
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Photos courtesy of Andrew Gosling tbg sport
