2015

Barker impresses at home circuit

News

Callum Barker (K1 Racing) has come away with the Honda Moto 3 / 125GP round win at the 2015 Yamaha Motor Finance ASBK Championship presented by Motul Pirelli at Morgan Park.

After winning the opening race on Saturday and the second race held on Sunday, Barker had to settle for third place in the final race after being issued with a 10-second jumpstart penalty.

He still managed to claim third in the race which was enough to give him the round win ahead of Ben Leonard and Brian Houghton (K1 Racing)

Race 2

As the lights turned green for race two, it was Barker who shot to the front, with Matt Barton (ETS Racefuels) getting a good start from third on the grid to move into second place.

Ted Collins got an incredible start from the third row piloting his bike into third, however a red flag was forced out after Daniel Wilson (Racetrix) and Clint Clarke (Mega Motorcycles) came off at the opening turn.

It forced the race to be re-started, and when riders came back for the eight-lap affair it was again Barker shooting to the lead, with Barton squeezed out for second position at the first turn.

Leonard and Locky Taylor settled into third and fourth but before long Tayla Relph had moved herself into third position.

Barker soon posted a 1:21.660 – the fastest lap of the weekend and a new lap record, opening a handy gap from Barton.

Soon after on lap three he did it again positing a 1:21.526 and got that down to 1:21.431 towards the end of the race.

Leonard and Houghton moved back ahead of Relph and it seemed to be a jostle between the three for third spot on the race podium.

Houghton moved into third halfway through the race, but all eyes were on Barker who was dominant out in front and only looked like getting faster.

Barker continued to do consistent sub-1:22 lap times as he rode away to a comprehensive win ahead of Barton – despite the Victorian posting a new lap record on his final lap of 1:21.308.

Houghton, Leonard and Relph rounded out the top-five.

Race 3

Barker from Barton and Leonard, Taylor and Houghton behind them.

Houghton into fourth on lap two before confirmation came through that Barke was issued with a 10-second jump start penalty after he rolled off his line early.

That made round results extremely interesting with Barton trailing on the track staring down the barrel of an overall win.

At the halfway mark of the race Barker had a 4.220 second lead over Barton, but more importantly was sitting in fourth with the penalty applied.

A third place finish would be enough to seal the round win, and with four laps remaining he looked to increase the lead he had over Houghton in fourth.

The gap between the pair with three laps remaining was 9.26 seconds, and with Barton and Leonard comfortable in second and third (first and second after the penalty was applied), everyone had Barker on their minds.

With two laps remaining that gap moved to 11.093 seconds which pushed out to 12.984 seconds when the chequered flag was raised.

It was enough to hand Barker the round win, with Barton claiming the race win and second in the overall standings for the round.

The next round of the Championship will be held at Barbagallo Raceway in Western Australia from 22-24 May.

ROUND RESULTS

1                                          Callum BARKER (QLD)                        (25, 25, 18)   69
2                                          Benjamin LEONARD (QLD)              (18, 17, 20)      55
3                                          Brian HOUGHTON (QLD)         (20, 18, 17)   55
4                                          Locky TAYLOR (QLD)               (17, 14, 16)   47
5                                          Tayla RELPH (QLD)                  (16, 16, 15)   47
6                                          Matt BARTON (VIC)                 (0, 20, 25)      45
7                                          Ted COLLINS (VIC)                  (14, 13, 14)   41
8                                          Tom BRAMICH (VIC)                (13, 15, 13)   41
9                                          Clint CLARKE (QLD)                 (15, 0, 12)      27
10                                        Daniel WILSON (WA)               (12, 0, 11)      23

OVERALL CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

1                                          Matt BARTON (VIC)                 105
2                                          Brian HOUGHTON (QLD)         99
3                                          Benjamin LEONARD (QLD)     94
4                                          Ted COLLINS (VIC)                  91
5                                          Tom BRAMICH (VIC)                91
6                                          Callum BARKER (QLD)                        87
7                                          Olly SIMPSON (SA)                   76
8                                          Tayla RELPH (QLD)                  75
9                                          Clint CLARKE (QLD)                 49
10                                        Lachlan KAVNEY (QLD)           4