Battye Tops ASBK Hi-Tec Batteries Supersport 300 Practice Day
The tightly contested and ever popular Hi-Tec Batteries Supersport 300 class took to Morgan Park Raceway for Round 5 of the 2017 Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli (ASBK) in three spirited practice sessions that saw Reid Battye (BCperformance Junior Team, Kawasaki Ninja 300) stop the clocks in the final session, with a best lap time of 1:24.603. Battye was sensational on track, setting the benchmark for the entire ‘Over 300’ and ‘Up To 300’ subcategories of the class.
An enormous field of up to 40 riders had prime opportunity to lay down the rubber during three practice sessions in Queensland today. Times on track were fast and competitive, providing the paddock with a taste of what is in store for Race 1 of Round 5 tomorrow.
Battye who has often been a strong contender in the ASBK season so far, and will no doubt be one to watch over the race weekend.
Coming in second after practice, Billy Van Eerde (KTM Australia, KTM RC 390) is hot off his first international win in Malaysia and looks to be in top form ahead of this weekend’s races at Morgan Park. Van Eerde missed out on claiming the top spot by merely 0.171s. Van Eerde was the fastest for the ‘Over 300’ category.
Completing the top three, was Oli Bayliss (Cube Racing, Kawasaki Ninja 300). After attaining his first Hi-Tec Batteries Supersport 300 victory last time out at Hidden Valley Raceway in Darwin for Round 4. Bayliss will be looking for more championship points this weekend and will be charging hard on the Kawasaki.
Lachlan Epis (ResponseRE, Kawasaki Ninja 300) has made a return to ASBK this weekend on board his Ninja 300 and immediatley shot up the time board to fourth fastest in Friday’s practice session. Epis posted a respectable best of 1:24.854.
Yanni Shaw (BCperformance Junior Team, Kawasaki Ninja 300) rounded out the top five of the Hi-Tec Batteries Supersport 300 class, with a lap time of 1:25.029.
Stay tuned to live timing on asbk.com.au. Qualifying One (Q1) of the 2017 Hi-Tec Batteries Supersport 300 Championship is scheduled for 9:00am local time on Saturday, with Q2 due to take place at 11:40am. Race One for the class will also take place tomorrow at 2:40pm.
Hi-Tech Batteries Supersport 300 Top 10 Times
1. Reid BATTYE (Bcperformance Junior Team, Kawasaki Ninja 300 1:24.603)
2. Billy VAN EERDE (KTM Australia, KTM RC390) 1:24.774
3. Oliver BAYLISS (Cube Racing, Kawasaki Ninja 300) 1:24.815
4. Lachlan EPIS (ResponseRE, Kawasaki Ninja 300) 1:24.854
5. Yanni SHAW (BCperformance Junior Team, Kawasaki Ninja 300) 1:25.029
6. Locky TAYLOR (Locky Taylor Racing, Yamaha YZF-R3) 1:25.176
7. Broc PEARSON (YRD, Yamaha YZF-R3) 1:25.227
8. Jack MAHAFFY (Eastern Security Draws, Yamaha YZF-R3) 1:25.253
9. Max CROKER (KTM Australia, KTM RC390) 1:25.363
10. Tom BRAMICH (Ron Angel Classic, Yamaha YZF-R3) 1:25.623
Round 5 Morgan Park Raceway Program
To access the digital program, simply click on the photo below. If you wish to download the program to take it on the go, sign up and create an ISSUU account.
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.
Can’t make it to the track? Then make sure you watch the ASBK, this Sunday on channel SBS at 1pm AEST or Live Stream from 9:30am on asbk.com.au.
Tickets for Morgan Park Raceway in Queensland are now available for purchase online. Snap up your tickets for Round 5 today by clicking here!
2017 Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship Presented by Motul Pirelli Calendar:
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
Pictured: Reid Battye
Courtesy of Terry Gillam
