Bryan Staring Leads YMI Superbike Championship after Scintillating Sunday
Bryan Staring (Kawasaki BCPerformance, ZX10R) has turned Round 1 of the Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli (ASBK) on its head, taking out the overall victory after a stellar ride from 13th on the grid to win Race Three of the YMI Superbike class. It’s a debut to remember on the BCPerformance Kawasaki, whilst Wayne Maxwell (Yamaha Racing Team, YZF-R1M) found redemption after a dark day on Saturday to claim Race Two at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.
The reigning ASBK Champion Josh Waters (Team Suzuki ECSTAR, GSX-R1000R) started his title defence with an ever so consistent weekend, grabbing two second place finishes and third place to leave him second overall.
Race One winner Troy Herfoss (Penrite Honda, CBR1000SP) rounded out the podium and sits level on points with Waters, leaving the pair one point a drift of Staring.
YMI Superbike Race 2
After yesterday’s dramatic race which saw Herfoss climb to the top step of the podium, Maxwell put a difficult Saturday behind him to take a well-deserved win for his Yamaha Racing Team outfit.
In the early stages of the race it looked like Waters was going to make a break for it, with Troy Bayliss (Desmosport Ducati, Ducati Panigale R FE) and Maxwell in tow. It didn’t take long however for Maxwell to blast past Bayliss and begin his charge against Waters in front.
On lap five, Maxwell made his move and took control of the race. Waters was always within relative striking distance thereafter, but could quite never quite get close enough to pull off an overtaking maneuver.
As Maxwell and Waters checked out at the front, an epic battle was on for the final spot on the podium between Bayliss, Daniel Falzon (Yamaha Racing Team, YZF-R1M), Troy Herfoss (Penrite Honda, Honda CBR1000RRSP) and Staring. By lap seven, Staring was on fire, passing all three of his rivals in short succession.
Another battle pack was forming between Matt Walters (Swann Insurance Superbike, Kawasaki ZX10), Michael Blair (Yamaha, YZF-R1), Glenn Allerton (NextGen Motorsports, BMW S1000RR) and Aaron Morris (Maxima Yamaha, Yamaha YZF-R1) for eighth.
On the final lap, Maxwell took victory by .935s, Waters unable to make a move on the Yamaha rider. The relief was evident for Maxwell after retiring from yesterday’s Race One.
The highlight of the race had to be the battle for third, which went to Staring who pulled off plenty of masterful overtakes, coming all the way from 13th of the grid.
Fourth went to yesterday’s winner Herfoss, followed by Bayliss (5th) and Falzon (6th).
Blair was outstanding on his privateer Yamaha, taking 7th after battling with Walters (8th) and Allerton (9th).
Notable riders that did not complete the race included Mark Chiodo (Team Suzuki ECSTAR, GSX-R1000R), Mike Jones (Allsite Concrete Cutting, ZX-10R) and Corey Tuner (Brisbane Motorcycles Suzuki GSX-R1000R).
Winner Maxwell stating; “Massive credit to Yamaha Racing Team, Josh has always been dominant here in the past so it’s a relief to get the win. My left ankle is still in pain after the crash yesterday, so it makes it difficult to change gear. Hopefully it will feel better for Race Three!”
The master overtaker Staring stating after the race; “Huge thanks to the Kawasaki BCperformance team, the ZX-10R just has so much horsepower. We were able to make up so much time and our ability to pass on the straight allowed us to make up so many places. Qualifying was a disaster so I’m very happy with our performance.”
Race Two Top Ten Provisional Results
1. Wayne MAXWELL (Yamaha Racing Team, YZF-R1M)
2. Josh WATERS (Team Suzuki Ecstar Australia, Suzuki GSX-R1000R)
3. Bryan STARING (Kawasaki BCPerformance, Kawasaki ZX10R)
4. Troy HERFOSS (Penrite Honda, Honda CBR1000RRSP)
5. Troy BAYLISS (Desmosport Ducati, Ducati Panigale R FE)
6. Daniel FALZON (Yamaha Racing Team, Yamaha YZF-R1M)
7. Michael BLAIR (Yamaha, YZF-R1)
8. Matt WALTERS (Swann Insurance Superbike, Kawasaki ZX10)
9. Glenn ALLERTON (NextGen Motorsports, BMW S1000RR)
10. Aaron MORRIS (Maxima Yamaha, Yamaha YZF-R1)
YMI Superbike Race 3
The YMI Superbike class had another action-packed affair won by Kawasaki BCperformance newcomer, Staring. After a tough last year, Staring has been sensational all weekend long at Phillip Island, coming from 13th on the grid to a race victory. Staring’s Kawasaki machine was an absolute demon down the main straight, which assisted him to overtake his way to victory.
The highlight of the race a massive battle between Waters, Maxwell, Bayliss, Falzon, Staring and Herfoss in a group. Lap eight was when the Kawasaki rider, Staring made his move and gained the lead, after this he didn’t look back on his way to the checkered flag. Maxwell and Waters both attempted to pass Staring, but could not get past the sheer grunt of the ZX-10R recording 297 km/ph down Gardner straight.
BCperformance Team Manager, Kelvin Reilly watched on as Staring and Waters had a drag race down Gardner straight to the finish line and this time Staring reigned supreme by only 0.19s. Filling the race podium alongside him was Waters and Maxwell.
Coming fourth was Herfoss, fifth Falzon, and the top nine was completed by Bayliss, Blair, Allerton and Walters.
Overall Staring came away with the Round 1 victory, leading the ASBK championship with 60 points, followed by Waters and Herfoss, both with 59 points. It’s all set up for another cracking YMI Superbike Championship in 2018!
Staring sharing; “I just knew I was getting murdered in several areas of the track in the last race. If we improved the bike in key areas than I knew we would be very strong. I really enjoyed that race and we’ve won the overall for the weekend. I’m so happy that we were able to recover from that qualifying performance. There’s almost nothing in it between the top competitors and I’m sure that’s the way it’s going to be all year long. Bring on Wakefield!”
2018 ASBK will now head to Wakefield Park in New South Wales for Round 2 on 16-18 March, for a round not to be missed with the racing at a level we have not seen in ages in Australia.
Race Three Top Ten Provisional Results
1. Bryan STARING (Kawasaki BCPerformance, Kawasaki ZX-10R)
2. Josh WATERS (Team Suzuki Ecstar Australia, Suzuki GSX-R1000R)
3. Wayne MAXWELL (Yamaha Racing Team, Yamaha YZF-R1)
4. Troy HERFOSS (Penrite Honda, CBR1000SP)
5. Daniel FALZON (Yamaha Racing Team, Yamaha YZF-R1)
6. Troy BAYLISS (Desmosport Ducati, Ducati Panigale R FE)
7. Michael BLAIR (Yamaha, Yamaha YZF-R1)
8. Glenn ALLERTON (NextGen Motorsports, BMW S1000RR)
9. Matt WALTERS (Swann Insurance Superbike, Kawasaki ZX10)
10. Aaron MORRIS (Maxima Yamaha, Yamaha YZF-R1)
2018 ASBK Calendar
Round 2- Wakefield Park Raceway, Goulburn NSW March 16 – 18
Official ASBK Test, The Bend Motorsport Park, Tailem Bend, SA April 3-4
Round 3- The Bend Motorsport Park, Tailem Bend, SA April 19 – 22
Round 4- Hidden Valley Raceway, Darwin NT June 28 – 1 July
Round 5- Morgan Park Raceway, Warwick QLD August 17 – 19
Round 6- Winton Motor Raceway, Benalla, VIC September 7 – 9
Round 7- Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC October 12 – 14
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.
Photos courtesy of Andrew Gosling – tbg sport
