Chiodo Claims Supersport Pole at Sydney Motorsport Park

Mark Chiodo of the Repsol Gas Racing team delivered pole position for the Motul Supersport class ahead of tomorrow’s crucial two mid weight races at Sydney Motorport Park. This marks Chiodo’s fourth pole position for the year in the Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli (ASBK)

In a carbon copy of Friday’s practice sessions, Tom ‘Torpedo’ Toparis (Cube Racing, Kawasaki ZX-6R) registered a time of 1:34.226 to beat his new rival Aarron Morris (Maxima Yamaha, Yamaha YZF-R6) by only 0.105 of a second. The fastest time was set in the first qualifying session by Chiodo (Repsol Gas Racing, Triumph 675 R) 1:34.028.

Sam Muldoon (Proworx Racing, Kawasaki ZX-6R) came fourth overall. His best being a 1:34.547, while Mason Coote (Aark Racing, Yamaha YZF-R6), qualified impressively in fifth. The young privateer’s time was 1:34.671.

Currently, the best lap for Supersport class motorcycles around Sydney Motorsport Park still stands at 1:32.009, set in 2008 by Jamie Stauffer (NSW) on a Yamaha YZF-R6.

With the top five in such close succession, tomorrow’s races won’t be ones to miss!

Quotes from the Riders:
Chiodo
“I am very happy to be standing here in P1 on the ASBK podium. I didn’t manage to get the best lap in on Q2, but my time in Q1 was enough to land me here. I am feeling really good ahead of tomorrow and I’ll be chasing the result we deserve. The Triumph is really suited to the track and it’s hooking up really well in and out of corners. So hopefully tomorrow I can deliver the goods.”

Toparis
“I had a great time out there on track today in Qualifying, but I don’t think that we produced our best lap. I am sure we can go into the 1:33’s. The conditions are really suited to the bike and Pirelli tyres. Our race pace tomorrow will be pretty consistent in the 1:34’s and I am very comfortable over the distance.”

Morris
“I had a ball out there today. I tried to run a tactical game out there, but got caught up in traffic and quickly burnt up my rear tyre. Considering I am only out here to give it a go and have a bit of fun, it’s nice to see I am still quite competitive. I look forward to seeing what happens tomorrow over full race distance.”

Be sure to attend Sydney Motorsport Park tomorrow to see if Chiodo can claim victory in the Motul Supersport Championship! Race One will take place at 10:00 while Race Two will commence at 13:10. Each race will consist of 12 laps.

Provisional Top Ten Motul Supersport Saturday Qualifying Times

1 Mark CHIODO (Repsol Gas Racing, Triumph 675 R) 1:34.028
2 Tom TOPARIS (Cube Racing, Kawasaki ZX-6R) 1:34.226
3 Aaron MORRIS (Maxima Yamaha, YZF-R6) 1:34.465
4 Sam MULDOON (Proworx Racing, Kawasaki ZX-6R) 1:34.547
5 Mason COOTE (Aark Racing, Yamaha YZF-R6) 1:34.671
6 Ted COLLINS (NextGen Motorsports, Suzuki GSX-R600) 1:34.887
7 Sam CONDON (Bikebiz, Yamaha YZF-R6) 1:34.954
8 Chris QUINN Coopers HXR, Yamaha YZF-R6) 1:34.976
9 Hayden SPINKS (Westsliders, Kawasaki ZX-6R) 1:35.571
10 Nic LIMINTON (Race Center, Yamaha YZF-R6) 1:35.625

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2017 Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship Presented by Motul Pirelli Calendar:
Round 6                                           SMSP Eastern Creek,        NSW  8-10 September  
Round 7    Spokes.com.au presents Phillip Island Circuit,    VIC 6-8  October

Photos Courtesy of Andrew Gosling TBG Photography
Photo One: Mark Chiodo SMSP
Photo Two: Tom Toparis SMSP
Photo Three: Mark Chiodo, Tom Toparis and Aaron Morris at SMSP