First races for Round 2 of the ASBK run and won at Wakefield Park

Racing action at Round 2 of the Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli roared to life at Wakefield Park Raceway today, with the YMF R3 Cup, Honda Moto3/125 GP, Production and the Club Challenge 600 classes setting the scene for what is to come tomorrow.

It what was a chilly morning that became an ideal afternoon, competitors across the four categories qualified in their respective sessions this morning, and put on a show for spectators, before dishing out some exciting racing this afternoon.

Production:

The Production class were the first bikes to hit the track this morning for their qualifying sessions, and it was Brandon Demmery on his Yamaha R3 who managed to the take top spot with a 1:09.605 lap time. The second qualifying session saw an improvement in times, with Demmery dropping a second (1:08.509), while Kawasaki mounted Reid Battye followed in second (1:08.818), and Samuel Condon (1:09.100) third.

After qualifying was done and dusted, it was Demmery on his number 55 machine, which started race one in pole position. However Demmery was pushed back to fifth once the racing got started – Battye leading for the first lap and developing a great gap on the field.

By lap two, it was Battye who continued to lead, followed closely by Condon and Yamaha R3 rider Callum Alderson. However Demmery fought back, charging through the field down the straight, the Yamaha rider managing to get by Alderson and slot comfortably into third.

The fourth lap of the of the race, saw Demmery chase the tails of both front runners Battye and Condon – Demmery making up valuable time, and pulling a gap on Alderson, Ty Lynch, Zack Johnson and Drew Sells who were locked into a battle for fourth.

By lap five, Demmery began his charge to the front – his first move being on Condon at turn three, taking the inside line and making the pass, relegating the Condon and his Kawasaki machine to third.

As the race reached it’s final stages, Demmery’s eyes became fixed on the rear wheel of Battye, and it wasn’t long before Condon joined the pair. The top three riders then put on a performance, which saw the race go down to the wire.

When then last lap board was shown, Demmery made his final charge past Battye for the lead, and for one lap the Yamaha rider held on to take the chequered flag ahead of Battye in second, while Condon finished in third ahead of Alderson and Sells who wrapped up race one in fourth and fifth places respectively.

Honda Moto 3/125 GP:

When the Moto 3 / 125 GP category hit the track for qualifying this morning, it was Tayla Relph who topped the times with a 1:06.030 lap. Hot on her tail was Brian Houghton, who once again battled with Locky Taylor, but the lady of the moment was Relph putting her Honda machine on top.

However in the second qualifying session, Houghton was quickest with a 1:04.717 lap, followed by Taylor who was just off the pace with a 1:05.496, while Relph concluded the second qualifying session in third (1:05.679).

When race one of the Honda Moto 3 / 125 GP class got underway, it was Taylor who stormed into the lead, while Houghton followed on the youngsters tail with Relph just behind in third – Ben Leonard and Dylan Whiteside rounded out the top five.

By lap three, Taylor continued to maintain the race lead, however a small mistake where the youngster drifted wide in Suzuki corner, allowed both Houghton and Relph to move in to first and second positions.

With Taylor now forced to play catch up, the 14 year old pushed hard to make up time, and while searching for additional speed had an unfortunate off at turn two marking an early end to his first race at round two.

As the race went on, the field saw no change, Houghton crossing the line in first position, followed by Relph in second, while Leonard and Whiteside finished in third and fourth respectively.

YMF R3 Cup:

The opening qualifying session for the YMF R3 cup this morning, saw Hunter Ford set a quick lap of 1:09.509 – a time that couldn’t be beaten by the likes of Zac Levy or Callum Alderson, who were second and third fastest on track this morning after both sessions were combined.

When race one kicked off for the YMF R3 Cup, Levy launched into the lead – a lead that he did not relinquish for the duration of the 10-lap race.

With Levy out in front, it was the battle for third position between Ford, Ty Lynch, and Aiden Hayes that kept spectators on the edge of their seats.

Ford, who found himself in third place behind Alderson who was locked in to second, was able to make use of the slip stream, passing Alderson for second position as they came into turn one as the race reached it’s final stages.

With two laps remaining, traffic began to hold up the race, but it was the leader Levy who manoeuvred his machine with ease, crossing the finish line with the race one victory, followed by Ford who finished in second place, Alderson crossing the line in third. Lynch and Hayes concluded race one in fourth and fifth places respectively.

Club Challenge 600 presented by Whites Racing Products:

Screaming into the sunshine, coming down the front straight this morning it was Ben O’Connor who managed to wriggle his Triumph to first position in qualifying with a 1:04.013 lap time. O’Connor finished the first and only qualifying session for the 600’s on pole, ahead of Carl Kitson and Gavin Mudie who wrapped up the morning’s session, taking second and third positions on the grid respectively.

When race one for the Club Challenge 600’s commenced, it was Mudie who managed to put his Yamaha R6 machine in to the lead, as the pack or riders entered turn one.

By lap two, Mudie continued to maintain the race lead, followed closely behind by pole position holder O’Connor, while Honda mounted Rodney Whitney held down a close third position.

With Mudie, O’Connor and Witney out in front, Carl Kitson (Yamaha) was left in fourth position, however his battle to make it to the front ended prematurely when he ran wide, losing two positions to Pelegrin and Barnett leaving him in sixth, heading into the fourth lap.

By lap five, Mudie and O’Connor began their head to head battle for first position. O’Connor taking full control of his Triumph machine snatching away the race lead with time to spare.

As the race reached it’s final stages, fans were treated again when fourth and fifth places held by Barnett and Kitson took advantage of Whitney leaving a gap open, the pair shooting up the inside in turn one, relegating Whitney back to fifth place.

And when the chequered flag flew on the first race for the Club Challenge 600 class, O’Connor had reason to celebrate, crossing the line with a comfortable gap on second place getter Mudie, followed by Barnett who battled hard to conclude the race in third. Kitson and Whitney continued their head to head fight all the way to the finish line, finishing in fourth and fifth places respectively.

For more information on the 2016 Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli, head to www.asbk.com.au or like the ASBK on Facebook, to stay up to date with all of the pics, race results and more.

Image – Andrew Gosling/tbgsport (Moto 3/125 GP race one winner Brain Houghton in action at Wakefield Park this afternoon)