Herfoss goes undefeated and closes in on YMI Superbike Championship at Morgan Park
Thousands of spectators flocked to Morgan Park Raceway in Queensland today to watch on, as Crankt Protein Honda Racing’s Troy Herfoss stormed to victory across two races at Round 5 of the Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli.
With plenty of excitement on track during qualifying yesterday, when the Yamaha Motorcycle Insurance Superbikes headed out for their two races today, the action on track was exhilarating to say the least.
From the minute the YMI Superbike machines lined up for their media grid, there was a certain buzz in the air, and with spectators watching on like multiple time World Champion Mick Doohan, the stakes were higher than usual for Australia’s fastest men on two wheels.
But it was once again Crankt Protein Honda Racing Team’s Herfoss who stole the show from the minute bikes left the grid for their first 19 lap race, launching in to the early race lead followed by Yamaha Racing Team’s Wayne Maxwell and Glenn Allerton.
In what was a huge disappointment for DesmoSport Ducati’s Mike Jones, the defending ASBK champ was unable to even take part in the opening race sighting lap, entering the pits with bike problems, resulting in an absence from race one.
With two laps in the books, Herfoss was well and truly the fastest man on track, increasing his lead on Maxwell to an impressive two seconds. And with Herfoss holding a commanding gap on the field, the focus then shifted to the battle for second position, with Maxwell beginning to feel the pressure from Yamaha teammate Allerton and Jon Daniels Racing’s Daniel Falzon.
Unbelievably, as riders headed in to lap eight, Herfoss had put more than four seconds in between himself and closest competitor Maxwell.
Unfortunately for Yamaha Racing Team’s Cru Halliday, a crash on turn six during lap nine hampered his charge for a top five finish – and despite resuming for a small amount of time, the Yamaha rider eventually entered the pits, registering a DNF.
As race one for the YMI Superbikes progressed, Yamaha mounted Falzon made his way in to third position after making the pass on Allerton, who had been off the pace all weekend, while Crankt Protein Honda Racing Team’s Jamie Stauffer continued in fifth position.
But the man of the moment was undeniably Herfoss, who with only five laps to go had increased his lead to an impressive 5.6 seconds.
As race one reached its closing stages, riders had settled in to their positions, and it was clear that no one could get close to Herfoss’s incredible speed. So when the chequered flag flew, the Honda mounted star crossed the line victorious for the first time since round two by 3.748 seconds. Second place was snatched up by YRT’s Maxwell, followed by Tier 2 Yamaha rider Falzon who collected third – his first podium result for 2016.
Allerton wrapped up race one for the YMI Superbikes in fourth position, while Honda’s Stauffer completed the top five. Brayden Elliot, Sloan Frost, Brenton Hyde, Ryan Yanko and Adam Senior all occupied positions inside the top ten.
When race two kicked off late this afternoon, spectators had filled Morgan Park Raceway to see the final Round 5 battle play out, and when bikes launched off the grid for the final time, DesmoSport Ducati’s Jones was again a notable absentee, while Herfoss once again fired off in to the race lead.
Following Herfoss by 1.8 seconds after only one lap, was Yamaha Racing Team’s Halliday in second, while Maxwell slotted in to third position. But shortly after Maxwell put the foot down, passing his team mate in the back section of the track, and by lap three Maxwell was up to second position.
Unfortunately for Halliday, Allerton also had his teammate in his sights, and by lap four, Allerton had moved in to third position relegating Halliday to fourth.
By the halfway point in the final race, it was a familiar sight with Herfoss stretching out his lead to a whopping 4.8 seconds, while Maxwell continued to maintain second position, followed by teammates Allerton and Halliday who were going toe to toe for third place. Falzon was back in fifth position, followed by Stauffer in sixth.
And by lap 12, things began to really heat up on track, with Halliday making the move up to third position, passing his teammate and championship contender Allerton – relegating Allerton back to fourth place.
As race two reached its closing stages, Herfoss was untouchable out in front – once again stretching out his lead with every single lap he put down, and by the time riders reached lap 18 the Honda rider was in the box seat to go undefeated at Morgan Park.
And go undefeated is exactly what Crankt Protein Honda Racing Team’s rider did. Herfoss storming to his second race victory for the weekend, ahead of Yamaha Racing Team’s Maxwell, followed by teammate Halliday who crossed the finish line for the final time today in third.
Fourth place in race two was snatched up by Allerton, while Jon Daniels Racing’s Falzon completed the top five. Stauffer, Elliott, Ryan Hampton, Frost and Brenton Hyde made up the final top ten finishing positions.
With two from two race wins this weekend, Herfoss closed in on the YMI Superbike Championship and was awarded with the round five Superbike victory. Second position on the podium was taken by Maxwell, followed by teammate Allerton.
Troy Herfoss – Team Honda Racing – YMI Superbikes Round 5 Winner
“Today’s result is actually quite remarkable, I have never done the double, with a pole position and then two race wins,” Herfoss said.
“It’s just a great weekend, even from the test we just felt good right away, and this sport is all about confidence so to carry the confidence in to the race really helped me today.
“I am definitely relieved I wasn’t in a hard battle, because it was extremely hard work out there.
“I am just happy to be solid on the bike and be putting in good laps – it’s a credit to everyone here surrounding the podium -my team, and my sponsors they have done a great job, and I can’t stress enough how much work they have done,” he concluded.
Yamaha Motorcycle Insurance Superbikes Round 5 results:
1) Troy HERFOSS 51
2) Wayne MAXWELL 40
3) Glenn ALLERTON 34
4) Daniel FALZON 34
5) Jamie STAUFFER 31
6) Brayden ELLIOTT 29
7) Sloan FROST 26
8) Brenton HYDE 24
9) Ryan YANKO 22
10) Adam SENIOR 20
Yamaha Motorcycle Insurance Superbikes Championship Standings
1) Wayne MAXWELL 216
2) Troy HERFOSS 209
3) Glenn ALLERTON 205
4) Daniel FALZON 137
5) Mike JONES 137
6) Cru HALLIDAY 124
7) Brayden ELLIOTT 120
8) Jamie STAUFFER 115
9) Ben BURKE 114
10) Sloan FROST 98
The sixth and final round of the 2016 Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli (ASBK)will be held at Winton in Victoria on September 30, to October 2, 2016.
For more information on the ASBK, head to www.asbk.com.au, or for a full list of results from today, head to www.computime.com.au
Image – Andrew Gosling/tbgsport
