Herfoss quickest during Friday practice at Morgan Park

Round 5 of the 2016 Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli roared to life at Morgan Park Raceway today, with riders hitting the track for practice ahead of racing commencing tomorrow.

A total of six classes had the opportunity to lay down the rubber during three practice sessions in Queensland today, and the times on track were fast and competitive, providing a taste of what is in store for the penultimate round of racing at the Morgan Park venue this weekend.

Yamaha Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbikes:

When the premier Yamaha Motorcycle Insurance Superbikes hit the Morgan Park circuit for their first practice session this morning, riders wasted no time in utilizing every inch of the 2.976km track, all vying for the quickest times.

After only a handful of laps, it was a familiar sight with the number 47 Yamaha Racing Team machine of Wayne Maxwell setting the early pace, but teammate Cru Halliday fought straight back, posting a 1:15.846 lap which saw him launch to the top of the time sheets. Despite Halliday crashing in turn 12 in the later stages of the session, no rider was able to match him for the first time ever this year – Halliday finishing as the man to beat, followed by Maxwell who wrapped up the session second quickest with a 1:15.865, while teammate Glenn Allerton concluded this morning’s practice with a 1:15.990. Troy Herfoss (Crankt Protein Honda Racing) and Daniel Falzon (Jon Daniels Racing) were fourth and fifth quickest on track respectively.

DesmoSport Ducati’s Mike Jones was a notable absentee from the first practice, only recording one lap time throughout the 25-minute session.

When the Superbike riders headed out for their second practice this afternoon, the track had heated to 39.2 degrees, providing a surface full of grip, and allowing competitors to drive down their times. Crankt Protein Honda Racing Team Rider Herfoss showed new speed from the minute bikes hit the track in the second practice, recording a flying 1:14.809 on lap two that couldn’t be beaten throughout the remainder of the session. Superbike Championship points leader Maxwell concluded the second practice just off Herfoss’s pace with a 1:15.033, while this morning’s fastest rider Halliday posted the third fastest time (1:15.341).

In the final practice session for the YMI Superbikes at Morgan Park today, Herfoss was on fire once again. After setting another top time in the early stages of the 25-minute session, Herfoss went faster again on lap 12, recording a time of 1:14.594, which once again couldn’t be matched. Despite Maxwell’s every effort to catch the Honda, the Yamaha Racing Team Superbike points leader finished the session second quickest on track with a 1:14.872, followed by team mate Halliday who was the only other rider to break into the 1:14’s with a 1:14.968. Falzon, and Allerton rounded out the top five times, and despite a shocking morning DesmoSport Ducati’s Jones was eighth fastest on track in the third practice session.

Motul Supersport:

A field of 18 Motul Supersport riders took to the track for their first practice session at Morgan Park this morning, and from the minute bikes hit the circuit there was a competitive edge in the air. It took no time at all for Banham WA Racing’s Sam Clarke to find his feet – after only three laps the Kawasaki rider posted a 1:18.907 lap time that appeared unable to be beaten. But at the 14 lap mark, it was JNL Racing’s Luke Mitchell who topped the times with a 1:17.742, a time which wasn’t matched for the remainder of the session.

In the second practice session for the Motul Supersport competitors today, Mitchell once again cemented himself as a round five contender. By lap six, the Yamaha rider had posted the top time and looked certain to remain there. But in the second session, Clarke was looking for an edge, and by lap 11, he found it, recording the fastest time on track with a cracking 1:16.954. Mitchell wrapped up the second practice with a 1:17.216, while Graffiti Alley Racing’s Troy Guenther finished with the third fastest lap (1:17.906).

With the track cooling, by the time Supersport riders headed out for their third and final practice, it was a race for competitors to find grip and put down their fastest times. And there was plenty of action in the final practice of the day. With Clarke once again setting the fastest time with a 1:17.247 lap, Mitchell was determined to chase him down. However, a crash in turn three in the closing stages of the session impeded Mitchell’s charge – the JNL Racing rider forced to leave the track in the hands of Racesafe. With the final session red flagged and declared at the 20-minute mark, Clarke finished fastest with his 1:17.247 lap, followed by Guenther (1:17.285), and Mitchell whose earlier time saw him finish third fastest. Despite all of the action in the final session, Clarke’s flying 1:16.954 time from this morning remains unbeaten.

Honda Moto 3/125 GP:

The Honda Moto 3/125GP class competitors relished in the fresh track conditions at Morgan Park Raceway this morning, and it was the local rider Tayla Relph (Tayla Relph Racing) who topped the times in the first practice session of the day with a 1:26.020, while youngster Locky Taylor finished with a 1:27.220.

In the second session, riders were treated to sunny conditions, with the Morgan Park surface hitting 37.2 degrees Celsius. This time it was current Honda Moto3 points leader Brian Houghton who was fastest on track with an improved lap time of 1:23.239, while Relph was only slightly off Houghton’s pace with a 1:24.353. Tommy Edwards was third fastest on track in the second practice session, wrapping up with a 1:24.939. Taylor and Sarah Fairbrother recorded the fourth and fifth fastest times respectively.

When the Honda Moto 3/125 GP bikes headed out for their final practice session, all eyes were on the local favorites Relph and Taylor who were tipped to be quick during the final outing of the day. Despite Relph setting the early fastest time, it was Edwards who shot to the top of the time sheets at the very end of the session (lap 9), posting a 1:23.280 time, while Houghton wrapped up the last practice in second (1:23.445) followed by Relph who was third fastest with her time on lap three    (1:23.624). Despite Edward’s form in the final session, Houghton’s time from the second practice could not be beaten in the three sessions on the Morgan Park circuit today.

Akrapovic Production:

In the newly supported Akrapovic Production class, it only took six laps for Race Centre’s Drew Sells to shoot to the top of the Up to 300cc Production class times (1:30.484) during the opening practice session this morning, while Kawasaki’s Sam Condon was only just off the pace recording a 1:31.265 lap time. In the over 300cc Production category, Yamaha R3 mounted Brandon Demmery was quickest in the class, and third fastest on track with a 1:31.491.

In the second practice session for the Akrapovic Production class, Kawasaki mounted Up to 300cc rider Tom Toparis improved on this morning’s times to finish quickest on track with a 1:26.784, while Demmery also improved his speed finishing with the second fastest time, a 1:28.896. Third fastest on track was Alderson (1:29.092), while this morning’s fastest rider Sells concluded the session with the fourth fastest lap time (1:29.333).

In the final Production class practice this afternoon, Race Centre’s Sells returned to the top once again, posting not only the fastest Up to 300cc Production time, but the quickest time on track during the session with a 1:27.786 – however was not quite able to match that of Toparis’ lap in practice two. Over 300cc rider Demmery was also fast in the third practice session recording a 1:28.372 on lap seven, while Sam Condon wrapped up the Production class’s time on track today, by making further improvements recording a 1:28.569.

YMF R3 Cup

The YMF supported R3 Cup returned to the ASBK today, with competitors having their first opportunity to hit the track for their practice session ahead of racing alongside the championship once again tomorrow. At the conclusion of first practice this morning, Puma RV’s Motorsport Team rider Zac Levy emerged as the early man to beat with a 1:30.582 lap time, followed by YRD’s Callum Alderson (1:31535) and Hunter Ford who was hot on his tail in the lap times chase.

When the second practice session kicked off for the YMF R3 Cup competitors, the track had heated up considerably from this morning’s session, meaning riders were able to push the limits and drive down the lap times. Yamaha’s Alderson was the man to beat in practice two, wrapping up the session with a 1:28.362, nearly a whole second quicker than his closest competitor Levy who concluded the session with a 1:29.315 lap time. Ford once again was slightly off the pace with his fastest lap being recorded on lap six (1:30.957).

In the third and final practice session this afternoon, YRD’s Alderson was once again leaps and bounds in front of his competitors, bettering his time from the second practice to wrap up the session at the top of the time sheets with a 1:28.244. Second quickest on track was Yamaha’s Aiden Hayes (1:30.237) while Ford was third fastest on track this afternoon with a 1:30.540 lap time.

Ricondi Club Challenge Formula 3 & 4

In the first practice session for the Club Challenge Formula 3 & 4 class, Suzuki SV 650 mounted Mark Gordon was fastest on track with a flying 1:30.171 lap time, while Aprilia rider Matt Edwards was second quickest this morning with a 1:33.491. The third fastest rider was that of Michael Cullen aboard his Honda CBR 250 machine who rounded out the session with a 1:35.114 lap time.

In the second practice for the Club Challenge riders, a number of ASBK regulars also took part, switching up the times yet again. Honda mounted Anthony Carroll took things up a notch posting the fastest time with a 1:28.106, while regular Production rider Sam Condon was second fastest on track (1:28.759), followed by the morning’s fastest rider Gordon who wrapped up the second session with a 1:30.439.

In the final practice session for the Club Challenge Formula 3 & 4 category, Kawasaki EX 300 mounted Condon went close, but wasn’t able to top the lap time Carroll posted during the second practice session – Condon wrapping up the final practice with a 1:28.144. Second quickest was fellow Kawasaki rider Reid Battye (1:30.400), while Honda mounted Simon Dixon wrapped up the top three final times with a 1:30.474.

With ASBK practice sessions done and dusted, competitors and teams will now prepare for qualifying and racing at Round 5 of the 2016 Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli at Morgan Park, which kicks off tomorrow.

For more information on Round 5 of the ASBK, head to www.asbk.com.au or for a full list of results from today’s practice sessions, head to www.computime.com.au.