2019

Lytras Wins Race 3, Stauffer Round 1 for YMI Supersport 300

Max Stauffer (Yamaha, Yamaha R3 321) may have missed out on going three wins from three this weekend, but he still claimed overall victory in Yamaha Motor Insurance (YMI) Supersport 300, capping off Round 1 of the 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK), held as part of the 2019 FIM World Superbike Championship (WSBK) weekend (22-24 February).

John Lytras (Caboolture Yamaha, Yamaha R3 321) claimed Race 3 to break Stauffer’s winning streak and banked 56 points for the weekend, leaving him in second place behind Stauffer’s 67. Luke Power’s (RTR Yamaha R3 321) pair of podiums helped him to third overall with 55 points.

Race 3

Lytras came from row two to to lead the pack off the line before Seth Crump (Rockoil, KTM RC 390) snuck through. But Power carved around the outside into turn two to take the lead and Lytras was bundled back to fifth behind Stauffer and Locky Taylor (YRD, Yamaha R3 321). A four-way battle through the Hayshed between Stauffer, Crump and Power ensued with Stauffer leading across the line to begin lap two from Lytras and Crump. Ben Baker (Jekyl & Hyde, Yamaha R3 321) was judged to have jumped the start and awarded a 10 second penalty.

With two laps compete Hunter Ford (Yamaha, Yamaha R3 321) and Yannis Shaw (WRP Bridgestone, Kawasaki EX400) decided they would like to run at the front for a while, briefly popping up amongst the lead group. As the race progressed Stauffer, Power and Senna Agius (Kawasaki EX 400) seemed to be trying to break away off the front of the pack but the pursuing group of Ford, Crump, Harry Khouri (Excite Motorsports, Yamaha R3 321), Lytras and Dylan Whiteside (Mark Lamont, Kawasaki EX300) wouldn’t let them.

Crossing the Start/Finish for the last lap it was Agius in the lead, Power and Stauffer following closely and the rest of the field a little further behind. Crump brought the pursuing group across to the leaders and bridged the gap, making a bunch sprint towards the chequered flag. At the finish it was Lytras who timed his slipstream the best, coming from behind to get the win ahead of Agius and Power, with eventual round winner Stauffer in fourth.

Stauffer was happy to take the round win despite being off the podium in race three. “The 2019 season couldn’t really have gotten off to a better start, could it? I would have liked to have won that last race, but it wasn’t meant to be.”

Lytras was full of praise for his opponents, after a hard-fought win in race three and second place for the round. “It was awesome fun, there was lots and lots of battles” he said. “I actually went back to 10^th at one point, the action was that thick through there, it was really hard. We eventually got back, it was a really fun race.”

Round 2 of the 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship heads to Wakefield Park in Goulburn (March 22-24). For information and tickets, head to www.asbk.com.au.

To keep up with all the action, follow the ASBK on Facebook and Instagram.

Overall Classification (Race 3):

1 John LYTRAS (Caboolture Yamaha, YamahaR3 321)

2 Senna AGIUS (Kawasaki EX 400)

3 Luke POWER (RTR Yamaha R3 321)

4 Max STAUFFER (Yamaha, Yamaha R3 321)

5 Hunter FORD (Yamaha, Yamaha R3 321)

6 Harry KHOURI (Excite M-sports, Yamaha R3 321)

7 Yannis SHAW (WRP Bridgestone, Kawasaki EX400)

8 Dylan WHITESIDE, (Mark Lamont, Kawasaki EX300

9 Seth CRUMP (Rockoil, KTM RC 390)

10 Travis HALL (Stitchsmith, Yamaha R3 321)