Pearson hits new heights in a day of attrition at One Raceway

DesmoSport Ducati’s Broc Pearson has claimed the overall honours in a challenging round six of the 2024 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK) at One Raceway.

With a strong cross wind blowing through the new motorsport hub in Goulburn, the Quenslander’s 1-3 finishes across the two Pirelli Superbike races were the standout, and also ensured he’ll remain in the championship hunt at The Bend grand finale from November 8-10.

ONE RACEWAY RESULTS AND UPDATED STANDINGS

After his first overall win in the Superbike class, Pearson is now on 219.5pts, behind Josh Waters (McMartin Racing Ducati, 256.5) and Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team, 229.5).

Jones won race two at One Raceway, but Pearson’s sheer consistency was the calling card in a day of attrition that saw a number of leading lights fail to greet the chequered flag.

“It’s been a really exciting and fun weekend for the team,” said Pearson. “We’ve been at the pointy end of the field and scored a round win.

“It ticks another box by leading from start to finish in race one and then wrapped it up with a third in race two.

“I’m really grateful for the team, and we’re becoming contenders week in and week out.”

Jones was second overall at round six with his 8-1 scorecard, followed by Waters (5-2) and Arthur Sissis (Stop and Seal Yamaha, 6-4).

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Pirelli Superbike race one
Race one was eventually decided as a nine-lap flyer after the first attempt was red-flagged when Bryan Staring (MotoGo Yamaha) crashed at turn 10 and required medical attention – a wretched result for the veteran who only announced his impending retirement yesterday.

The restart didn’t foil the determination of Pearson, though, who led from start to finish to win his second Superbike race in a row, breaking the back of the field with a withering opening few laps.

Pearson finished ahead of a fast-finishing Anthony West (Addicted to Track Yamaha), with rookie teenager Cameron Dunker (Penrite Racing Yamaha) bringing up his first Superbike podium with a brilliant last-lap pass on teammate Max Stauffer.

Waters was fifth, followed by Sissis, John Lytras (Yamaha) and a lacklustre Jones who had started from pole position.

Meanwhile, Cru Halliday (Yamaha Racing Team) didn’t take to the track after his massive highside in Thursday practice – despite gritting his teeth through official practice and qualifying.

Pirelli Superbike race two
A carbon copy of race one, with the race red-flagged on lap five after a nasty highside by Stauffer at turn two also caught out West and Dunker, who were running line astern.

Stauffer – still not back to 100 per cent fitness after breaking six ribs and puncturing his lung in a crash at Phillip Island – was precluded from taking part in the restart for causing the red flag, while Dunker was also a scratching without a spare Yamaha to fall back on. West didn’t return either, but all riders escaped without major injuries.

That left a depleted 12-bike field to go into battle, with Jones wasting no time in going into attack mode as he scored the holeshot and then led from start to finish to win by nearly 2.5 seconds from Waters, with Pearson in third from Sissis, Lytras and Ty Lynch (Yamaha).

“That was far better than race one,” said Jones, who brought up his fifth win for the year, one more than Waters. “We worked on the bike between races and turned it around.”

Jones’ dominance also extended to a new lap record, aswell as ensuring the Pirelli Superbike battle continues to The Bend.

Ryan Yanko (Yamaha) and Glenn Allerton (GT Racing) were seventh and eighth, with the latter on his spare BMW after a heavy spill in race one.