2024

Pearson tops the Superbike charts as ASBK returns to One Raceway

By MA Media 0

DesmoSport Ducati rider Broc Pearson has claimed the day one spoils in round five of the 2024 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK) at One Raceway in Goulburn.

The Queenslander sat amongst the leading riders in all three Pirelli Superbike practice sessions before inching his way to the top in the final outing – the continuation of a rich vein of form which saw him win his maiden premier class race in the last round at Phillip Island.

The return to the new One Raceway after a two-year absence has come after a multi-million-dollar upgrade to the circuit.

Ae well as the Superbike fraternity, the Michelin Supersport, Race and Road Supersport 300, ShopYamaha R3 Cup and bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup classes were also on track today for their preliminaries ahead of the intensity going up a notch tomorrow with qualifying and the opening races for all classes except Supersport.

Friday results: www.computime.com.au

Also tomorrow, there will be an injection of Supercars flavour with Red Bull Ampol Racing driver Broc Feeney returning to his family’s hometown of Goulburn to feature in a demonstration display.

Feeney will not only circulate in the Holden Commodore in which he claimed his first Supercars Championship victory as a rookie in the 2022 Adelaide 500, but fans will also be treated to a parade lap in the 2024 Chevrolet Camaro alongside his father Paul, a former Superbike and production racing hard-charger, who will return to two wheels for this special event.

Paddock access is free for spectators, and off-track activities at the three-day event will include the popular pit walks and autograph sessions.

To purchase tickets for One Raceway, click here. Tickets will also be available at the gate.

Pirelli Superbike
Pearson’s 59.162s lap was the day’s standout, followed by wily veterans Glenn Allerton (GT Racing BMW, 59.420) and Anthony West (Addicted to Track Yamaha, 59.534) to make it a disparate spread of manufacturers at the sharp end.

Earlier, West had been the fastest in the first practice session before championship leader Josh Waters (McMartin Racing Ducati) topped the second.

But ultimately it was Pearson who had the final word.

“It was a big confidence-booster to win that first Superbike race at Phillip Island…. And it’s nice to get this track resurrected at a place that really suits me. I think we are really in for a good weekend,” said Pearson.

Meanwhile, Arthur Sissis (Stop and Seal Yamaha) was a consistent performer all day in finishing fourth overall, ahead of Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team), Waters, Max Stauffer (Penrite Racing Yamaha) and former Australian Supersport champion John Lytras (Yamaha). Jones is the only rider in this weekend’s field who has won a Superbike race around One Raceway.

Cameron Dunker (Penrite Racing Yamaha) and Bryan Staring (MotoGo Yamaha) saw out the top 10, ahead of a battered Cru Halliday (Yamaha Racing Team) who fell heavily in unofficial practice on Thursday.

The 18 riders will reconvene for a fourth practice tomorrow before qualifying in the afternoon.

Michelin Supersport
Stop and Seal teammates Archie McDonald and Jack Mahaffy were on repeat cycle during Friday practice in the Michelin Supersport class at One Raceway, going 1-2 in all three sessions.

As the intensity built, McDonald set the fastest lap on his final flyer for the day, half a second ahead of Mahaffy, with South Aussie Olly Simpon making it three Yamahas in the top bracket.

Hayden Nelson (BC Performance Racing Team) was next on his Kawasaki – and the final rider to circulate within a second of McDonald’s benchmark – followed by Glenn Nelson (Stop and Seal Yamaha) and Tom Bramich (Yamaha).

Championship leader Jonathan Nahlous (Yamaha) finished the day mid-pack in the 16-rider field, and will be looking to make inroads when the opening qualifying session is held at 9:25am on Saturday as the build-up to Sunday’s two 16-lap races continues.

Nahlous currently leads the standings by 20pts over Simpson, with Jake Farnworth (Yamaha) a further 12pts back in third.

Race and Road Supersport 300/Shop Yamaha R3 Cup
After sitting out last round, New Zealander Jesse Stroud (Yamaha) has returned to the Race and Road Supersport 300 paddock all guns blazing, setting the pace in qualifying from Jordan Simpson (Yamaha), Harrison Watts (Kawasaki), Keo Watson (Kawasaki) – the reigning Superbike Masters champion moonlighting in the smaller-capacity ranks at One Raceway – and last-start winner Will Nassif (Yamaha).

The top nine riders all completed practice within one second of each other, so tomorrow’s qualifying and race one is still wide open.

Championship leader Josh Newman (Kawasaki) was sixth, one spot ahead of his closest rival Valentino Knezovic (Yamaha).

The start of proceedings in round two of the ShopYamaha R3 Cup saw Simpson claim the practice bragging rights from Nassif and William Hunt.

bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
This year’s dominant rider in the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup again showed his mettle, topping all three sessions on his Yamaha YZF-R15 to finish practice ahead of surprise packet Phoenix O’Brien and Hunter Charlett.

Corney leads the title by 42pts, and a big result at One Raceway will strengthen his claims of being crowned as early as the next round at Phillip Island when the junior academy stars are the sole support act at the 2024 Qatar Airways Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.

There are two qualifying sessions for the 16 OJC riders tomorrow, followed by race one and two more six-lappers on Sunday.
Hunter Corney was the class act in OJC practice

Images: RbMotoLens