Returning champions, graduating rookies and wide open championships
Michelin Supersport
The Michelin Supersport class in the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK) is nominally the steppingstone class to Alpinestars Superbike, giving fans a glimpse into the future while also supplying bulk amounts of the best racing in the country.
The top three riders from the overall championship in 2022, John Lytras, Ty Lynch, and Tom Bramich, are all returning to the championship in 2023, ready to go to war once again.
Lytras did all he needed in 2022 to take the title. For Lynch, an injury free year would be a good way to get closer to the top spot, while for Bramich, consistency and staying rubber side down will help his title chances.
In 2023, we will also see the addition of the SuperTwins Cup to the Supersport 600 field, as the sales-popular twin 600s join the racing fray in the national championships for the first time.
Last time the riders competed at Phillip Island in November 2022, Bramich took the win, followed by Lytras and Jake Farnsworth. Scott Nicholson and Rhys Belling rounded out the top five, with Tom Drane, Jack Passfield, Brendan Wilson, Jack Favelle, and the injury-riddled Ty Lynch rounding out the top ten.
The final round of the ASBK Supersport class in 2022 took place at The Bend, South Australia in December. Harrison Voight, who was a one-off wildcard, took the win, followed by Ty Lynch and Dallas Skeer. Scott Nicholson and Archie McDonald rounded out the top five.
With the top three riders from the overall championship back, alongside other riders such as Nicholson, Skeer, and Belling, the competition in the Supersport class promises to be intense. Last year’s Supersport 300 Champion Cameron Dunker has also joined the field for this season and remains an unknown quantity in a race situation aboard the bigger 600cc Supersport bike.
In summary; the riders will have to bring their A-game to the often-unforgiving Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. But the enormously talented, super quick and European-bound Harrison Voight is racing this round (and perhaps the final round later this year) and he will rightly enjoy outright favoritism for this event, leaving others to set themselves for the season when Harrison flies out of Australia after this round.
Supersport 300
The ASBK Supersport 300 class is set to kick off their 2023 season with a bang at the Phillip Island round one, with a stacked field of talented riders ready to take to the track. Last year’s champion, Cameron Dunker, will not be returning to the class, having decided to move over to the Michelin Supersport 600 class.
In the absence of the reigning champ Dunker, it will fall to several riders to take up the challenge for the title in 2023 and the Supersport 300 class always provides incredibly close racing and perhaps too many breathtaking moments..!
Glenn Nelson finished in second place in the championship last year and is the heir apparent. He had a mixed final round at The Bend in 2022, finishing in seventh place and will absolutely be looking to deliver more consistent front-running results in 2023 and stamp himself on the championship at Round One.
Henry Snell and Sam Pezzetta, who finished in fifth and sixth place in the championship last year, can absolutely take the title this year if things start and stay in their favour. Both had strong final rounds at The Bend and will be looking to build on that form in 2023.
Brandon Demmery, a long time 300 racer, sat out much of 2022 and is looking to return to the class for the whole year and make a push for the podium as he has in the past.
Overall, the Supersport 300 class at Phillip Island round one promises to be a thrilling and competitive event, with a talented field of riders ready to battle it out for the win. With no clear favorites in the class, it will be anyone’s game and fans can expect to see some exciting racing as the season gets underway.
How to watch ASBK at Phillip Island
Sunday, February 26, 2023
- LIVE TV on SBS and SBS On Demand: 13:00 – 15:30 AEDT
- Stan Sport
- Sky Sports NZ
For more information on the 2023 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship Presented by Motul season, stay tuned to the ASBK website and social pages:
Official Calendar for the 2023 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK)
