Round 4: Counting down 10 things to watch this weekend

For fans of the Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK), the countdown to Round 4 started the minute the chequered flag dropped on Round 3 at The Bend Motorsport Park. But now, as the ASBK comes out of its winter break and the teams finalise their preparations for Morgan Park this weekend (July 5-7), we count down the top 10 things to keep an eye on during Round 4.

10. Ten laps’ worth of thrills in YMI Supersport 300

The ASBK’s smallest Championship class in terms of engine size, but don’t think the YMI Supersport 300 class is light on action! The class has attracted a huge number of fans who love the excitement of its frenetic ten laps. Because of the smaller engine, slipstreaming (tucking in behind another rider to receive an aerodynamic advantage) becomes all-important. Watch as the field ducks and weaves to eke out a couple of extra km/h down the straight, and battles to clinch the victory with a sweetly timed sprint to the finish. Look for a gaggle of four or five bikes to take the chequered flag within a length of each other, it’s one not to miss!

9. Only nine guaranteed spots in Kawasaki Superbike Qualifying 2

A revised qualifying format for 2019 has Kawasaki Superbike class split into two qualifying groups to decide grid positions for the weekend’s races. To progress to the faster Qualifying 2 session, riders can hope to nab one of the three last-chance spots from Qualifying 1, or guarantee themselves a place by finishing in the top nine in the morning’s Timed Practice. It’s been a win for the fans, who now only have to wait until Saturday morning to watch Australia’s fastest motorcycle riders put it all on the line to improve their qualifying position.  

8. The fearsome Turn 8

The fastest and most fearsome corner on the Morgan Park circuit. Desmosport Ducati star Mike Jones put it best in his Track Guide for ASBK.com.au: “Turn 8 is maximum throttle in fifth gear. It’s a wild ride as the bike bucks underneath you, so try to let the bike dance by standing on the footpegs and raising yourself out of the seat at full throttle at over 200km/h!” Yikes.

7. Number 7, Tom Toparis

Having won all but one Motorsports TV Supersport race in 2019, Toparis (Leda Nutrition, Yamaha) has been a treat to watch as he consistently puts on a clinic at the front of the field. With Toparis also making waves at the head of the German IDM field during the ASBK winter break, you’re well advised to catch him in person before he goes on to big things on the world stage.

6. Six different classes on track

From current stars in Kawasaki Superbike to future stars in the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup. From up-to-the-minute racing machines in Motorsports TV Supersport to classic machines in Superbike Masters. There’s plenty of on-track action over six classes and three days to keep you entertained either in person, on Fox Sports and SBS, or watching online at ASBK.com.au.

5 . Five manufacturers in the top five

If you’re wondering how close the fight for this year’s championship is, the first five riders in the championship are all riding for five different manufacturers. From the fast, open tracks of Phillip Island and The Bend to the tight, technical Wakefield Park, no one machine has consistently had the advantage. So who will fare the best at Morgan Park? According to ASBK legend Steve Martin, the Hondas and Ducatis may have a slight edge: “The (Honda) engine is perhaps not the outright fastest, but it’s one of the most user-friendly powerplants in the whole ASBK field, exactly what you want for Morgan Park.” he says. “ The Ducati handles really well, and it’s got that punch out of those slower corners that means you’re struggling to overtake the Duc, especially with Mike Jones on board.”

4. Four rounds to go!

The four remaining rounds of the championship are sure to be just as unpredictable as the first three, with Morgan Park (July 5-7 being followed by the two Victorian rounds at Winton (5-7 September) and the ASBK’s return to Phillip Island (4-6 October). The grand finale at Sydney Motorsport Park (1-3 November) will lead us to a thrilling conclusion, but who’s going to come out on top when the chequered flag drops?

3 . Three races out of three at The Bend for Bryan Staring

Catapulting himself to the top of the championship table in one fell swoop, Bryan Staring was untouchable at The Bend, able to manage his tyres better than anyone on the grippy South Australian tarmac. Three wins from the three races put Staring in front in the championship and gave his rivals something to think about as the green-clad Kawasaki BCperformance team claimed the top step of the podium. It only got better from there for Staring, adding a win and a second place in a guest appearance in the Asia Road Racing Championship for Kawasaki Racing Team Thailand to cap off a phenomenal weekend- can he reach the same giddy heights at Morgan Park?

2 . Two-point-nine-seven kilometres

The short, tight and technical Morgan Park requires a different approach from the long straights and sweeping turns at The Bend. “When you first ride around the circuit it’s hard to find the rhythm,” Martin says, “but you’ve got to take a breath, let the bike flow into the corners, and when it ‘clicks’, it really clicks.” Both he and Jones emphasise the importance of bike setup in getting to the front of the field come Sunday afternoon, Jones saying “the undulations and elevation changes add to the technicality of the circuit, not only for the rider but also for the team in being able to set the motorbike up”. Martin agrees: “If your bike is not set up perfectly, you’re going to have a very tough weekend”.

1 . One point between the championship leaders

One single, solitary point separates the two riders at the top of the Kawasaki Superbike table, and both riders have demonstrated vastly different approaches in getting there. Kawasaki-equipped Staring worked hard to tame the immense power of the ZX10RR early on in the season, but come Round 3 everything came together at once to send him shooting up the Championship standings. Sitting in second place, Yamaha Racing Team’s Cru Halliday is still searching for his first race victory in 2019. Despite the lack of wins he’s consistently run at the front; accumulating points with metronomic precision each time out. It’s been a measured, mature performance up to this point, but will it be enough to see Halliday take home the chocolates come season’s end? There’s one thing we know: you should be watching to find out!

Make sure to get your ticket for Round 4 of the 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship at Morgan Park, 5-7 July 2019. For more updates and to purchase, head to ASBK.com.au.

Remember, you can watch all the action on Sunday 7 July from 1PM-3PM AEST on Fox Sports and SBS. Online coverage is available all day at ASBK.com.au

Follow along with the ASBK by heading to our Facebook page, or by following ASBK on Instagram.

Images courtesy of Andrew Gosling – tbg sport