Stauffer Takes Round Wins in YMI Supersport 300 and YMF R3 Cup
Max Stauffer (Yamaha, Yamaha R3 321) has once again put his stamp on the YMI Supersport 300 championship and the YMF R3 cup, with a pair of round victories at Wakefield Park for Round 2 of the Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK, 22-24 March). A win and a second place in each category’s two races of the day was enough to secure Stauffer Round 2 of the YMI Supersport 300 Championship and Round 1 of the YMF R3 Cup
YMI Supersport 300
Race 2
Stauffer led the field away at the start from Ben Baker (Motostars, Yamaha YZF R3 321, ). Baker attempted to pass but ran wide and dropped back to sixth. At the head of the field it was Stauffer, Zac Levy (Puma RV’s, Yamaha R3 321), Locky Taylor (Yamaha Australia, Yamaha R3 321) and Hunter Ford (Yamaha, Yamaha R3 321).
Levy took the lead from Stauffer on lap three, but Stauffer drafted past down the front straight to catch Levy into turn one and make the pass. Taylor managed to catch the leaders and made it a thee way battle, with KTM’s Seth Crump the best of the rest further back. Levy regained the lead into turn 11 on lap six, while Baker slowly worked his way back and passed Crump for fourth. With four laps to go Ryan Smith (DK Heavy Plant Services, Yamaha R3 321) crashed on track and the race was red flagged, Stauffer being declared the winner ahead of Levy, Taylor, Baker and Crump, with Senna Agius rounding out the top six.
Race 3
Race 3 began as race two had, with Stauffer taking the lead early. However he was soon bundled back to third as Lytras and Baker had a battle between themselves through the early laps. The leading three of Lytras, Baker and Stauffer once again swapped positions at the front, with the chasing group of Levy, Ford and Taylor following 1.3 seconds back. Stauffer passed Baker to claim second spot before he pounced on Lytras during lap six to grab the lead. Lytras was having none of it though and came back past under brakes for turn eight to regain the lead the same lap.
With two laps to go it was still Lytras at the front, ahead of Stauffer, Baker, Levy and Ford. After the field came around to see the last lap board Stauffer swept up the inside of Lytras at turn eight. Lytras made it back past Stauffer out of turn 11 to claim his first victory of the weekend ahead of Stauffer, Baker, Ford and Taylor. Tayla Relph (Kawasaki BCperformance, Kawasaki EX400) took out the AGV Extreme Standards award for top-placed female from the round.
Overall Round Points, Round 2:
1 Max STAUFFER (Yamaha, Yamaha R3 321, 71)
2 Ben BAKER (Motostars, Yamaha YZF R3 321, 55)
3 Locky TAYLOR (Yamaha Australia, Yamaha R3 321, 50)
4 Zac LEVY (Puma RV’s, Yamaha R3 321, 47)
5 John LYTRAS (Caboolture Yamaha, Yamaha R3 321, 43)
6 Harry KHOURI (Excite M-sports, Yamaha R3 321, 43)
7 Senna AGIUS (Schuberth, Kawasaki EX 400, 42)
8 Travis HALL (Stitchsmith, Yamaha R3 321, 39)
9 Seth CRUMP (RockOil, KTM RC390, 37)
10 Brandon DEMMERY (Rustic Flooring, Yamaha R3 321, 35)
YMF R3 Cup
Race 2
Stauffer got the jump off the line and it was a clean start, all riders getting away well. Baker had a look up the inside going into turn two on lap two but couldn’t get the move done. Stauffer and Baker having a great battle at the head of the field, with a four-rider group emerging at the front once Lytras, and Ford tagged on the back.
As the laps ticked by a ferocious battle ensued between the lead group which saw Lytras take the lead in one fell swoop, Ford also in the mix for the win. However Stauffer pulled his usual tricks, almost magically making the pass for the lead on the final lap to once again take the win. Ford backed up his good performance in the YMF R3 Cup yesterday with second and a new lap record (1:05.706), ahead of Lytras and Baker.
Race 3
Stauffer got the best of the start to lead the first lap ahead of Lytras and Baker. Stauffer and Lytras would swap the lead throughout the first half of the second lap, and when the field started the third lap it was Lytras in front. Taylor hitched a ride on Baker’s rear wheel to pull him across to the front group, with Ford also managing to keep pace and make it a five-rider lead train.
With two laps to go Lytras and Baker managed to find their way past Stauffer to bundle him back to third, before Stauffer regained second place off Baker on lap seven. On the final lap Lytras had a look up the inside of Stauffer to take the lead into turn one, and baker also hassling Stauffer for second position. As the riders crossed the finish line Lytras managed to keep his lead, ahead of Stauffer, Baker, Taylor, Khouri and Levy.
Overall Round Points, Round 2:
1 Max STAUFFER (Yamaha, Yamaha R3 321, 70)
2 John LYTRAS (Caboolture Yamaha, Yamaha R3 321, 63)
3 Hunter FORD (Yamaha, Yamaha R3 321, 51)
4 Locky TAYLOR (Yamaha Australia, Yamaha R3 321, 50)
5 Ben BAKER (Motostars, Yamaha YZF R3 321, 47)
6 Zac LEVY (Puma RV’s, Yamaha R3 321, 45)
7 Travis HALL (Stitchsmith, Yamaha R3 321, 42)
8 Brandon DEMMERY (Rustic Flooring, Yamaha R3 321, 36)
9 Luke JHONSTON (Motul, Yamaha R3 321, 33)
10 Harry KHOURI (Excite M-sports, Yamaha R3 321, 32)
Round 3 of the Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship heads to The Bend Motorsport Park, SA, 26-28 April.
To keep up to date with all the news from the ASBK, head to ASBK.com.au. Follow all the ASBK action from Wakefield Park on Facebook and Instagram.
