Taylor Sets the Tone for Australian Supersport 300 at Morgan Park
With the sun shining on Morgan Park Raceway it was Locky Taylor (Shark Leathers, Yamaha YZF-R3) who has set the tone for Round 5 of the Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli (ASBK). Taylor pushed his Yamaha around the physically demanding circuit to register a fastest lap of 1:24.512 and grab momentum heading into tomorrow’s Australian Supersport 300 action.
The slimmest of margins separated Taylor and Harry Khouri (Excite M-sports, Yamaha YZF-R3) who clocked a time of 1:24.513 to finish in second by just .001 of a second.
The overall winner from Darwin, Seth Crump (Rock Oil, KTM RC) has continued his momentum and set himself for another great weekend. Crump will be looking to find extra time ahead of tomorrow to book himself pole position, his time of 1:24.860 left him with the third fastest time of the day.
Mitch Kuhne (Shark Leathers, Yamaha YZF-R3) has showed a real liking to the Morgan Park Circuit and registered a 1:24.870, leaving him in fourth and setting himself up for his best weekend of the season to date.
A consistent front runner in the Australian Supersport 300, Hunter Ford (YRD, Yamaha YZF-R3) rounded out the top five after he stopped the clock at 1:25.305. His Yamaha team mate Zac Leavy (Puma RV’s, Yamaha YZF-R3) was just behind him finishing the day with the sixth quickest time of 1:25.363.
Oli Bayliss (Cube Racing, Kawasaki Ninja) will be looking for big weekend at what is his home track, he ended today practice with the seventh quickest time of 1:25.441. Just behind Bayliss is young gun Max Stauffer (Rock Oil, Yamaha YZF-R3) completing the sessions with a fastest time of 1:25.582, which was the eighth fastest lap.
With the ninth quickest lap of the three practice sessions, Callum O’Brien (Banhams WA, Yamaha YZF-R3) registered a 1:25.995. In a bit of surprise, Tom Bramich (JLT, Yamaha YZF-R3) rounded out the top ten with a time of 1:25.605. Look for Bramich to put his foot down during tomorrow’s qualifying.
The Australian Supersport 300 class will be back on track tomorrow from 9:00am with Qualifying one and then back out again at 11:45am for Qualifying Two. Race one will also feature tomorrow afternoon at 2:45pm.
Round 5 Morgan Park Raceway Australian Supersport 300 Free Practice Provisional Results
1. Locky TAYLOR (Shark Leathers, Yamaha YZF-R3) 1:24.512
2. Harry KHOURI (Excite M-sports, Yamaha YZF-R3) 1:24.513
3. Seth CRUMP (Rock Oil KTM RC) 1:24.860
4. Mitch KUHNE (Shark Leathers, Yamaha YZF-R3) 1:24.870
5. Hunter FORD (YRD, Yamaha YZF-R3) 1:25.305
6. Zac LEVY (Puma RV’s, Yamaha YZF-R3) 1:25.363
7. Oli BAYLISS (Cube Racing, Kawasaki Ninja) 1:25.441
8. Max STAUFFER (Rock Oil, Yamaha YZF-R3) 1:25.582
9. Callum O’BRIEN (Banhams WA, Yamaha YZF-R3) 1:25.595
10. Tom BRAMICH (JLT, Yamaha YZF-R3) 1:25.605
Want to see the action trackside? Click here to grab your tickets for Round 5 of ASBK. If you can’t make it, don’t forget you can catch the action live on SBS, Fox Sports and the livestream available at asbk.com.au.
ASBK is pleased to announce the arrival of the digitalised Official ASBK Round 5 Program.
The program can be found on the website ASBK.COM.AU.
Public access to the digital ASBK Program will feature many interesting and informative sections including; rider entry lists, race schedules, previous round wrap ups, championship points standings, track information, biographies, getting started in racing information, partnership information, race pictures and so much more.
2018 ASBK Calendar
Round 5- Morgan Park Raceway, Warwick QLD August 17 – 19
Round 6- Winton Motor Raceway, Benalla, VIC September 7 – 9
Round 7- Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC October 12 – 14
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Photos courtesy of Andrew Gosling tbg sport
