The Battle of Troy Set for Morgan Park

If today’s practice sessions are anything to go by, the Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli (ASBK) is in for a bumper weekend at Morgan Park Raceway. Troy Bayliss (Desmosport Ducati, 1299 FE) has made a great start to his weekend on his home track, setting a blistering 1:12.923 to finish with the fastest lap of the day. 

Just behind Bayliss was current YMI Superbike Championship leader Troy Herfoss (Penrite Honda Racing, CBR1000SP) clocking a 1:13.042. After the pair battled it out for victories at Darwin, it could be much of the same here at Morgan Park.

Defending 2017 YMI Superbike Champion Josh Waters (Team Suzuki ECSTAR, GSX-R1000R) has had a slow start to season 2018, but today he found the speed that saw him take out the 2017 crown. His time of 1:13.111 will give him great confidence heading into qualifying tomorrow.

The championship contenders all started well at Morgan Park, with Wayne Maxwell (Yamaha Racing Team, YZF-R1M) who sits in second place in the points race, finishing the day with the fourth fastest lap, a 1:13.492 to be within a second of championship leader Herfoss.

Rounding out the top five was Maxwell’s Yamaha teammate Daniel Falzon (Yamaha Racing Team, YZF-R1M) who stopped the clock at 1:13.745, Falzon is within striking distance heading into tomorrow’s qualifying.

Bryan Staring (Kawasaki BCPerformance, Kawasaki ZX-10R) will be better for the run at Morgan Park today finding better times throughout the day, ending with a time of 1:14.194. Staring will be looking to back up his performance at Darwin, as consistency has been the missing from his season to date.

After a tough round at Darwin, Ted Collins (NextGen Motorsports, BMW S1000RR) will be looking to bounce back here at Morgan Park and he got off to a good start, finishing the day seventh fastest with a 1:14.736.

Leading the way for the privateers was Alex Phillis (Phillis Racing, Suzuki GSX-R1000R) who clocked in a time of 1:14.798, a great start to his weekend and hoping to back it up in qualifying tomorrow.

Kyle Buckley (Kawasaki BCPerformance, ZX-10R) was consistent throughout the day and recorded a best lap of 1:14.820, putting him ninth. The top ten was rounded out by Matt Walters (Swann Insurance Superbike, Kawasaki ZX-10R) with his fastest lap of 1:14.842.

Arthur Sissis (SA Demolition & Salvage, Honda CBR1000SP) was on his new look Honda and got great track time and put together a fastest lap of 1:14.866. Corey Turner (CBR1000SP) also returned to the paddock after missing the past two rounds and has jumped on a Honda.

The YMI Superbike field is back on track tomorrow for two qualifying sessions at 11:10am and 3:10pm, who will come away with the Elite Roads Pole Position Award?

Round 5 ASBK YMI Superbike Free Practice Provisional Results 
1. Troy BAYLISS (Desmosport Ducati, Ducati 1299 FE) 1:12.923
2. Troy HERFOSS (Penrite Honda Racing, Honda CBR RR SP) 1:13.042
3. Josh WATERS (Team Suzuki ECSTAR, Suzuki GSX-RR) 1:13.111
4. Wayne MAXWELL (Yamaha Racing Team, Yamaha YZF-R1M) 1:13.493
5. Daniel FALZON (Yamaha Racing Team, Yamaha YZF-R1M) 1:13.745
6. Bryan STARING (Kawasaki BCperformance, Kawasaki ZX-10R) 1:14.194
7. Ted COLLINS (NextGen Motorsports, BMW S RR) 1:14.736
8. Alex PHILLIS (Phillis Racing, Suzuki GSX-RR) 1:14.798
9. Kyle BUCKLEY (Kawasaki BCperformance, Kawasaki ZX-10R) 1:14.820
10. Matt WALTERS (Swann Insurance Superbike, Kawasaki ZX-10R) 1:14.842

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