Toparis and Stauffer Fastest in Supersport and YMI Supersport 300 Practice at Wakefield Park
Round 2 of the Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) came alive this weekend (March 22-24) at Wakefield Park Raceway, Goulburn NSW, as riders in six classes came to grips with the tight and challenging Southern Tablelands circuit during Free Practice. Goulburn local Tom Toparis (Landbridge Transport Yamaha YZF-R6) continued his good form to take fastest time of the day in Supersport, while Max Stauffer (Yamaha, Yamaha R3 321) claimed fastest in both YMI Supersport 300 and YMF R3 Cup.
Sunny skies early in the day gave way to thunder, lighting and an awful lot of rain in the mid-afternoon, bringing the day’s running to a halt and forcing the cancellation of the remaining sessions. Only YMI Supersport 300 riders were able to take to the track for a third session, with the remainder of the classes relying on times from Free Practice 1 and 2 to decide the classification.
Supersport
After a clean sweep at the previous round of the Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) back in February, Tom Toparis (59.507) extended his dominance during Free Practice. Finishing almost a second quicker than second-placed Oli Bayliss (Cube Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 1:00.471), the Landbridge Transport rider was the only rider in the Supersport category to crack the 60-second barrier.
“Good day today,” Toparis said after qualifying. “We’re still a little bit off where we were at the test, but I think there’s still more in it and hopefully it stays dry tomorrow.”
Reid Battye (Suzuki ECSTAR Australia, Suzuki GSX-R) claimed fourth fastest with a 1:00.635, Ty Lynch (Australian Outdoor Living, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:01.060) fifth.
Round 1 runner-up Nic Liminton (Yamaha Motor Aust. Yamaha YZF-R6) was hampered by mechanical issues during the second session. He will be hoping for better luck in qualifying, as his practice time of 1:01.666 was only good enough for sixth place.
Combined Practice Results:
1 Tom TOPARIS (Landbridge Transport Yamaha YZF-R6 59.507)
2 Oli BAYLISS (Cube Racing Yamaha YZF-R6 1:00.471)
3 Broc PEARSON (Yamaha YZF-R6 1:00.565)
4 Reid BATTYE (Suzuki ECSTAR Australia, Suzuki GSX-R 1:00.635)
5 Ty LYNCH (Australian Outdoor Living, Yamaha YZF-R6 1:00.060)
6 Nicholas LIMINTON (Yamaha Motor Aust. Yamaha YZF-R6 1:01.666)
7 Aidan HAYES (Hayes Johnston Pty. Ltd. Yamaha YZF-R6 1:01.675)
8 Rhys BELLING (LXI Racing, Yamaha YZF-R6 1:01.736)
9 Chris QUINN (Coopers Dry, Yamaha YZF-R6 1:02.039)
10 Dallas SKEER (Penrite Oils, Suzuki GSX-R 1:02.157)
YMI Supersport 300
Max Stauffer once again showed that he will be a force to be reckoned with throughout the 2019 YMI Supersport 300 season, backing up his first place finish at Round 1 at Phillip Island with a fastest time of the day in Practice here at Wakefield Park. With the top 10 covered by less than a second, The Supersport 300 class promises to be another close battle at the Southern Tablelands location, and should make for very exciting racing over the weekend.
Stauffer’s second session time of 1:06.306 would be enough to edge out fellow Yamaha rider Harry Khouri (Excite M-sports, Yamaha R3 321). Khouri made a late run in Free Practice 2 to post 1 :06.478, however Stauffer showed his class by conjuring up the time that would leave him fastest on the day.
Ben Baker (Motostars, Yamaha YZF R3 321) set the early pace in Practice 2 but was eventually eclipsed by Stauffer and Khouri, ending the day on a 1:06.572. Zac Levy (Puma RV’s, Yamaha R3 321) claimed fourth place on a 1:06.677, ahead of Travis Hall (1:06.828) and Hunter Ford (1:06.834).
Combined Practice Results:
1 Max STAUFFER (Yamaha, Yamaha R3 321 1:06.306)
2 Harry KHOURI (Excite M-sports, Yamaha R3 321 1:06.478)
3 Ben BAKER (Motostars, Yamaha YZF R3 321 1:06.572)
4 Zac LEVY (Puma RV’s, Yamaha R3 321 1:06.677)
5 Travis HALL (Stitchsmith, Yamaha R3 321 1:06.828)
6 Hunter FORD (Yamaha, Yamaha R3 321 1:06.834)
7 Locky TAYLOR (Yamaha Australia, Yamaha R3 321 1:06.844)
8 John LYTRAS (Caboolture Yamaha, Yamaha R3 321 1:06.916)
9 Laura BROWN (WNR, Yamaha R3 321 1:07.021)
10 Senna AGIUS (Kawasaki EX 400 1:07.110)
YMF R3 Cup
Max Stauffer also claimed the fastest time of the day for the YMF R3 Cup. With all the field riding identical bikes, the riders were pushing hard to gain an advantage over their similarly-equipped rivals.
Stauffer claimed fastest time in the all-Yamaha class, clocking in a 1:06.208 ahead of John Lytras (Caboolture Yamaha, YamahaR3 321), who improved on his performance in the Supersport 300 category by almost six tenths of a second to claim second place. Third was NSW’s Ben Baker (Motostars, Yamaha YZF R3 321 1:06.762) and fourth was Travis Hall (Stitchsmith, Yamaha R3 321 1:06.828).
Locky Taylor (Yamaha Australia, Yamaha R3 321 1:06.844) posted a 1:06.932 to end the day fifth fastest, and sixth was Laura Brown (WNR, Yamaha R3 321 1:07.212).
Combined Practice Results:
1 Max STAUFFER (Yamaha, Yamaha R3 321 1:06.208)
2 John LYTRAS (Caboolture Yamaha, YamahaR3 321 1:06.368)
3 Ben BAKER (Motostars, Yamaha YZF R3 321 1:06.762)
4 Travis HALL (Stitchsmith, Yamaha R3 321 1:06.829)
5 Locky TAYLOR (Yamaha Australia, Yamaha R3 321 1:06.932)
6 Laura BROWN (WNR, Yamaha R3 321 1:07.212)
7 Harry KHOURI (Excite M-sports, Yamaha R3 321 1:07.263)
8 Kyle O’Connell (Yamaha R3 321 1:07.338)
9 Hunter FORD (Yamaha, Yamaha R3 321 1:07.339)
10 Luke JHONSTON (Motul, Yamaha R3 321 1:07.832)
The action from Wakefield Park continues tomorrow with Round 2 of the Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship taking place this weekend (March 22-24). Tickets are still available, head to ASBK.com.au for information, or to purchase.
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Watch live coverage of the ASBK on Fox Sports and SBS, check your local guides for details. For live, online extended coverage available worldwide, head to ASBK.com.au
