Troy goes Baylistic during ASBK Practice at The Bend

Superbike legend Troy Bayliss (Desmosport Ducati, 1299 Panigale) has smashed the YMI Superbike lap record during practice day at The Bend Motorsport Park. Conditions couldn’t have been much better at the brand-new circuit and riders were once again raving about the layout of the track itself. It’s all setup for a pulsating weekend of racing with Qualifying sessions taking place tomorrow for the Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli (ASBK) alongside the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship (ARRC). 

YMI Superbike
Bayliss has ASBK fans from around the world filled with excitement as the three time WorldSBK Champion went fastest for Thursday practice day. This is his strongest showing in practice conditions so far this year and a victory could be on the cards should he maintain his blistering pace. Although the second practice session was cut short due to a red flag, Bayliss was still happy to be fastest on day one.

Bayliss sharing; “It’s really nice to come back to The Bend after a very successful test. I’ve had a great few weeks of training. I’ve almost felt like a prisoner of war the way I’ve been preparing for this weekend’s race! The Ducati is working really well at the moment and we haven’t really changed a lot since the test a few weeks ago. Overall, we need to work on race distance but generally I feel really good on the bike.”

Coming in second was local hero Daniel Falzon (Yamaha Racing Team, YZF-R1M). The Yamaha rider managed to finish 0.63 behind the pace setter Bayliss.

In third was the reigning YMI Superbike Champion, Josh Waters (Team Suzuki ECSTAR, GSX-R1000R). He will be eager to get a victory on the board and attempt to overtake his rival Troy Herfoss (Penrite Honda, CBR1000SP) in the title standings.

Rounding out the top five was Wayne Maxwell (Yamaha Racing Team, YZF-R1M) and Herfoss, who were the pacesetters in the Official ASBK Test.

Qualifying one tomorrow will be interesting to witness as it truly is anyone’s game this weekend.

YMI Superbike Thursday Practice Provisional Results
1. Troy BAYLISS (Desmosport Ducati, Ducati Panigale FE) 1:53.394
2. Daniel FALZON (Yamaha Racing Team, YZF-R1M) 1:54.028
3. Josh WATERS (Team Suzuki ECSTAR, GSX-R1000R) 1:54.203
4. Wayne MAXWELL (Yamaha Racing Team, YZF-R1M) 1:54.335
5. Troy HERFOSS (Penrite Honda Racing, Honda CBR1000SP) 1:54.736
6. Glenn ALLERTON (NextGen Motorsports, BMW S1000RR) 1:54.853
7. Bryan STARING (Kawasaki BCperformance, ZX-10R) 1:55.140
8. Mark CHIODO (Team Suzuki ECSTAR, Suzuki GSXR-1000R) 1:56.219
9. Ted COLLINS (NextGen Motorsports, BMW S1000RR) 1:56.234
10. Arthur SISSIS (SA Demolition, Suzuki GSX-R1000) 1:56.466

Kawasaki Supersport
It was a showcase of domination from Cru Halliday (Yamaha Racing Team, YZF-R6) as he rocketed his Yamaha to the top of the timesheets. The factory rider managed to pull a 1.379 gap to his nearest rival Tom Toparis (Cube Racing, Kawasaki ZX-6R).

Cru saying; “I’m feeling really smooth out there. The guys at Yamaha really have the bike dialed in. Still trying to find a few lines out there on the track but the bike is unreal. We actually put in a race simulation at the end and we got very decent life out of the tyres. I think the car race from last weekend has laid down a lot of rubber on the track. Times are definitely going to drop and hopefully we can grab that pole position.

“I don’t want to count my chickens early however. I would like to think we could grab the championship lead from Tommy but this is racing and either of us could make a mistake. Let’s see what the weekend brings.”

Toparis has some work to do to catch up to Halliday’s pace, but he noted that if he could stay within striking distance anything is possible when the racing gets underway.

In third place was Broc Pearson 1800 Approved Cairns, YZF-R6) who also holds third place in the championship standings.

Establishing fourth and fifth positions were John Hunt (Suzuki GSX-R600) and Damon Rees (Tony Rees Motorcycles, Honda CBR600RR).

Kawasaki Supersport
1 Cru HALLIDAY (Yamaha Racing Team, Yamaha YZF-R6) 1:56.748
2 Tom TOPARIS (Cube Racing, Kawasaki ZX-6R) 1:58.127
3 Broc PEARSON (1800 Approved Cairns, YZF-R6) 1:58.842
4 John HUNT (Suzuki GSX-R600) 1:59.140
5 Damon REES (Tony Rees Motorcycles, Honda CBR600RR) 1:59.736
6 Max CROKER (Mat Mladin Racing, Suzuki GSX-R600) 2:00.061
7 Zac JOHNSON (Rebuilder, Yamaha YZF-R6) 2:00.316
8 Giuseppe SCARCELLA (Kawasaki BCperformance, Kawasaki ZX-6R) 2:00.364
9 Scott NICHOLSON (NextGen Motorsports, Suzuki GSX-R600) 2:01.609
10 Ty LYNCH (Adelaide Motorcycle Recovery, Yamaha YZF-R6) 2:02.095

Australian Supersport 300
Hunter Ford (YRD, Yamaha YZF-R3) has kept up his sensational pace from the Official ASBK Test to go fastest on practice day.

Ford stating; “We’re definitely feeling strong out there on the Yamaha. The track and bike does feel different to the test but that’s probably because more rubber has been laid down. Hopefully we’ll be just as strong tomorrow, I really want to push for victories during the races. We’re very close to the limit at the moment.”

Strong contender, Tom Bramich (YRT, Yamaha YZF-R3) is gelling well with the track and is well within striking distance of Ford, a further .283 behind on pace. There is no doubt he can challenge for victory when the lights go out on Saturday and Sunday.

Local rider, Oliver Simpson (SA, Yamaha YZF-R3) was one of the big talking points out of the practice day finishing in third. As a former Red Bull Rookies Rider, there is no doubt he brings a strong wealth of experience from international competition. Simpson was a further .387s off the leader.

Completing the top five was the ever improving Tayla Relph (Earmold Australia, Yamaha YZF-R3) and Oli Bayliss (Cube Racing, Kawasaki Ninja).

Australian Supersport 300 Thursday Practice Provisional Results
1. Hunter FORD (YRD, Yamaha YZF-R3) 2:11.764
2. Tom BRAMICH (YRT, Yamaha YZF-R3) 2:12.047
3. Oliver SIMPSON (SA, Yamaha YZF-R3) 2:12.151
4. Tayla RELPH (Earmold Australia, Yamaha YZF-R3) 2:12.554
5. Oli BAYLISS (Cube Racing, Kawasaki Ninja) 2:12.952
6. Harry KHOURI (Acid Racing Australia, Yamaha YZF-R3) 2:13.110
7. Seth CRUMP (Rock Oil, KTM RC 390) 2:13.417
8. Locky TAYLOR (LTR, Yamaha YZF-R3) 2:13.747
9. Ben BRAMICH (GowMoto, KTM RC390) 2:13.895
10. Zac LEVY (Puma RV’s, Yamaha YZF-R3) 2:14.299

Make sure to attend Round 3 of ASBK at The Bend Motorsport Park tomorrow by purchasing tickets at ASBK.com.au. Tomorrow will kick off qualifying preceding’s and will provide a proper benchmark for who will be on the pace come race weekend!

ASBK Live
SBS Australia LIVE from 1130 – 1330 Local Time on Sunday 22nd April.
FOX Sports Australia LIVE from 1130 – 1330 Local Time on Sunday 22nd April.
ASBK.com.au Saturday and Sunday all day live stream

ASBK Digital Program

ASBK is pleased to announce the arrival of the digitalised Official ASBK Round 3 Program.

The program can be found on the website ASBK.COM.AU.

2018 ASBK Calendar
Round 3- The Bend Motorsport Park, Tailem Bend, SA                        April 19 – 22
Round 4- Hidden Valley Raceway, Darwin NT                                      June 28 – 1 July
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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