YMF R3 Cup and GP Juniors bring the excitement
Races Two and Three in the Yamaha Motor Finance R3 Cup were won by Jack Passfield (Stay Upright, Yamaha YZF-R3) and Tommy Edwards (Alpinestars, Yamaha YZF-R3). Jack Passfield claimed the overall Round win, with his two race victories during the weekend.
Race Two of the Yamaha Motor Finance R3 Cup opened racing proceedings on Sunday. The R3 Cup is a category where every rider rides on the same machinery, levelling the playing field and allowing the riders to show off their talent.
Jack Mahaffey (JDS Moto, Yamaha YZF-R3) started first on the grid after. Passfield made a great start to lead the front, with Mahaffy and Edwards right on his tail.
The weather conditions were tricky with large amounts of standing water on track and also featured deep braking and hard overtake on display throughout the race. The lap times weren’t particularly quick, being five seconds off Race One pace.
Jack Mahaffy crashed out, with the bike sliding out from underneath him, furthering a difficult weekend for the young rider.
Edwards pushed extremely hard to attempt to catch Passfield with his rear sliding out constantly. Edwards attempted a last lap lunge to attempt to overtake Passfield but the lunge didn’t come off as he ran wide but managed to take second.
Passfield took a cool and calculated win in race win, despite coming under pressure from Tom Edwards and Boyd Hocking (DPH Motorsport Yamaha, YZF-R3) completing the podium.
Race Three of the YMF R3 Cup was won by Tommy Edwards, in front of Corey Briffa (St. Phillip Christian College Cessnock, Yamaha YZF-R3) and Jack Mahaffy.
Passfield won the round overall with a current total of 67 championship points, compared to Edward’s 63 points.
GP Juniors Cup
Races Two and Three in the GP Juniors Cup were won by Joel Kelso (JDS Moto, YZF-R15) and Tommy Edwards (Yamaha Motor Australia, YZF-R15).
GP Juniors Race Two featured an exciting race between Tommy Edwards and Joel Kelso for the win. The two battled back and forth the entire race. Before Kelso eventually took the win.
“I feel very happy, it was a good race with Tommy, it was a great battle, we fought hard and in the end got a great slipstream down the straight and we ended up getting away with the win but great race to Tommy and the rest of the competitors.” Kelso said.
Tommy Edwards won the third and final race of the weekend. Edwards battled with John LYTRAS (Caboolture Yamaha, Yamaha YZF-R15) and Joel Kelso for the victory.
“It was a really good race. Due to the slick conditions, I thought I better not muck about in that race and I just put my head down and got on with it” I really enjoy racing in the GP Juniors, I just really want more people to do it too!” Edwards said.
Edwards currently leads the championship with 70 points and is the overall round winner, in front of Joel Kelso with 63 and John Lytras with 56.
For more information on the Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli, head to www.asbk.com.au or like the ASBK on Facebook for live race results and to keep up do date with all the latest racing news this coming weekend.
Can’t make it to the track this weekend? Then make sure to watch ASBK action on free-to-air television, channel SBS 2pm-4pm AEDT or Live Stream asbk.com.au, 10am-5pm AEDT this Sunday.
2017 Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship Presented by Motul Pirelli Calendar:
Round 2 Wakefield Park Raceway, NSW 17-19 March
Round 3 Winton Motor Raceway, VIC 28-30 April
Round 4 Hidden Valley Raceway, NT 7-9 July
Round 5 Morgan Park Raceway, Warwick, QLD 25-27 August
Round 6 SMP Eastern Creek, NSW 8-10 September
Round 7 Phillip Island Circuit, VIC 6-8 October
Stay up to date with all the latest news and updates from the ASBK by liking ASBK on Facebook, following the @asbk on Instagram and checking out the ASBK website here.
Picture Courtesy: TBG Photography, Andrew Gosling
ENDS
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