ASBK Top Trio of Riders Set for Superbike Battle

July 05, 2017

Excitement has never been higher within the Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli (ASBK). With the top three riders in the Yamaha Motorcycle Insurance (YMI) Superbike class in such a close points battle, it could be anyone’s game when the red light goes out this weekend at Hidden Valley Raceway, July 7-9.

There have been plenty of thrilling races this season, however this weekend’s race at Hidden Valley Raceway is set to be an absolute corker. With the top three within nine points of each other, this weekend’s racing is absolutely crucial for a 2017 title bid. The riders will fight not only for wins, but for momentum in the championship.

(Pictured above Daniel Falzon)

This year the ASBK has been turned on its head with a privateer Yamaha rider, Daniel Falzon (JD Racing, Yamaha YZF-R1) leading the championship. Falzon is known as one of the ‘nice guy’s’ within the paddock and he certainly has impressed with his staunch work ethic and determination. After achieving a brilliant Round 1 clean sweep at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit (VIC), Falzon has been ticking away scoring points and maintaining consistency.

Can a privateer win the YMI Superbike Championship? That’s the question on everyone’s mind as Falzon has lead right up until the halfway mark of the season. If there was an upcoming talent that could achieve that goal, it could be Falzon. He will, however, certainly have to be wary of his two closest championship rivals in second and third positions.

(Pictured Above Wayne Maxwell)

Yamaha Racing Team’s Wayne ‘The Enforcer’ Maxwell (Yamaha YZF-R1) has to be considered the ‘in form’ rider, after taking both wins at the last round at Winton (VIC). The 2013 Australian Superbike Champion Maxwell looks to be at ‘one’ with his Yamaha YZF-R1 and the combination are proving to be a match made in heaven. Maxwell knows what it takes to win and with the Yamaha Racing Team focused on the title, they will be a force to be reckoned with.

All eyes will be on Crankt Protein Honda Racing’s Troy Herfoss (CBR1000SP2) to see how he adapts to the all new Honda CBR1000SP2 machine. There has been a lot of build-up to see whether this bike would in fact debut at Hidden Valley Raceway. Now that it has been confirmed, and the bike will be raced, it will be interesting to see whether this is the secret weapon in Honda’s grand plans to go for back to back ASBK titles. Herfoss is the very definition of a man that lives and breathes success. From his intricate training on his pushbike to his laser sharp mentality in pit lane, Herfoss won’t back down from this fight.

(Pictured above Troy Herfoss)

Who will prevail on Sunday? That is hard to say. With the ASBK paddock not having raced at Hidden Valley for several years, teams will have little data to rely on and it will likely even the playing field. One thing’s for sure, is that Falzon, Maxwell and Herfoss are likely to feature towards the pointy end and are all hopefuls for the final podium!

Tickets for Round 4 Hidden Valley Raceway in Darwin are now available for purchase online. Snap up your tickets today by clicking here!

Follow Us: Stay up to date with all the latest news and updates from the ASBK in the lead up to Round 4 at Hidden Valley Raceway by liking ASBK on Facebook, following the @asbk on Instagram and checking out the ASBK website here.

Can’t make it to the track? Then make sure you watch the ASBK, Sunday on channel SBS at 2:30 PM AEST or Live Stream on asbk.com.au from 10:30 AM AEST.

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More, from a press release issued by DesmoSport Ducati:

DESMOSPORT DUCATI GEARS UP FOR HIDDEN VALLEY RACEWAY ASBK RETURN

The DesmoSport Ducati team will return to racing this weekend at Darwin’s Hidden Valley Raceway following an extended break in the 2017 Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) schedule.

Rookie DesmoSport Ducati Superbike racer Callum Spriggs is eager to return to racing this weekend with confidence at the Darwin circuit after notching a third-place finish at the same venue in the Supersport category during the 2013 season.

“I’m keen to get back on the bike and excited to ride at Hidden Valley Raceway,” said Spriggs. “It’s different to all of the other rounds because of the heat and it’s a pretty cool place, I really enjoy the track as well, so I’m feeling pretty confident.”

Currently sitting 19th overall in the championship standings, the 23-year-old has his sights set on claiming his first top 10 finish of the 2017 season this weekend.

“I just want to try and at least get my first top 10 of the year, but being around the seventh to 10th mark is what I’m really hoping for,” he explained. “We’re just looking for a good result and to show some potential, that’s all I really want to do.”

The DesmoSport Ducati team recently contesting the TERRA NT endurance event in preparation for this weekend’s round four, team manager Ben Henry looks to use the added track time to their advantage in Darwin.

“Hopefully we’ve got an advantage this weekend in Darwin because we came all the way here and raced,” Henry revealed. “Nobody else really did that in the Superbike class, so hopefully that helps us for the weekend.

“Callum knows the bike well enough and he’s raced here before, so we should be starting to see some improvement in him moving forward. I’ve got him training pretty hard, so hopefully this weekend is the start of some progression moving forward and we’ll see how it pans out.”

The fourth round of the 2017 Australian Superbike Championship will take place at Hidden Valley Raceway, Northern Territory, on 7-9 July.

Like DesmoSport Ducati on Facebook and visit www.asbk.com.au for further information. Cube Performance Centre also has an exclusive DesmoSport Ducati section on its website, available to view at www.asbk.com.au now.

More, from a press release issued by Cube Racing:

CONFIDENT CUBE RACING SQUAD SET FOR DARWIN ASBK ROUND

The Cube Racing team will hit Darwin’s Hidden Valley Raceway with confidence this weekend for the fourth round of the 2017 Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK).

Making the extended trip to the Northern Territory following a lengthy mid-season break, Tom Toparis and Oli Bayliss will be greeted with warm conditions and a fast, flowing circuit.

Following a recent showing at the Hidden Valley Raceway circuit contesting the TERRA NT endurance event to familiarise themselves with the facility, the Cube Racing team are set for a strong round performance on 7-9 July.

Supersport contender Tom Toparis, currently fourth overall in points, will enter this weekend’s event with his sights set on claiming his second round win of the 2017 season.

“Coming up a few weeks ago and being able to do some laps was very handy and it will hopefully be an advantage coming into this weekend,” Toparis said. “I think this weekend should be pretty good, I felt good on the bike last time I was up here and it’s such a cool track, it’s cool to come somewhere new for a bit of a change.

“I need to be on the podium at least, but I think I need to get a win and I think it’s not impossible for me to do that,” he added. “I felt good on the bike here last time and I know I need to win, so I’m going to try my hardest to win.”

Now confident on the Hidden Valley Raceway circuit, Supersport 300 racer Bayliss, who currently sits sixth overall in points, will focus on adapting to the substantial temperature change he will experience throughout the weekend.

“I’m pretty confident coming into this weekend as I did pretty well at the two-hour,” Bayliss said. “The heat won’t really be a big deal as we only do about eight laps in the 300 race. I’ve been training a bit coming up to this round and going from minus 10 weather in Goulburn to 34 degrees is going to be a bit of a big difference, but I should be right.”

Team manager Ben Henry believes Cube Racing regulars Bayliss and Toparis will offer up strong competition in Darwin following their recent successful testing trip.

“The guys are going really well, we tested at Hidden Valley Raceway and Oli was really fast, as was Tom, he was pretty impressive,” Henry said. “It’s hard to say for Oli because there’s no legitimate lap record for those guys, he was so far underneath it that it’s hard to say what the other fast guys are going to do.

“Tom was around half-a-second off the lap record himself, so I think he’ll be fine, I think he’ll be one of the front-runners. Those two boys are looking pretty good and it should be some good racing.”

Supersport class regular Aidan Hayes will also receive support from Cube Racing for the first time in 2017 at one of his favourite venues on the Australian schedule.

The Hidden Valley Raceway round of the 2017 Australian Superbike Championship will run over three days from 7-9 July.

Like Cube Racing on Facebook and visit www.asbk.com.au for further information. Cube Performance Centre also has an exclusive Cube Racing section on its website, available to view at www.asbk.com.au now.