From a press release

2003 Shell Advance Australian Superbike Championship
Round 2, Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Victoria
Event Preview

PHILLIP ISLAND BECKONS FOR YAMAHA RIDERS

Victoria’s world famous Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit presents itself as the next challenge for the strong contingent of Yamaha riders competing in this years Shell Advance Australian Superbike Championship as round two of the championship heads to Australia’s southern most mainland tip this weekend, May 16 – 18.

Leading the Yamaha assault is Kevin Curtain, who arrives at the Island holding a perfect score in both the Australian Superbike and Supersport Championships after clean sweeping the opening round at Mallala aboard his Nikon Yamaha Racing Team prepared YZF R1 and R6 machines.

Curtain has been in amazing form this year and is by far the standout competitor in both domestic race series. As always, he will be aiming to come away from the round with maximum points, but does know that the Island presents its own array of challenges.

“I’d like to go there and do what I did at Mallala, but it’s Phillip Island and that does bring the best out in a lot of the competitors,” said Curtain, the existing Production Superbike lap record holder at Phillip Island. “The last time we where here at the World Superbike round in March, it was pretty tough. We did manage a win in the Superbike support, plus another two in the Supersport events, so there is some room there for improvement that’s for sure. The good thing is that both the R1 and the R6 have improved since then, so it will be interesting to see the results we can achieve this time out.”

Joining Curtain in the Superbike field will be teammate Daniel Stauffer and Stafford Yamaha’s Stephen Tozer. Stauffer currently lies fourth in the series, 34 points adrift of Curtain (76 – 42), while Tozer is within the top ten holding down ninth place with a total of 20 points.

The ever competitive Australian Supersport Championship will see another huge field of competitors that will include a total of eight Yamaha supported riders.

Leading the way once more will be Curtain aboard the impressive new fuel injected Yamaha YZF R6, while a further five Yamaha riders sit within the top ten on the points table.

Brendan Clarke (Nikon Yamaha) lies third on points at present followed by Glen Allerton (fifth), Procycles Yamaha’s Shaun Geronimi (tied for sixth), Yamaha World’s Michael Brenton (ninth) and Judd Greedy (tied for tenth).

For Clarke, the round will be a difficult one as he is still suffering from the fractured rib and punctured lung that he suffered at the Winton Formula Xtreme round a couple of weeks ago, but the talented Queensland teenager will take to the track on Friday and Saturday to assess his fitness.

Joining those top ten runners will be locals Glen Holland (Geoff Taylor Yamaha) and the Coote brothers Deon (Gary O’Brien Yamaha) and Jordan (Pakenham Yamaha). Each are capable of running high in the top ten and could be in a position to spring some welcomed surprises. Not being left out will be Bike City’s Mat Childs and Lismore Motorcycles Mark Stanley.

Completing the Yamaha line up of talented riders is 16-year-old Alex Cudlin. The Taree teenager currently lies fifth in the Superstock category aboard his Fineline Yamaha, but is certain to be higher on the points table when they leave Victoria on Sunday night.

Practice and qualifying for this weekend’s round commences on Friday, with races scheduled for Saturday and Sunday on what is a packed program.


POINTS (after 1 of 5 rounds)
Australian Superbike Championship
1. K Curtain (Yamaha) 76; 2. C Coxhell (Suzuki) 60; 3. S Giles (Suzuki) 45; 4. D Stauffer 42; 5. S Johnson (Honda) 32; 6. K McCarthy (Honda) 29; 7. B George (Honda) 22; 8. A Maxwell (Honda) 21; 9. S Tozer (Yamaha) 20; 10. D Butler (Suzuki) 16.

Australian Supersport Championship
1. K Curtain (Yamaha) 76; 2. S Johnson (Honda) 60; 3. B Clarke (Yamaha) 45; 4. R Holland (Kawasaki) 40; 5. G Allerton (Yamaha) 33; 6. M Clunie (Kawasaki) / S Geronimi (Yamaha) / J Brookes (Honda) 21; 9. M Brenton (Yamaha) 21; 10 J Greedy (Yamaha) / R Bancell (Suzuki) 19.

Australian Superstock Championship
1. L McKenzie (Suzuki) 75; 2. P Martinello (Yamaha) 49; 3. B McConnell (Suzuki) 37; 4. C Browne (Suzuki) 33; 5. A Cudlin (Yamaha) 31.