Nikon Yamaha Wins Australian Superbike Race On New R1 At Phillip Island

Nikon Yamaha Wins Australian Superbike Race On New R1 At Phillip Island

© 2004, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

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From a press release issued by Nikon Yamaha:

Development Continues for Nikon Yamaha at Phillip Island

The Nikon Yamaha Factory Racing Team continued its impressive development of the brand new Yamaha YZF-R1 during the three Australian Superbike support races held at the second round of the Superbike World Championship at Phillip Island on March 26-28.

In only the second race meeting for the all-new R1 rocket, the Nikon Yamaha Factory Racing Team – with riders Daniel Stauffer and Shannon Johnson – scored a win and the fastest lap of the weekend to gain further valuable information and development progress in an event that had no bearing on the Australian Championships – although, as usual, plenty of pride was on the line.

Stauffer and Johnson qualified second and sixth respectively, with Dan’s time good enough to put him in the Superpole Shootout for the World Superbikes – a remarkable statistic considering the difference between the specs of the near standard Nikon Yamaha R1 and the international Superbikes. Also, due to time constraints there was no free practice so the first time on the Island track for the year was also the first qualifying session.

The Phillip Island circuit is notoriously tortuous on tyres – particularly the left-hand side as the bikes are leaned over for extraordinarily long periods at high speeds – plus the weekend produced unseasonal high temperatures. Combined with the extra power this new breed of Superbikes are producing and that all riders are limited to only two sets of tyres for the three races, tyre selection would play a critical role in proceedings.

Stauffer took the early running in the first 10-lap race and was in a commanding position fort the majority of the journey and looked certain to grab the win. However, the combination of a lack of development of the new R1 and the all-new 2004-spec Dunlop tyres saw his charge to the front come up just short and he brought the Yamaha home in a gallant second place. Johnson managing to battle through to finish in third position just behind his teammate to score his first podium in only his second meeting with the team.

“We still have a long way to go in the development of the new R1,” explained Nikon Yamaha’s Team Manager, Steve Trinder. “We have had very little practice as we are doing the development of bikes at the meetings but there is plenty of light at the end of the tunnel. We haven’t been to Phillip Island with the new bikes so we gained heaps of vital information that will be very useful for the final round of the Australian titles later in the year.”

The second leg was another example why the fans crowd the spectator fences and many of the world teams drop tools to have a look at the local talent as the race was a cracker between the usual combatants – a five lap sprint race. Stauffer went out on a harder compound Dunlop on the rear while Johnson elected to use the same tyre so he could have fresh rubber for the critical 10-lap final leg.

Stauffer’s decision was prudent as he took the win and the fastest lap of the three races and just missed out on claiming a new class lap record while Johnson, after being up to third place had to slow towards the end to eventually finish sixth.

The final five-lap leg was held between the two World Superbike races on Sunday afternoon by which time the track temperature had soared to over 42 degrees – unusually high for late March at the island track.

From the start Stauffer took up his now customary position at the front of the field and look set to make it another win but a worn tyre and the intense heat took their toll as he dropped off the pace of the leaders as Johnson on a fresh tyre did the reverse and in the final drag to the line pipped his teammate for fourth spot.

“I suppose I can’t be disappointed as we have still so much work to do but it would’ve been nice to come away with the outright victory over the three races” explained Stauffer. “With the rules the way they are stating that we have to use two sets of tyres for the three races, the nature of the track and the hot conditions it was always going to be hard but I’m happy to get a win and the fastest lap of the weekend.

“The team worked very hard and the new bike is the best thing I have ever ridden. I have to keep reminding myself that it’s still a road bike and virtually stock standard. We still have a lot of work to do to turn the new R1 into a proper race bike but when that happens I reckon they wont see which way we went!”

In only his second meeting on a Yamaha and dealing with a new team and Dunlop tyres Johnson is demonstrating that it won’t be too long before he will be battling with his team mate for outright honours. “I haven’t ridden a Superbike for over a year so I shouldn’t be too down on myself and for sure would’ve liked to have been closer to the front. I’m pretty hard on myself at the best of times but I’m working well with the team as I learn a new bike and new tyres as well.

“I’m happy we have moved forward from the first time on the bike and look forward to testing so I can understand the bike some more and push for podium finishes every time I go out.”

The next meeting for the Nikon Yamaha Factory Racing Team is the second round of the 2004 Shell Advance Australian Superbike Championships at Wakefield Park near Goulburn (NSW) on April 16-18.

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