From a press release issued by Yamaha Racing Australia:

2003 Shell Advance Australian Superbike Championship
Round 4, Queensland Raceway, Queensland
Event preview

QUEENSLAND’S PENULTIMATE CHALLENGE

Queensland Raceway plays host to the fourth and penultimate round of this years Shell Advance Australian Superbike Championship this weekend (August 9 & 10) with a number of Yamaha riders being in strong positions to set themselves up for a crack at a number of very sought after titles, Superbike, Supersport and Superstock.

The past two months have been a torrid affair for many of the leading riders, but at the same time it has also been rewarding. Nikon Yamaha’s Kevin Curtain and Daniel Stauffer have recovered well from the injuries that they suffered in their high-speed collision at round two of the SAASC at Phillip Island. Both riders having tasted success since with Curtain claiming the Formula Xtreme and FX Supersport titles in recent weeks, while Stauffer emerged as the overall round winner from the Winton SAASC round.

Neither of Yamaha’s top two riders has turned a wheel at Queensland Raceway, but at the same time neither will feel disadvantaged at the same time.

“All that we can do is get up there and do the best possible job that we can,” said Curtain. “In the Superbike class Craig (Coxhell) and Shawn (Giles) have proven to be very quick this year and with the long straights that they have there, we are going to have to work hard to stay with them. It’s a fairly unique type of racetrack, where no one has any distinct advantage, but at the same time you do have to have a very good package with engine performance, handling and braking. That’s where our advantages lie.”

“The Supersport class will be much the same as on the Superbike, where the competition will be tough, especially Brendan (Clarke),” added Curtain. “It will be a slightly different position for me there as I’m leading the points, while I’m chasing them in Superbike. Either way it is shaping up as a good weekend.”

As the championship heads north to Queensland, Curtain currently holds down second place in the Superbike Championship, trailing Coxhell by 15-points (141 to 126) followed by Giles (123) and Stauffer (101). Victorian Yamaha privateer Stephen Tozer (Stafford Yamaha) is also back at full fitness and will be aiming to work his way higher up the point’s table from his current position of ninth.

The Supersport class sees Curtain heading the field with a 39-point advantage over Shannon Johnson (172 to 133) while Brisbane teenager Brendan Clarke fills third place with 120 on the second Nikon Yamaha YZF R6. Clarke will be calling on all of his track knowledge to promote himself further up the leader board and should start as one of the early race favourites.

The Supersport class has been strongly supported by a number of Yamaha privateer riders and the Queensland round will be no different. These include Sydney’s Glenn Allerton (who currently lies fifth overall), Judd Greedy (seventh overall), Shaun Geronimi (Procycles Yamaha, eighth), Victorian brothers Deon (Gary O’Brien Yamaha) and Jordan Coote (Pakenham Yamaha), Lismore’s Mark Stanley (Lismore Motorcycles), South Australia’s Michael Brenton (Yamaha World) and Michael Edwards (Star Yamaha).

The Superstock is also shaping up as a close affair as Taree teenager Alex Cudlin (Fineline Yamaha) aims to break down the 36-point margin between himself and points leader Leigh McKenzie. Cudlin has been one of the rising stars of the season aboard his Yamaha YZF R6.

Practice and qualifying for this weekend’s Queensland round of the championship begins of Friday morning followed by two further days of on-track action on Saturday and Sunday.


Shell Advance Australian Superbike Championship (after three of five rounds):
1 Craig Coxhell (Suzuki) 141; 2 Kevin Curtain (Yamaha) 126; 3 Shawn Giles (Suzuki) 123; 4 Daniel Stauffer (Yamaha) 101; 5 Shannon Johnson (Honda) 71; 6 Scott Charlton (Honda) / Brent George (Honda) 70; 8 Josh Brookes (Honda) 50; 9 Stephen Tozer (Yamaha) 49; 10 Jay Taylor (Honda) 47.

Shell Advance Australian Supersport championship (after three of five rounds):
1 Kevin Curtain (Yamaha) 172; 2 Shannon Johnson (Honda) 133; 3 Brendan Clarke (Yamaha) 120; 4 Josh Brookes (Honda) 95; 5 Glenn Allerton (Yamaha) 93; 6 Russell Holland (Kawasaki) 75; 7 Judd Greedy (Yamaha) 68; 8 Shaun Geronimi (Yamaha) 59; 9 Reece Bancell (Suzuki) 30; 10 Mark Aitchison (Suzuki) 28.

Shell Advance Australian Superstock Cup (after three of five rounds):
1 Leigh McKenzie (Suzuki) 159; 2 Alex Cudlin (Yamaha) 123; 3 Tristan Culvenor (Suzuki) 82; 4 Paul Martinello (Yamaha) 79; 5 Alex Tomassetti
(Kawasaki) 76.