Six-time Superbike World Champion Jonathan Rea has been producing a regular vlog for several seasons. As he begins his transition to Pata Yamaha Prometeon after spending the last nine seasons with Kawasaki Racing Team, we thought we would look back at Rea’s 2023 season through his own vlogs.
Here is Episode Three “I Decided To Ride In The Mud.”
Herfoss soars to third ASBK title at The Bend
A superb final round clean sweep from Troy Herfoss in the 2023 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul, at The Bend has secured the Queenslander a stunning third Australian Superbike title.
The 36-year-old was peerless in round seven Alpinestars Superbike action on the South Australian circuit, with his maximum points haul on the immaculately prepared Penrite Honda CBR1000RR-R keeping the door firmly shut on his main championship rival, Josh Waters (McMartin Racing with K-Tech Ducati V4R).
Herfoss defeated Waters in a tight race one finish, before a mid-race crash from Waters in the decider took all the pressure off the new 2023 champion, who signed off from his career with Honda in fairytale fashion. After the anguish of losing previous ASBK Championships by slim margins, today’s victory was all about pure adulation.
Herfoss completed the seven-round championship on 344pts, ahead of Waters (324) and Cru Halliday (Yamaha Racing Team YZF-R1, 260), the latter nabbing third from Glenn Allerton (GT Racing BMW M 1000 RR, 259) at the death knell.
As well as the two race wins and the championship spoils, Herfoss now owns the fastest Superbike lap around the 4.95km circuit – icing on the cake for what was a brutally efficient campaign from first practice on Friday until today’s heroics. Herfoss methodically piled on the pressure bit by bit, which ultimately proved too much for the opposition – even Waters.
THE BEND SUPERBIKE RESULTS AND STANDINGS
Herfoss’ previous ASBK titles came in 2016 and 2018, while it’s now a dominant 12 championships for Honda in the 35-year history of Australia’s premier road racing category.
“It doesn’t get any better than this, as the riders I compete against are so hard to beat,” said Herfoss.
“To be able to finish up with Honda with a championship is just incredible. We have grown a lot as a team this year and just got better and better. And this is the best I have ever ridden a motorbike.
“But I want to pay credit to my opposition, and particularly Josh who I also battled with in the 2017 championship. He’s such a tough competitor and literally rode his bike into the ground to try and beat me. And I know he’s in a lot of pain with his injuries: I’ve got a of respect for him and his team.
“I just love racing and it’s not going to get better than this.”
Waters, who was chasing a fourth ASBK title, was philosophical in defeat.
“It started to hurt us yesterday when Troy got pole position and the bonus point,” said Waters.
“Race one was good and I looked at the positives, and then in race two I wanted to lead from the start and pull away from the others. When I crashed I wasn’t pushing that hard, but the bike had been risky into turn six all weekend.
“I am disappointed in the outcome but at least I know I gave it everything. Congratulations to Troy on winning the championship.”
The opening 11-lap race saw Herfoss lead from start to finish, with Waters running line astern for the majority of the journey save for a brief period when defending ASBK champion Mile Jones (Yamaha Racing Team YZF-R1) slotted into second.
Waters’ move back into second coincided with Herfoss setting a new race lap record (1m50.529s), which saw him stretch his lead to just under one second.
Waters dug in his heels, though, and he was running with Herfoss by the final lap. However, Herfoss was impregnable and held on by 0.253sec and increased his championship lead to 6pts, with the slow-starting Halliday third ahead of Jones, Allerton, Max Stauffer (GTR Moto Stars YZF-R1), Bryan Staring (MotoGo YZF-R1) and Anthony West (Addicted to Track YZF-R1).
Race two saw Stauffer and Staring both crash out within the first two laps, but the most telling departure was Waters after losing the front end on his V4R at turn six while in second place.
He remounted and finished 10th, but Herfoss only had to keep his powder dry over the final four laps to guarantee championship success. He was duly untroubled, and could even acknowledge the crowd on the final lap – an early reward for a stellar season which yielded eight wins and 12 podiums.
Halliday passed Jones on the final lap in the battle for second, while Allerton was fourth from West, Broc Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati V4R), Marcus Chiodo (CBR100RR-R) and Ted Collins (Livson Racing M 1000 RR).
The 2004 ASBK Championship will begin from February 23-25 in conjunction with the FIM Motul Superbike World Championship.
Six-time Superbike World Champion Jonathan Rea has been producing a regular vlog for several seasons. As he begins his transition to Pata Yamaha Prometeon after spending the last nine seasons with Kawasaki Racing Team, we thought we would look back at Rea’s 2023 season through his own vlogs.
Here is Episode Two “Visor Giveaway”
Tickets on Sale for Progressive AFT’s 84th Sturgis Rally Showdown at Black Hills Speedway
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Tickets for the Black Hills Half-Mile, round 12 of the 2024 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, are now available for purchase.
Progressive AFT will once again serve as a showcase event of this year’s 84th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally with a special Tuesday race on August 6, at Black Hills Speedway, in Rapid City, South Dakota.
“America’s Original Extreme Sport” and the world’s largest motorcycle rally have proven a perfect pairing over the years, with handlebar-to-handlebar action featuring the world’s elite two-wheeled dirt track racers of prime interest to the 500,000 strong attendees who flock to Sturgis each summer.
Reigning Grand National Champion Jared Mees earned his fourth Black Hills Half-Mile victory a year ago in dominant fashion but could find it more difficult to earn a fifth with the likes of Dallas Daniels, Briar Bauman, Brandon Robinson, Davis Fisher and more hoping to steal his Mission SuperTwins crown in 2024.
Last year’s event was big one for the defending (and still) champions as Kody Kopp reeled in top honors in Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER action, despite being pushed by fleet of talented young aces, including Tom Drane, Trent Lowe, Max Whale, Trevor Brunner, Chase Saathoff, and Declan Bender.
The ‘24 event will feature numerous attractions off the track as well, including a playground for kids, numerous vendors, designated motorcycle parking, and a variety of food and beverage options.
General Admission Grandstand tickets are just $30 (kids 12 and under $5), while Reserved Grandstand tickets are only $15 more (All Ages). A Pit Pass Upgrade provides all-day access to the pit area where fans can scope out the world’s fastest dirt track motorcycles and get up close and personal with the stars of the sport.
Finally, fans can also receive VIP treatment by selecting a special ticket option that provides access to the exclusive, premium indoor VIP viewing area and includes food, beverage, and a Pit Pass for $125.
Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/black-hills-half-mile-86674 to reserve your seats today.
For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.
Progressive AFT series merchandise is available via the official merchandise store at https://aftmerch.com/.
About Progressive American Flat Track
Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, is the world’s premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on Progressive American Flat Track, please visit us on the web, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, check us out on Instagram and catch all the Progressive American Flat Track racing action on FOX Sports.
Herfoss sizzles to claim pole position in ASBK finale
Troy Herfoss is determined to make his Honda swansong a fairytale after unleashing a towering qualifying performance in round seven of the 2023 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul.
The Queenslander turned up the wick on his Penrite Honda CBR1000RR-R in the second Alpinestars Superbike qualifying session at The Bend, and the spoils were spectacular: the first rider to go under the 1m50s bracket at the world-class 4.95km circuit.
Peerless across every measure, but with championship rival Josh Waters (McMartin Racing with K-Tech Ducati V4R) alongside him on the front row the celebrations will be short and sweet for Herfoss before he galvanises himself for tomorrow’s two 11-lap races.
Michelin Supersport is also delicately poised, with returning internationals Harrison Voight and Tom Toparis leading the qualifying charts ahead of the three riders vying for the championship: Olly Simpson, Cameron Dunker and Ty Lynch.
Two races also await the Supersport cohort tomorrow, while three of the other SBK classes – Yamaha Finance R3 Cup, Supersport 300 and bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup – are already in competition mode but remain ‘live’ rubbers.
Only one 2023 champion was crowned today: Keo Watson in the popular Sureflight Superbike Masters class.
Tickets are still available for Sunday’s racing at The Bend via www.asbk.com.au, but if you’re watching from home or in transit there are live streaming and TV options galore so you don’t have to miss a minute of the action.
ALPINESTARS SUPERBIKE
Pole position was a just reward for Herfoss who had been consistently brisk in all four practice sessions. But even the wiliest of ASBK pundits probably wouldn’t have believed the extraordinary work he produced in qualifying with his amazing 1m49.889s lap.
Herfoss says it was one of the highlights of his career.
“I have never done a qualifying lap that good,” the ebullient 36-year-old said. “I was hoping I could do a 1:49 but I didn’t think it would actually happen. I know it was just qualifying but it’s the most fun I’ve had in one minute and 49 seconds in my life!
“It’s a pretty emotional weekend and I want to finish it off in the best possible way and work out what I want to do after that.”
Herfoss’ pole-sitting time was 0.409s ahead of Waters (1:50.298), followed by Cru Halliday (Yamaha Racing Team YZF-R1, 1:50.312), Max Stauffer (GTR Moto Stars YZF-R1, 1:50.550) and Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team YZF-R1, 1:50.688).
Glenn Allerton (GT Racing BMW M 1000 RR, 1:50.881) will complete row two tomorrow, with Bryan Staring (MotoGo YZF-R1, 1:51.265), South Australian Arthus Sissis (Unitech Racing YZF-R1, 1:51.274) and Anthony West (Addicted to Track YZF-R1, 1:51.325) on row three.
Race one will be held at 11:00am (ADCT) tomorrow, and race two at 2:45pm (ADCT). Will it be a third Superbike title for Herfoss, or number four for Waters?
MICHELIN SUPERSPORT
It’s the overriding Michelin Supersport question: will the riders making ASBK cameos – Voight and Toparis the two standouts – make tomorrow pleasure or pain for the championship aspirations of Dunker, Simpson and Lynch?
We’ll get a more definitive gauge in the opening nine-lap race tomorrow, where last year’s double winner Voight (Voight Construction Yamaha YZF-R6) will start from pole position after setting the new best lap around The Bend – 1:54.618. Toparis (Cube Racing Stop & Seal YZF-R6, 1:54.770) and Simpson (Simpson Crash YZF-R6, 1:54.825) are right on Voight’s hammer, so we’re unlikely to see a runaway winner – it’s going to be a tight affair.
Meanwhile, Dunker (GTR Moto Stars YZF-R6, 1:55.322), the championship leader, knows what final round pressure is all about, and he’ll start from grid position No. 4 alongside Lynch (AMR Sports YZF-R6, 1:55.571) and Harry Khouri (Addicted to Track YZF-R6, 1:57.851) – another Aussie expat back in town for the ASBK finale.
All 20 riders qualified.
SUPERSPORT 300 AND YAMAHA FINANCE R3 CUP
After a forced restart following an Abbie Cameron crash which brought out the red flag, the racing in the Supersport 300 opener was as tight as ever before boiling down to a three-way fight between Cameron Swain, Brodie Gawith and Marcos Hamod.
And that’s how they finished in a blanket finish, with Swain victorious by just 0.013s to move into the title lead by 9ts over Hamod.
The Yamaha Finance R3 Cup produced more Swain magic as he claimed the spoils from Gawith, while Hamod just held out Henry Snell and Jordan Simpson for third.
Swain also holds sway in R3 Cup by 9pts, with two races remaining in each class.
BLU OCEANIA JUNIOR CUP
Polesitter Archie Schmidt won race one in the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup after a nail-biting finish saw him execute a perfectly timed pass on Jake Paige on the last turn.
The pair, in a very unusual OJC scenario, cleared out from the main pack, with Rikky Henry finishing in a lonely third before the pack tightened up.
Schmidt also set a new lap record of 2:30.941 in a brilliant OJC outing. He now has a 9pt lead over Bodie Paige, who was fourth in race one.
SUREFLIGHT SUPERBIKE MASTERS
The Sureflight Superbike Masters grid was stacked with Aussie racing legends: three-time MotoGP winner Garry McCoy Yamaha TZ750), Isle of Man Classic TT winner David Johnson (Suzuki Katana) and dual World Superbike champion Troy Corser (Yamaha 0W01).
However, most of today’s plaudits went to Watson (Yamaha FZR1000), who was rewarded with champion-designate status after a brilliant season.
Johnson and Watson shared the wins on Saturday, with the former forced to start from pitlane in race two due to his late arrival on the grid from racetrack commentary duties! A first time for everything….
Watson and Ryan Taylor (Suzuki GSX-R1100) completed the podium in race one, and in race two McCoy was runner-up ahead of Taylor. McCoy had earlier fluffed the race one start on the big two-stroke before slicing his way back to fourth.
Meanwhile, Corser had braking gremlins in both races but managed to make the finish line in the second.
MotoAmerica Mini Cup Changes Aplenty For 2024 Season
A New Regional Series, Updated Rules, And A National Final At Road America
IRVINE, CA (December 2, 2023) – MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, has announced big changes to its Mission Mini Cup By Motul Championship for the 2024 season, including a regional qualifying series followed by a National Final at Road America in August.
For starters, the series will feature a four-race Mission Mini Cup By Motul East Coast Series in 2024. Aside from crowning an East Coast Champion, each event will act as qualifying races for the National Final that will be held at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, August 9-11.
The East Coast Series races will be held at Bushnell Motorsports Park in Bushnell, Florida (March 29-30), Anderson Race Park in Palmetto, Florida (April 12-13), Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, South Carolina (May 17-18) and Pittsburgh International Race Complex in Wampum, Pennsylvania (May 24-25).
“The 2023 season was the first year I was involved in the program,” said Mini Cup Manager Cory Texter. “We’ve learned a lot of things that will lead to improvements for 2024. We want to make it simple for young racers and their parents to get involved by making it easy for them to come out and race. Our aim is to expand the base of Mini Cup racing throughout the country and to get everyone to Road America in August for a National Championship final. We’re thankful that our sponsors are enthusiastic about this new direction and we’re really looking forward to getting the season under way.”
Those wanting to compete in the National Finals without qualifying through the Qualifier Series can do so but they will start with a points deficit in the National Finals.
In addition to the schedule changes, the rules package has also been updated with the GP160 and GP190 classes now open to additional manufacturers. Also, there will also be a Street GP class that will cater to Honda Groms, Kawasaki Z125s and the like.
The series will still feature the three stock classes for entry level racers: Stock 60, Stock 110 and Stock 125.
For more information on becoming a Mini Cup National Qualifier host, please email Cory Texter at [email protected]
Mission Mini Cup By Motul East Coast Series
March 29-30 Bushnell Motorsports Park Bushnell, FL
April 12-13 Anderson Race Park Palmetto, FL
May 17-18 Carolina Motorsports Park Kershaw, SC
May 24-25 Pittsburgh Int’l Race Complex Wampum, PA
Mission Mini Cup By Motul National Final
August 9-11 Road America Elkhart Lake, WI
About MotoAmerica
MotoAmerica is North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series. Established in 2014, MotoAmerica is home to the AMA Superbike Championship as well as additional classes including Supersport, Stock 1000, Twins Cup, Junior Cup, and King Of The Baggers. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership including three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey; ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland; motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges; and businessman Richard Varner. For more information, please visit www.MotoAmerica.com and follow MotoAmerica on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube.
Six-time Superbike World Champion Jonathan Rea has been producing a regular vlog for several seasons. As he begins his transition to Pata Yamaha Prometeon after spending the last nine seasons with Kawasaki Racing Team, we thought we would look back at Rea’s 2023 season through his own vlogs.
Here is: “First Test Of 2023.”
The PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team to field Pawi and Toba in the 2024 Supersport World Championship
The PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team continues to formulate its plans for the 2024 racing season and can now confirm that it will field Malaysian rider Khairul Idham Pawi and Japanese rider Kaito Toba in the 2024 Supersport World Championship.
Having recently confirmed that its 2023 WorldSSP riders Tarran Mackenzie and Adam Norrodin will remain with the team but move up to compete in the Superbike category, the squad has now identified two strong young riders as its World Supersport representatives for the 2024 season.
Born on 20 September 1998, Pawi is a Malaysian rider who has extensive experience in the Moto3 and Moto2 world championships. The 25-year old is currently leading this year’s ARRC Supersport championship, and has just competed in the WorldSSP championship for the first time, having lined up with the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team as a wildcard entry in the season finale at Jerez in Spain.
Born on 7 April 2000, Toba has already amassed seven years of experience in the Moto3 World Championship despite his young age. The winner of the 2014 Asia Talent Cup, young Kaito went on to compete in the Red Bull Rookies Cup and the CEV Moto3 Junior world championship before progressing to Moto3. Much of his racing has been aboard Honda machinery. The talented Japanese currently places eleventh in the 2023 Moto3 championship standings, thanks also to a podium finish at the inaugural India GP round.
Khairul Idham Pawi
“I want to thank everyone on the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team for giving me the opportunity to compete in World Supersport. I got to know the team at Jerez, during the final round of the 2023 season, and everyone was very helpful throughout every session. WorldSSP is an ultra-competitive category with lots of fast riders. Moving from Moto2 is a big challenge, but I’ll do my best to adapt quickly and keep up with them. I know most of the circuits from my time in Moto3 and Moto2, but there are a few I’ve never visited. It’ll be tough in those cases, but I’ll try to learn fast. My initial goal is to consistently score points and then figure out how to improve as the season goes on. I’m thrilled to be part of the PETRONAS family again, just as I was in 2019 and 2020. It’s a dream come true to be associated with such a big name, and I’ll work hard to achieve the best possible results.”
Kaito Toba
“I’m thrilled to join the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team. This is a big opportunity for me, and I am very proud to be part of this project, with the prestigious PETRONAS brand as title sponsor. I extend my gratitude to PETRONAS, Honda, and Midori (Moriwaki) for putting their faith in me. This marks a brand-new chapter in my career, as I’ll be competing in the Supersport World Championship for the first time. Though I’m used to training with a 600 machine, I have yet to experience the CBR600RR. So, I plan to make the most of every winter test session we have, to build good feeling with the bike right from the outset. The 12-round calendar includes tracks I know but also two or three that I’ve never seen. Having not yet ridden the bike, I cannot have any realistic expectations, but one thing is for sure – I can’t wait to embark on this new challenge and am prepared to give it my absolute best.”
Midori Moriwaki – Team Owner
“It is a great pleasure to welcome two strong riders like Khairul Idham Pawi and Kaito Toba to our PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team. They are both incredibly skilled and real fighters, with a brilliant racing background at international level. They will be able to harness their significant experience and showcase their skills aboard the CBR600RR, challenging themselves in a new championship and lending their knowledge and skills to our team’s exciting project. The entire PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team couldn’t be happier or more excited to start working with Khairul and Kaito.”
Two-time Grand Prix World Champion and two-time Isle of Man TT winner Cecil Sandford died November 28. He was 95.
Sandford, an Englishman, made his Grand Prix debut in 1950 and went on to win the 1952 125cc World Championship on an MV Agusta, giving the Italian manufacturer its first World Championship victory. Sandford later won the 1957 250cc World Championship with Mondial.
He is survived by his wife Pat and sons Ian and Mark.
Waters and Herfoss dominate practice to set the scene for a thrilling ASBK finale
The grand final of the 2023 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul, began at The Bend today, with the Superbike battle between arch-rivals Troy Herfoss and Josh Waters already in hyper mode.
Waters (McMartin Racing with K-Tech Ducati V4 R), locked on an unprecedented Alpinestars Superbike tie with Herfoss (Penrite Honda CBR1000RR-R), only annexed top spot in the final few minutes of the third practice session – and in the process set a new best-ever lap around the expansive South Australian circuit, eclipsing Wayne Maxwell’s previous mark from 2021 by 0.66 seconds.
Herfoss, after being the pacesetter for all but two minutes of day one, was second, while South Australian Olly Simpson (Yamaha YZF-R6) was the top gun in Michelin Supersport as that class also goes down to the wire on Sunday.
In fact, all the ASBK classes remain up for grabs in the most spectacular finale to the championship on record and, with more brilliant weather forecast across the weekend, there’ll be no excuses or potential spoilers: it’ll all come down to speed, guile and flair on the racetrack.
Tickets for The Bend ASBK grand final are still available online, and general admission ticket holders on Saturday will also receive free entry into racing under lights at the circuit’s recently inaugurated drag strip.
Can’t make it to the Bend on Saturday? SBS On Demand will have you covered with live and exclusive live streaming of all the qualifying and race action, starting at 10:20am and concluding at 5:30pm (ACDT).
ALPINESTARS SUPERBIKE
The anticipation in the Alpinestars Superbike class has started early, thanks to Waters’ withering late burst of speed taking him to the top of the timesheets over Herfoss, followed by Max Stauffer (GTR MotoStars YZF-R1).
Waters uncorked a 1:50.454 on his final flyer, while Herfoss (1:50.604) was the only other rider in the 51-second bracket after producing a consistent body of brilliant work across all three practice sessions.
The scene has been set: the championship leaders are well and truly in the zone, with the fervour and excitement to only increase as practice morphs into qualifying and then Sunday’s two 11-lap races.
“It was a good Friday for us across the three sessions,” said Waters. “We were chipping away all day and changed a lot of everything – including the suspension.
“Just look at the lap times for me and Troy and you can tell something’s important on our minds! It’s great for all the people following the championship.”
Herfoss said he took a conservative approach to day one, despite his sizzling times and timesheet-leading tempo. It was all about methodical work rate.
“We just worked slowly through a few electronic things, as well as a small chassis change in the third session,” said Herfoss, who will part ways with the Honda team after the final round.
“We are so close and trying to work with the grip levels as they change. A really solid day, and I felt really comfortable on the bike.
“It looks like Josh and I are a little bit ahead of the field at the moment, but you know racing: other riders can wake up on Saturday and be fast so I’m definitely keeping things in perspective.
“I just can’t wait for racing to get underway – it’s exciting.”
Herfoss and Bryan Staring (MotoGo YZF-R1) share the record for the most Superbike wins around The Bend with three each, ahead of Jones (one).
Stauffer (1:51.105), emboldened by his breakthrough Alpinestars Superbike podium at Phillip Island, again upstaged more seasoned riders with his third spot in practice, ahead of Yamaha Racing Team duo Cru Halliday (1:51.193) and defending champion Mike Jones (1:51.537).
Anthony West (Addicted to Track YZF-R1, 1:51.546) was sixth ahead of Arthur Sissis (Unitech Racing YZF-R1, 1:52.156), while Glenn Allerton (GT Racing M 1000 RR) – defending third place in the championship – was back in 11th place and will have to find more speed in qualifying to work himself back into calculations.
MICHELIN SUPERSPORT
Simpson (1:54.840) pushed hard from the outset in Michelin Supersport practice, with this weekend’s grid strengthened by a number of young Aussie internationals returning home for ASBK cameos.
Simpson held onto top spot despite last year’s winner Harrison Voight (YZF-R6, 1:54.866) finishing the day strongly.
Simpson is 14pts adrift of Cameron Dunker (GTR MotoStars YZF-R6, 1:55.660) in the championship, with the latter third in practice from Tom Toparis (Cube Racing Stop & Seal YZF-R6, 1:55.674) and Hayden Nelson (Cube Racing YZF-R6, 1:55.800).
South Australian Ty Lynch (AMR Motorsports YZF-R6, 1:56.370), just 2pts behind Simpson and the third cog in the thrilling championship battle, also kept his powder dry in sixth position.
SUPERSPORT 300 AND YAMAHA FINANCE R3 CUP
It’s all set up for a nerve-wrecking finale in both classes, with main contenders Brodie Gawith, Cameron Swain and Henry Snell all lurking at the top of the timesheets, with Bradon Demmery also in the hunt as well.
There are 75pts up for grabs in each class across the weekend, starting with the opening races tomorrow afternoon – which can both be seen on SBS On Demand!
BLU CRU OCEANIA JUNIOR CUP
More top guns at the very top with one and two in the series, Archie Schmidt and Bodie Paige, the stars of practice.
Schmidt, from Mount Barker in the Adelaide Hills, has been a revelation all year with his fast and aggressive riding, and he’ll look to complete a stellar year with a title victory on Sunday.
Schmidt can’t slip up though, as Paige will be there to pounce only being 1pt in arrears, while Hayden Fordyce is third – the only other realistic contender.
SUREFLIGHT SUPERBIKE MASTERS
It didn’t take long for Garry McCoy to remind us why he is a three-time MotoGP winner, qualifying on pole position in his Sureflight Superbike Masters cameo – the diminutive Queensand fulfilling a long-held ambition to ride a Yamaha TZ750.
He will start from pole position after going 0.3 seconds faster than 2022 The Bend winner David Johnson (Suzuki Katana), with series leader Keo Watson (Yamaha FZR1000) third. Ryan Taylor (Suzuki GSX-R1100) will also looking to keep pace with the top three in the four five-lap races.
Six-time Superbike World Champion Jonathan Rea has been producing a regular vlog for several seasons. As he begins his transition to Pata Yamaha Prometeon after spending the last nine seasons with Kawasaki Racing Team, we thought we would look back at Rea’s 2023 season through his own vlogs.
Here is Episode Three “I Decided To Ride In The Mud.”
Herfoss soars to third ASBK title at The Bend
A superb final round clean sweep from Troy Herfoss in the 2023 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul, at The Bend has secured the Queenslander a stunning third Australian Superbike title.
The 36-year-old was peerless in round seven Alpinestars Superbike action on the South Australian circuit, with his maximum points haul on the immaculately prepared Penrite Honda CBR1000RR-R keeping the door firmly shut on his main championship rival, Josh Waters (McMartin Racing with K-Tech Ducati V4R).
Herfoss defeated Waters in a tight race one finish, before a mid-race crash from Waters in the decider took all the pressure off the new 2023 champion, who signed off from his career with Honda in fairytale fashion. After the anguish of losing previous ASBK Championships by slim margins, today’s victory was all about pure adulation.
Herfoss completed the seven-round championship on 344pts, ahead of Waters (324) and Cru Halliday (Yamaha Racing Team YZF-R1, 260), the latter nabbing third from Glenn Allerton (GT Racing BMW M 1000 RR, 259) at the death knell.
As well as the two race wins and the championship spoils, Herfoss now owns the fastest Superbike lap around the 4.95km circuit – icing on the cake for what was a brutally efficient campaign from first practice on Friday until today’s heroics. Herfoss methodically piled on the pressure bit by bit, which ultimately proved too much for the opposition – even Waters.
THE BEND SUPERBIKE RESULTS AND STANDINGS
Herfoss’ previous ASBK titles came in 2016 and 2018, while it’s now a dominant 12 championships for Honda in the 35-year history of Australia’s premier road racing category.
“It doesn’t get any better than this, as the riders I compete against are so hard to beat,” said Herfoss.
“To be able to finish up with Honda with a championship is just incredible. We have grown a lot as a team this year and just got better and better. And this is the best I have ever ridden a motorbike.
“But I want to pay credit to my opposition, and particularly Josh who I also battled with in the 2017 championship. He’s such a tough competitor and literally rode his bike into the ground to try and beat me. And I know he’s in a lot of pain with his injuries: I’ve got a of respect for him and his team.
“I just love racing and it’s not going to get better than this.”
Waters, who was chasing a fourth ASBK title, was philosophical in defeat.
“It started to hurt us yesterday when Troy got pole position and the bonus point,” said Waters.
“Race one was good and I looked at the positives, and then in race two I wanted to lead from the start and pull away from the others. When I crashed I wasn’t pushing that hard, but the bike had been risky into turn six all weekend.
“I am disappointed in the outcome but at least I know I gave it everything. Congratulations to Troy on winning the championship.”
The opening 11-lap race saw Herfoss lead from start to finish, with Waters running line astern for the majority of the journey save for a brief period when defending ASBK champion Mile Jones (Yamaha Racing Team YZF-R1) slotted into second.
Waters’ move back into second coincided with Herfoss setting a new race lap record (1m50.529s), which saw him stretch his lead to just under one second.
Waters dug in his heels, though, and he was running with Herfoss by the final lap. However, Herfoss was impregnable and held on by 0.253sec and increased his championship lead to 6pts, with the slow-starting Halliday third ahead of Jones, Allerton, Max Stauffer (GTR Moto Stars YZF-R1), Bryan Staring (MotoGo YZF-R1) and Anthony West (Addicted to Track YZF-R1).
Race two saw Stauffer and Staring both crash out within the first two laps, but the most telling departure was Waters after losing the front end on his V4R at turn six while in second place.
He remounted and finished 10th, but Herfoss only had to keep his powder dry over the final four laps to guarantee championship success. He was duly untroubled, and could even acknowledge the crowd on the final lap – an early reward for a stellar season which yielded eight wins and 12 podiums.
Halliday passed Jones on the final lap in the battle for second, while Allerton was fourth from West, Broc Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati V4R), Marcus Chiodo (CBR100RR-R) and Ted Collins (Livson Racing M 1000 RR).
The 2004 ASBK Championship will begin from February 23-25 in conjunction with the FIM Motul Superbike World Championship.
Six-time Superbike World Champion Jonathan Rea has been producing a regular vlog for several seasons. As he begins his transition to Pata Yamaha Prometeon after spending the last nine seasons with Kawasaki Racing Team, we thought we would look back at Rea’s 2023 season through his own vlogs.
Here is Episode Two “Visor Giveaway”
Tickets on Sale for Progressive AFT’s 84th Sturgis Rally Showdown at Black Hills Speedway
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Tickets for the Black Hills Half-Mile, round 12 of the 2024 Progressive American Flat Track season, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, are now available for purchase.
Progressive AFT will once again serve as a showcase event of this year’s 84th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally with a special Tuesday race on August 6, at Black Hills Speedway, in Rapid City, South Dakota.
“America’s Original Extreme Sport” and the world’s largest motorcycle rally have proven a perfect pairing over the years, with handlebar-to-handlebar action featuring the world’s elite two-wheeled dirt track racers of prime interest to the 500,000 strong attendees who flock to Sturgis each summer.
Reigning Grand National Champion Jared Mees earned his fourth Black Hills Half-Mile victory a year ago in dominant fashion but could find it more difficult to earn a fifth with the likes of Dallas Daniels, Briar Bauman, Brandon Robinson, Davis Fisher and more hoping to steal his Mission SuperTwins crown in 2024.
Last year’s event was big one for the defending (and still) champions as Kody Kopp reeled in top honors in Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER action, despite being pushed by fleet of talented young aces, including Tom Drane, Trent Lowe, Max Whale, Trevor Brunner, Chase Saathoff, and Declan Bender.
The ‘24 event will feature numerous attractions off the track as well, including a playground for kids, numerous vendors, designated motorcycle parking, and a variety of food and beverage options.
General Admission Grandstand tickets are just $30 (kids 12 and under $5), while Reserved Grandstand tickets are only $15 more (All Ages). A Pit Pass Upgrade provides all-day access to the pit area where fans can scope out the world’s fastest dirt track motorcycles and get up close and personal with the stars of the sport.
Finally, fans can also receive VIP treatment by selecting a special ticket option that provides access to the exclusive, premium indoor VIP viewing area and includes food, beverage, and a Pit Pass for $125.
Visit https://www.tixr.com/groups/americanflattrack/events/black-hills-half-mile-86674 to reserve your seats today.
For more information on Progressive AFT visit https://www.americanflattrack.com.
Progressive AFT series merchandise is available via the official merchandise store at https://aftmerch.com/.
About Progressive American Flat Track
Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, is the world’s premier dirt track motorcycle racing series and one of the longest-running championships in the history of motorsports. Sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing in Daytona Beach, Fla., the series is highly regarded as the most competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing on the globe. For more information on Progressive American Flat Track, please visit us on the web, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, check us out on Instagram and catch all the Progressive American Flat Track racing action on FOX Sports.
Herfoss sizzles to claim pole position in ASBK finale
Troy Herfoss is determined to make his Honda swansong a fairytale after unleashing a towering qualifying performance in round seven of the 2023 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul.
The Queenslander turned up the wick on his Penrite Honda CBR1000RR-R in the second Alpinestars Superbike qualifying session at The Bend, and the spoils were spectacular: the first rider to go under the 1m50s bracket at the world-class 4.95km circuit.
Peerless across every measure, but with championship rival Josh Waters (McMartin Racing with K-Tech Ducati V4R) alongside him on the front row the celebrations will be short and sweet for Herfoss before he galvanises himself for tomorrow’s two 11-lap races.
Michelin Supersport is also delicately poised, with returning internationals Harrison Voight and Tom Toparis leading the qualifying charts ahead of the three riders vying for the championship: Olly Simpson, Cameron Dunker and Ty Lynch.
Two races also await the Supersport cohort tomorrow, while three of the other SBK classes – Yamaha Finance R3 Cup, Supersport 300 and bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup – are already in competition mode but remain ‘live’ rubbers.
Only one 2023 champion was crowned today: Keo Watson in the popular Sureflight Superbike Masters class.
Tickets are still available for Sunday’s racing at The Bend via www.asbk.com.au, but if you’re watching from home or in transit there are live streaming and TV options galore so you don’t have to miss a minute of the action.
ALPINESTARS SUPERBIKE
Pole position was a just reward for Herfoss who had been consistently brisk in all four practice sessions. But even the wiliest of ASBK pundits probably wouldn’t have believed the extraordinary work he produced in qualifying with his amazing 1m49.889s lap.
Herfoss says it was one of the highlights of his career.
“I have never done a qualifying lap that good,” the ebullient 36-year-old said. “I was hoping I could do a 1:49 but I didn’t think it would actually happen. I know it was just qualifying but it’s the most fun I’ve had in one minute and 49 seconds in my life!
“It’s a pretty emotional weekend and I want to finish it off in the best possible way and work out what I want to do after that.”
Herfoss’ pole-sitting time was 0.409s ahead of Waters (1:50.298), followed by Cru Halliday (Yamaha Racing Team YZF-R1, 1:50.312), Max Stauffer (GTR Moto Stars YZF-R1, 1:50.550) and Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team YZF-R1, 1:50.688).
Glenn Allerton (GT Racing BMW M 1000 RR, 1:50.881) will complete row two tomorrow, with Bryan Staring (MotoGo YZF-R1, 1:51.265), South Australian Arthus Sissis (Unitech Racing YZF-R1, 1:51.274) and Anthony West (Addicted to Track YZF-R1, 1:51.325) on row three.
Race one will be held at 11:00am (ADCT) tomorrow, and race two at 2:45pm (ADCT). Will it be a third Superbike title for Herfoss, or number four for Waters?
MICHELIN SUPERSPORT
It’s the overriding Michelin Supersport question: will the riders making ASBK cameos – Voight and Toparis the two standouts – make tomorrow pleasure or pain for the championship aspirations of Dunker, Simpson and Lynch?
We’ll get a more definitive gauge in the opening nine-lap race tomorrow, where last year’s double winner Voight (Voight Construction Yamaha YZF-R6) will start from pole position after setting the new best lap around The Bend – 1:54.618. Toparis (Cube Racing Stop & Seal YZF-R6, 1:54.770) and Simpson (Simpson Crash YZF-R6, 1:54.825) are right on Voight’s hammer, so we’re unlikely to see a runaway winner – it’s going to be a tight affair.
Meanwhile, Dunker (GTR Moto Stars YZF-R6, 1:55.322), the championship leader, knows what final round pressure is all about, and he’ll start from grid position No. 4 alongside Lynch (AMR Sports YZF-R6, 1:55.571) and Harry Khouri (Addicted to Track YZF-R6, 1:57.851) – another Aussie expat back in town for the ASBK finale.
All 20 riders qualified.
SUPERSPORT 300 AND YAMAHA FINANCE R3 CUP
After a forced restart following an Abbie Cameron crash which brought out the red flag, the racing in the Supersport 300 opener was as tight as ever before boiling down to a three-way fight between Cameron Swain, Brodie Gawith and Marcos Hamod.
And that’s how they finished in a blanket finish, with Swain victorious by just 0.013s to move into the title lead by 9ts over Hamod.
The Yamaha Finance R3 Cup produced more Swain magic as he claimed the spoils from Gawith, while Hamod just held out Henry Snell and Jordan Simpson for third.
Swain also holds sway in R3 Cup by 9pts, with two races remaining in each class.
BLU OCEANIA JUNIOR CUP
Polesitter Archie Schmidt won race one in the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup after a nail-biting finish saw him execute a perfectly timed pass on Jake Paige on the last turn.
The pair, in a very unusual OJC scenario, cleared out from the main pack, with Rikky Henry finishing in a lonely third before the pack tightened up.
Schmidt also set a new lap record of 2:30.941 in a brilliant OJC outing. He now has a 9pt lead over Bodie Paige, who was fourth in race one.
SUREFLIGHT SUPERBIKE MASTERS
The Sureflight Superbike Masters grid was stacked with Aussie racing legends: three-time MotoGP winner Garry McCoy Yamaha TZ750), Isle of Man Classic TT winner David Johnson (Suzuki Katana) and dual World Superbike champion Troy Corser (Yamaha 0W01).
However, most of today’s plaudits went to Watson (Yamaha FZR1000), who was rewarded with champion-designate status after a brilliant season.
Johnson and Watson shared the wins on Saturday, with the former forced to start from pitlane in race two due to his late arrival on the grid from racetrack commentary duties! A first time for everything….
Watson and Ryan Taylor (Suzuki GSX-R1100) completed the podium in race one, and in race two McCoy was runner-up ahead of Taylor. McCoy had earlier fluffed the race one start on the big two-stroke before slicing his way back to fourth.
Meanwhile, Corser had braking gremlins in both races but managed to make the finish line in the second.
MotoAmerica Mini Cup Changes Aplenty For 2024 Season
A New Regional Series, Updated Rules, And A National Final At Road America
IRVINE, CA (December 2, 2023) – MotoAmerica, North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series, has announced big changes to its Mission Mini Cup By Motul Championship for the 2024 season, including a regional qualifying series followed by a National Final at Road America in August.
For starters, the series will feature a four-race Mission Mini Cup By Motul East Coast Series in 2024. Aside from crowning an East Coast Champion, each event will act as qualifying races for the National Final that will be held at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, August 9-11.
The East Coast Series races will be held at Bushnell Motorsports Park in Bushnell, Florida (March 29-30), Anderson Race Park in Palmetto, Florida (April 12-13), Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, South Carolina (May 17-18) and Pittsburgh International Race Complex in Wampum, Pennsylvania (May 24-25).
“The 2023 season was the first year I was involved in the program,” said Mini Cup Manager Cory Texter. “We’ve learned a lot of things that will lead to improvements for 2024. We want to make it simple for young racers and their parents to get involved by making it easy for them to come out and race. Our aim is to expand the base of Mini Cup racing throughout the country and to get everyone to Road America in August for a National Championship final. We’re thankful that our sponsors are enthusiastic about this new direction and we’re really looking forward to getting the season under way.”
Those wanting to compete in the National Finals without qualifying through the Qualifier Series can do so but they will start with a points deficit in the National Finals.
In addition to the schedule changes, the rules package has also been updated with the GP160 and GP190 classes now open to additional manufacturers. Also, there will also be a Street GP class that will cater to Honda Groms, Kawasaki Z125s and the like.
The series will still feature the three stock classes for entry level racers: Stock 60, Stock 110 and Stock 125.
For more information on becoming a Mini Cup National Qualifier host, please email Cory Texter at [email protected]
Mission Mini Cup By Motul East Coast Series
March 29-30 Bushnell Motorsports Park Bushnell, FL
April 12-13 Anderson Race Park Palmetto, FL
May 17-18 Carolina Motorsports Park Kershaw, SC
May 24-25 Pittsburgh Int’l Race Complex Wampum, PA
Mission Mini Cup By Motul National Final
August 9-11 Road America Elkhart Lake, WI
About MotoAmerica
MotoAmerica is North America’s premier motorcycle road racing series. Established in 2014, MotoAmerica is home to the AMA Superbike Championship as well as additional classes including Supersport, Stock 1000, Twins Cup, Junior Cup, and King Of The Baggers. MotoAmerica is an affiliate of KRAVE Group LLC, a partnership including three-time 500cc World Champion, two-time AMA Superbike Champion, and AMA Hall of Famer Wayne Rainey; ex-racer and former manager of Team Roberts Chuck Aksland; motorsports marketing executive Terry Karges; and businessman Richard Varner. For more information, please visit www.MotoAmerica.com and follow MotoAmerica on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube.
Six-time Superbike World Champion Jonathan Rea has been producing a regular vlog for several seasons. As he begins his transition to Pata Yamaha Prometeon after spending the last nine seasons with Kawasaki Racing Team, we thought we would look back at Rea’s 2023 season through his own vlogs.
Here is: “First Test Of 2023.”
The PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team to field Pawi and Toba in the 2024 Supersport World Championship
The PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team continues to formulate its plans for the 2024 racing season and can now confirm that it will field Malaysian rider Khairul Idham Pawi and Japanese rider Kaito Toba in the 2024 Supersport World Championship.
Having recently confirmed that its 2023 WorldSSP riders Tarran Mackenzie and Adam Norrodin will remain with the team but move up to compete in the Superbike category, the squad has now identified two strong young riders as its World Supersport representatives for the 2024 season.
Born on 20 September 1998, Pawi is a Malaysian rider who has extensive experience in the Moto3 and Moto2 world championships. The 25-year old is currently leading this year’s ARRC Supersport championship, and has just competed in the WorldSSP championship for the first time, having lined up with the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team as a wildcard entry in the season finale at Jerez in Spain.
Born on 7 April 2000, Toba has already amassed seven years of experience in the Moto3 World Championship despite his young age. The winner of the 2014 Asia Talent Cup, young Kaito went on to compete in the Red Bull Rookies Cup and the CEV Moto3 Junior world championship before progressing to Moto3. Much of his racing has been aboard Honda machinery. The talented Japanese currently places eleventh in the 2023 Moto3 championship standings, thanks also to a podium finish at the inaugural India GP round.
Khairul Idham Pawi
“I want to thank everyone on the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team for giving me the opportunity to compete in World Supersport. I got to know the team at Jerez, during the final round of the 2023 season, and everyone was very helpful throughout every session. WorldSSP is an ultra-competitive category with lots of fast riders. Moving from Moto2 is a big challenge, but I’ll do my best to adapt quickly and keep up with them. I know most of the circuits from my time in Moto3 and Moto2, but there are a few I’ve never visited. It’ll be tough in those cases, but I’ll try to learn fast. My initial goal is to consistently score points and then figure out how to improve as the season goes on. I’m thrilled to be part of the PETRONAS family again, just as I was in 2019 and 2020. It’s a dream come true to be associated with such a big name, and I’ll work hard to achieve the best possible results.”
Kaito Toba
“I’m thrilled to join the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team. This is a big opportunity for me, and I am very proud to be part of this project, with the prestigious PETRONAS brand as title sponsor. I extend my gratitude to PETRONAS, Honda, and Midori (Moriwaki) for putting their faith in me. This marks a brand-new chapter in my career, as I’ll be competing in the Supersport World Championship for the first time. Though I’m used to training with a 600 machine, I have yet to experience the CBR600RR. So, I plan to make the most of every winter test session we have, to build good feeling with the bike right from the outset. The 12-round calendar includes tracks I know but also two or three that I’ve never seen. Having not yet ridden the bike, I cannot have any realistic expectations, but one thing is for sure – I can’t wait to embark on this new challenge and am prepared to give it my absolute best.”
Midori Moriwaki – Team Owner
“It is a great pleasure to welcome two strong riders like Khairul Idham Pawi and Kaito Toba to our PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team. They are both incredibly skilled and real fighters, with a brilliant racing background at international level. They will be able to harness their significant experience and showcase their skills aboard the CBR600RR, challenging themselves in a new championship and lending their knowledge and skills to our team’s exciting project. The entire PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team couldn’t be happier or more excited to start working with Khairul and Kaito.”
Two-time Grand Prix World Champion and two-time Isle of Man TT winner Cecil Sandford died November 28. He was 95.
Sandford, an Englishman, made his Grand Prix debut in 1950 and went on to win the 1952 125cc World Championship on an MV Agusta, giving the Italian manufacturer its first World Championship victory. Sandford later won the 1957 250cc World Championship with Mondial.
He is survived by his wife Pat and sons Ian and Mark.
Waters and Herfoss dominate practice to set the scene for a thrilling ASBK finale
The grand final of the 2023 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul, began at The Bend today, with the Superbike battle between arch-rivals Troy Herfoss and Josh Waters already in hyper mode.
Waters (McMartin Racing with K-Tech Ducati V4 R), locked on an unprecedented Alpinestars Superbike tie with Herfoss (Penrite Honda CBR1000RR-R), only annexed top spot in the final few minutes of the third practice session – and in the process set a new best-ever lap around the expansive South Australian circuit, eclipsing Wayne Maxwell’s previous mark from 2021 by 0.66 seconds.
Herfoss, after being the pacesetter for all but two minutes of day one, was second, while South Australian Olly Simpson (Yamaha YZF-R6) was the top gun in Michelin Supersport as that class also goes down to the wire on Sunday.
In fact, all the ASBK classes remain up for grabs in the most spectacular finale to the championship on record and, with more brilliant weather forecast across the weekend, there’ll be no excuses or potential spoilers: it’ll all come down to speed, guile and flair on the racetrack.
Tickets for The Bend ASBK grand final are still available online, and general admission ticket holders on Saturday will also receive free entry into racing under lights at the circuit’s recently inaugurated drag strip.
Can’t make it to the Bend on Saturday? SBS On Demand will have you covered with live and exclusive live streaming of all the qualifying and race action, starting at 10:20am and concluding at 5:30pm (ACDT).
ALPINESTARS SUPERBIKE
The anticipation in the Alpinestars Superbike class has started early, thanks to Waters’ withering late burst of speed taking him to the top of the timesheets over Herfoss, followed by Max Stauffer (GTR MotoStars YZF-R1).
Waters uncorked a 1:50.454 on his final flyer, while Herfoss (1:50.604) was the only other rider in the 51-second bracket after producing a consistent body of brilliant work across all three practice sessions.
The scene has been set: the championship leaders are well and truly in the zone, with the fervour and excitement to only increase as practice morphs into qualifying and then Sunday’s two 11-lap races.
“It was a good Friday for us across the three sessions,” said Waters. “We were chipping away all day and changed a lot of everything – including the suspension.
“Just look at the lap times for me and Troy and you can tell something’s important on our minds! It’s great for all the people following the championship.”
Herfoss said he took a conservative approach to day one, despite his sizzling times and timesheet-leading tempo. It was all about methodical work rate.
“We just worked slowly through a few electronic things, as well as a small chassis change in the third session,” said Herfoss, who will part ways with the Honda team after the final round.
“We are so close and trying to work with the grip levels as they change. A really solid day, and I felt really comfortable on the bike.
“It looks like Josh and I are a little bit ahead of the field at the moment, but you know racing: other riders can wake up on Saturday and be fast so I’m definitely keeping things in perspective.
“I just can’t wait for racing to get underway – it’s exciting.”
Herfoss and Bryan Staring (MotoGo YZF-R1) share the record for the most Superbike wins around The Bend with three each, ahead of Jones (one).
Stauffer (1:51.105), emboldened by his breakthrough Alpinestars Superbike podium at Phillip Island, again upstaged more seasoned riders with his third spot in practice, ahead of Yamaha Racing Team duo Cru Halliday (1:51.193) and defending champion Mike Jones (1:51.537).
Anthony West (Addicted to Track YZF-R1, 1:51.546) was sixth ahead of Arthur Sissis (Unitech Racing YZF-R1, 1:52.156), while Glenn Allerton (GT Racing M 1000 RR) – defending third place in the championship – was back in 11th place and will have to find more speed in qualifying to work himself back into calculations.
MICHELIN SUPERSPORT
Simpson (1:54.840) pushed hard from the outset in Michelin Supersport practice, with this weekend’s grid strengthened by a number of young Aussie internationals returning home for ASBK cameos.
Simpson held onto top spot despite last year’s winner Harrison Voight (YZF-R6, 1:54.866) finishing the day strongly.
Simpson is 14pts adrift of Cameron Dunker (GTR MotoStars YZF-R6, 1:55.660) in the championship, with the latter third in practice from Tom Toparis (Cube Racing Stop & Seal YZF-R6, 1:55.674) and Hayden Nelson (Cube Racing YZF-R6, 1:55.800).
South Australian Ty Lynch (AMR Motorsports YZF-R6, 1:56.370), just 2pts behind Simpson and the third cog in the thrilling championship battle, also kept his powder dry in sixth position.
SUPERSPORT 300 AND YAMAHA FINANCE R3 CUP
It’s all set up for a nerve-wrecking finale in both classes, with main contenders Brodie Gawith, Cameron Swain and Henry Snell all lurking at the top of the timesheets, with Bradon Demmery also in the hunt as well.
There are 75pts up for grabs in each class across the weekend, starting with the opening races tomorrow afternoon – which can both be seen on SBS On Demand!
BLU CRU OCEANIA JUNIOR CUP
More top guns at the very top with one and two in the series, Archie Schmidt and Bodie Paige, the stars of practice.
Schmidt, from Mount Barker in the Adelaide Hills, has been a revelation all year with his fast and aggressive riding, and he’ll look to complete a stellar year with a title victory on Sunday.
Schmidt can’t slip up though, as Paige will be there to pounce only being 1pt in arrears, while Hayden Fordyce is third – the only other realistic contender.
SUREFLIGHT SUPERBIKE MASTERS
It didn’t take long for Garry McCoy to remind us why he is a three-time MotoGP winner, qualifying on pole position in his Sureflight Superbike Masters cameo – the diminutive Queensand fulfilling a long-held ambition to ride a Yamaha TZ750.
He will start from pole position after going 0.3 seconds faster than 2022 The Bend winner David Johnson (Suzuki Katana), with series leader Keo Watson (Yamaha FZR1000) third. Ryan Taylor (Suzuki GSX-R1100) will also looking to keep pace with the top three in the four five-lap races.
