Johnson & Trounson debut 1190 KTM RC8 R in Australian Superbike Championship

22-02-2010

Following a successful year testing the waters in the Formula Extreme Superbike Championship, KTM is now entering for the first time the KTM 1190 RC8 R in the Viking Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK), with Shannon Johnson and Chris Trounson racing with the Evolution Sports Group (ESG), a KTM factory backed team.

Round one of the ASBK will take to the tarmac of Phillip Island (VIC) this weekend with a racing format that will see two 30 minute practice sessions on Friday 26 Feb, and two 30 minute qualifying sessions on Saturday 27 Feb to determine the grid for the two main races on Sunday 28 Feb.

Johnson who won the Formula Extreme Superbike Championship with KTM last year, will enter the Superbike class with a race spec tuned engine, while Trounson who is new to KTM but not new to superbike racing will enter the A Grade Super Stock class of motorcycles straight out of the crate. Their common goal is to claim two separate titles on the KTM 1190 RC8 R in the 2010 ASBK. Both classes will run in the same races, but will be scored separately.

Commenting on his entry into the Superbike class Shannon Johnson of South Morang VIC said, “I have been doing a lot of testing on the KTM 1190 RC8 R at Phillip Island with the new Dunlop control tyres everyone has to ride.

“All competitors bikes will be fitted with the same 2-11-GP Dunlop Tyres, so we will all be on a level playing ground in terms of tyres, but each rider then needs to find their advantage point. For me I honestly believe it will be a bike point advantage. The KTM 1190 RC8 R performs really well on these tyres, so this combined with the mechanic and technical guys from ESG, should see us with a good chance to podium.

“This will be a debut race for the KTM 1190 RC8 R in the ASBK, but it won’t be my first event. My best result was second in the Superbike class in 2004, and since then I haven’t completed a full championship due to injury, but I always still finished within the top ten, even when missing a few rounds. I should add besides a title win in the Superbike class for 2010, my goal is also to stay injury free so I can complete the entire six rounds.

“There are a handful of other riders with factory supported bikes in the Superbike class, meaning on any given day there are at least five riders who could win, but KTM and ESG have provided me with a good package to be in there with a great chance.”

Racing alongside Shannon yet in the A Grade Super Stock class will be Chris Trounson of Mooroolbark VIC, who placed second in the Privateer class in the 2009 ASBK. Trounson is new to KTM, but not Superbike racing, he has entered the Superbike class for the past five years with his best result being 7th in 2008.

“This is my first year with factory support for an entire season,” said Trounson. “I’ve raced on other factory teams before but not for the full season, so I’m really thrilled to be backed by ESG and KTM for the entire six rounds.

“Preparation wise, I’ve been doing the necessary bike testing, but also working closely with two trainers who I have helping me with the fitness, strength and mental preparation required for racing.

“Every racer in the ASBK be it in the Superbike or A Grade Super Stock class are of an equal standard in terms of racing ability, it’s all going to be how we can get the best out of our bikes and tyres, especially when superbike racing can be all within 1/100ths of a second between riders across the finish line.”

The 2010 Viking Australian Superbike Championship is a six round series visiting VIC, NT, QLD, and TAS.

The calendar will see the Championship visit the following tracks:

Round 1 / 26-28 February, Phillip Island, Victoria
Round 2 / 8-11 April, Hidden Valley, Northern Territory
Round 3 / 3-6 June, Queensland Raceway, Queensland
Round 4 / 19-22 August, Queensland Raceway, Queensland
Round 5 / 10-12 September, Phillip Island, Victoria (L & H V8 Supercar Event)
Round 6 / 12-14 November, Symmons Plains, Tasmania (Falken Tyres V8 Supercar Event)

Stay tuned to racing results at www.ktm.com.au.