ASBK Ready To Fire Up At Winton
The ASBK Championship fires into action this morning, with teams and riders eager to hit Winton Raceway and produce a bike that can dominate Round 2 of the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul.
Despite recent practice sessions by many riders, it has been just over three months since the Pirelli Superbike riders raced at the 2020 Grand Finale at Wakefield Park Raceway, where the Championship returns next month for Round 3.
While practice sessions are important for any rider and team to help further develop their machinery, it is race day results that matter to win the ultimate prize, the 2021 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul.
Today’s practice sessions will be critical for riders to ensure they have a bike set-up ready for Saturday’s qualifying, to give them the best chance of a good grid position before Sunday’s races.
However, with a possible shower or two predicted on Saturday, riders are likely to have to juggle their set-up for dry conditions expected on Sunday, while potentially trying to qualify in the wet. A tantalising situation for trackside race fans to witness.
For the Superbike field this will just be a matter of business as normal. Confront the conditions in front of them. However, if the heavens do open up during qualifying it could even out the field providing a tantalising race situation for fans come Sunday.
For the Pirelli Superbike class, their last outing at Winton was in 2019, and it was the battle between then ASBK Champion, Honda’s Troy Herfoss, Ducati’s Mike Jones, who went on to win the Championship, and Wayne Maxwell, who at the time was aboard a Suzuki.
Maxwell came out on top that weekend and is confident of a repeat performance aboard his Boost Ducati in defence of his 2020 ASBK crown.
Both Penrite Honda’s Troy Herfoss and Desmosport Ducati’s Mike Jones will be a threat to Maxwell, both with solid performances at Winton and in recent good form on their respective machines.
With new young blood in the class in 2021, including Oli Bayliss on the Desmosport Ducati, Luke Jhonston on the MotoGo Yamaha, Jack Davis with BMW and returning from WorldSBK Lachlan Epis aboard the Next Gen BMW, the new generation will want to stamp their authority on the Championship.
However, there is an absolute wealth of experience in the Pirelli Superbike class with 6 riders having won the Superbike Championship in previous years including:
- Wayne Maxwell – Defending Champion and in 2013
- Mike Jones – 2019 and 2015
- Troy Herfoss – 2016 and 2018
- Josh Waters – 2017, 2012, and 2009
- Glenn Allerton – 2014, 2011 and 2008
- Bryan Starring 2010.
With all six riders returning in 2021, the only change has been Josh Waters switching from Suzuki and joining Staring in the Kawasaki BC Performance camp on brand new 2021 green machines.
All six riders are regularly battling in the points and are expected to be amongst the front battle this weekend along with Yamaha Racing Team’s Cru Halliday – 2nd in the 2020 Championship – and Aiden Wagner. The Yamaha duo have switched from Pirelli to Dunlop tyres this year and Winton will be their first real test on the new rubber in race conditions.
Glenn Allerton returns on the Maxima Racing Oils BMW, and based on his form at the end of last year, he is back in Championship fighting contention.
However, in a 23-rider field, all hungry and eager to start the Championship on fire, come race day anything is possible.
While the riders above will obviously be the ones to watch, there are 15 other riders in the field who want to make 2021 their own and spoil the party for the favourites.
Returning to the Championship in 2021 is former Aprilia rider Phil Czaj, now aboard a Yamaha, who will be keen to show his experience gained both in the ASBK previously and overseas last year, has him ready to battle for the Championship.
Also, back in the ASBK paddock is Markus Chiodo – former Honda team mate to Troy Herfoss – who will be keen to show the field he hasn’t lost his skills or fighting spirit and is ready for Championship glory aboard a Yamaha R1.
Brisbane’s Michael Edwards who debuted in the Championship in 1994 and Newcastle’s Aaron Morris who debut in 2008 return aboard Yamaha’s and will want to show their Southern state counterparts how it is done.
Patrick Li returns aboard the Yamaha MotoGo at Winton, but will hand over the ride to former WorldSBK competitor, Anthony West, at the next round.
Bleeding green in 2021 will be Hamish McMurray and 2019 ASBK Iron Man Award Winner, Matt Walters, both who will be keen to give Kawasaki fans something to cheer about this weekend as well.
2020 runners, Nathan Spiteri aboard his Suzuki, Jed Metcher and Arthur Sissis both aboard Yamahas have all run in the points before and will be chomping at the bit to hit the track, secure good qualifying positions and get in the points this weekend.
Tickets are very limited for this weekend’s Round 2, mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul, at Winton Motor Raceway, Benalla, and only available online via www.asbk.com.au
If you can’t get track side, ASBK has you covered via our official TV partners SBS Australia, Fox Sports Australia, Fox Sports Asia and through ASBK TV Live Streaming.
Coverage begins Sunday on SBS Vicelands or Fox Sports Channel 507 from Midday to 3pm, and the ASBK TV Live Stream coverage runs all day from 9.30am to 4.20pm via www.asbk.com.au
Keep up to date with the latest news on the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul via www.asbk.com.au and following ASBK on Facebook and Instagram. You can also join our ASBK mailing list at www.asbk.com.au
ASBK Championship Calendar
Round 1 Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC February 18-21 Postponed
Round 2 Winton Motor Raceway, Benalla, VIC March 12-14
Round 3 Wakefield Park Raceway, Goulburn, NSW April 16-18
Round 4 Hidden Valley Raceway, NT – Supercars 2+4 (Superbikes only) June 18-20
Round 5 Morgan Park Raceway, QLD August 20-22
Round 6 The Bend Motorsport Park, Tailem Bend, SA September 23-26
Round 7 Symmons Plains Raceway, TAS November 4-7
