Penrite Honda 1-2 in opening Superbike race at MotoGP

MotoGP Support Races

Saturday Midday Report

Somewhat predictably, Troy Herfoss and Troy Bayliss dominated practice and qualifying for the Superbike support events at the Australian GP.

Herfoss was half-a-second clear of Bayliss, and more than two-seconds ahead of third ranked Glenn Allerton. The NextGen BMW rider using the event to shakedown the latest S 1000 RR for the first time in fledgling race trim.

The vast majority of the regular ASBK Superbike front runners have chosen not to compete this weekend. There are no championship points on offer, the ASBK finale is the following weekend after MotoGP, and finding the extra ten grand (at least that for a major team – probably a quarter of that for a base privateer), to do the MotoGP round, after already trying to find enough budget for a seven-round ASBK Championship, just doesn’t add up for most.

The opening eight-lap encounter for the Superbikes got underway almost on schedule at 1146.  Herfoss lifted the front off the line which allowed Bayliss to sneak through on the entry to turn one, just as a few drops of precipitation started falling around the circuit. Herfoss was back in front at Southern Loop and Bayliss then continued to lose positions. Mark Chiodo sneaking past the three-time World Superbike Champion and Glenn Allerton then pushed Bayliss further back to fourth. Lachlan Epis and Jed Metcher then both relegated Bayliss further down the order.

Officials then brought out the red flag due to the increased rain, which was still quite light, but combined with the blustery gale across the circuit, it was enough to see safety take priority. Riders formed straight back up on the grid where they were told that they would get a warm-up lap before re-starting the race.  That delay of a couple of minutes though saw tyres now getting colder while riders sat in the wind on the grid. The rain had passed by the time riders set out on another warm-up lap, thus conditions were better, but their tyres were now colder… No doubt that had been a hard call for officials to bring out the red flag, sort of damned if you do and damned if you don’t I guess.

Glenn Allerton got a scorching start on the new BMW S 1000 RR when they got underway again ahead of Troy Bayliss and Troy Herfoss. Allerton winding the BMW up out of Southern Loop saw the rear end of the machine pumping away as it lost traction, Allerton then ran in too hot for turn four and went from hero to zero, rejoining at the back of the field. 

Troy Herfoss and Mark Chiodo made short work of Bayliss as it became a Penrite Honda 1-2 at the head of the field. Lachlan Epis and Jed Metcher were tussling over fourth position. 

Herfoss and Chiodo were both quickly down to 1m33s and Chiodo was keeping Herfoss honest, setting the fastest lap of the race but then at half-race distance the young Victorian lost some ground after making some sort of mistake, and Bayliss pounced to move up to second place. Herfoss had a 2.5-second lead. 

Mark Chiodo got back past Bayliss on the penultimate lap and pulled enough ground on the Ducati to secure that second place. Herfoss though a clear winner and despite backing off on the final lap still the victor by 3.3-seconds.

Lachlan Epis held off a determined charge from Jed Metcher to take fourth place while Allerton had pushed his way back through the field to take sixth. 

Superbikes were scheduled to have two more races but due to excessive wind the rest of the Saturday schedule was cancelled. Then due to the MotoGP schedule needing to be rejigged for Sunday, all further domestic racing was canned for the weekend. 

Superbike Support Race One Results

ASBK Superbike Day one Practice and Qualification

SSP300 Race One Report

Matthew Rindel took Friday honours in the keenly fought Australian Supersport 300 class that marked the opening support race at this weekend’s Pramac Generac Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix 2019.

Jhonston was fast in the damp Friday morning practice session, took pole position in the afternoon and was looking like the man to beat in the race.

But Rindel gave Jhonston plenty to think about come the race and the two battled hard until Jhonston raised his hand on the main straight at the end of six laps, parkinj his Kawasaki against the fence with a mechanical problem.

In the end, Rindel cleared out, winning by an incredible 22-seconds.

There was a great battle for the podium places, with Patrick Bognar, Zane Kinna and Cooper Corbett swapping positions over the first half of the race. But Bognar dropped his bike at MG on Lap 5, leaving Kinna and Corbett to fight it out.

Corbett drafted by Kinna on the run to the flag to snatch the spot by 0.067 seconds. Bognar recovered to take fourth, fighting off Josh Noden (Yamaha).

ASBK SSP300 Practice Race and Qualification Results