Wayne Maxwell tops opening practice in Darwin

Darwin ASBK FP1

There was a 20-minute delay to the start of the opening 40-minute practice session for Superbikes as a track clean-up was underway from one of the four-wheel classes. Riders were called to the end of pit-lane before then being sent back to get tyre-warmers back on. The track temperature was already nudging towards 50-degrees celsius and the ambient passing 30-degrees, perfect weather for standing around in your leathers…

Wayne Maxwell was the first rider into the 6s, a 66.942s recorded 15-minutes into the session then immediately backed up with a 66.830s, which was then followed up with a 66.879. He drifted back into the 67s briefly before then lowering the morning benchmark to 66.673s, followed by a 66.737 as the session passed its halfway point.

Glenn Allerton had spent the first half of the session on the S 1000 RR before then returning to the pits to ride the new M 1000 RR that they only took delivery of in Darwin less than 48 hours ago. On the initial shakedown laps the rear brake locked on due to the pedal free-play not being set quite correctly on the hastily prepared bike but that was quickly sorted and Glenn was back on track familiaring himself with the new bike.

Troy Herfoss had put in a few 67.0s in the first half of the session before returning to the pits and then rejoining the track with 15-minutes remaining to drop in a 66.729s which was then immediately backed up with a 66.732s.

Young Oli Bayliss and his DesmoSport Ducati team-mate Mike Jones then also dropped into the 66s, a 66.775 to Oli and 66.899 to Oli.  The youngsters bike had a wardrobe malfunction during the session also and has some bodywork flapping in the breeze.

Wayne Maxwell left the pits with just under ten-minutes left in the session and immediately put his head down to lower the benchmark once again, a 66.265, then immediately backed that up with a quicker 66.240, then went quicker again with a 66.215. He then ran off briefly before rejoining the circuit and returning to pit-lane.

Oli Bayliss then moved up to P2 after putting in a 66.515 with just over five-minutes remaining in the session. Jones then pushed Herfoss further back to P4, a 66.704s to the #46 DesmoSport Ducati. Second laters though Herfoss demoted Jones to P4 once again after putting in a 66.536s to spoil the Ducati 1-2-3.

In the dying seconds of the 40-minute session Maxwell then put in new fastest split times across the first two splits but then failed to improve across the final split, this his 66.215 on his 19th lap of the session the early benchmark here this weekend.  That compares to the qualifying lap record set by Troy Bayliss here a few years ago at 65.601s, and the race lap record set by Troy Herfoss the same year at 65.904s.  The Boost Mobile Ducati squad without their crew-chief Adrian Monti this weekend as due to COVID restrictions he is working from Melbourne in constant communication with team personnel on the ground in Darwin.

Oli Bayliss a brilliant second place in this opening session. Seriously impressive for the 17-year-old who only joined the Superbike ranks this year, and previously has only ever ridden a 300 around this circuit.

Troy Herfoss (66.536s) third ahead of Mike Jones (66.704s) in fourth place.  BC Performance’s Bryan Staring next best on 67.012s ahead of NextGen BMW’s Glenn Allerton whose best of 67.077s was set on the fresh new M 1000 RR only put together overnight.

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Privateer Daniel Falzon ranked seventh in the morning session on the back of a 67.583s as he gets back up to speed after a lengthy break from competition. Cessnock Kawasaki privateer Matt Walters P8 ahead of the YRT entry of Cru Halliday while privateer Arthur Sissis rounded out the top ten.

Anthony West was 11th this morning ahead of Aiden Wagner and Josh Waters.

FP2 is schedule to get underway at 1420 Darwin time, which equates to 1450 AEST.

Superbike Hidden Valley Friday FP1 Times

ASBK Hidden Valley Schedule

Friday, 18 June
10:25am – Practice 1 (40 min) FOX Sports
2:20pm – Practice 2 (30 min) FOX Sports

Saturday, 19 June
10:15am – Qualifying 1 (20 min) FOX Sports
10:40am – Qualifying 2 (15 min) FOX Sports
2:05pm – Race 1 (16 laps) FOX Sports/Channel 7

Sunday, 20 June
10:50am – Race 2 (16 laps) FOX Sports
2:05pm – Race 3 (16 laps) FOX Sports/Channel 7

2021 ASBK Championship Calendar (Updated)

• Round 1 Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC February 18-21 Cancelled
• 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 Wakefield Park Raceway, Goulburn, NSW October 15 – 17 *
• Round 8 Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC November 5-7 *

Alpinestars Superbike Championship Standings

Darwin ASBK Entry List

• #1 Wayne Maxwell – Ducati
• #2 Mark Chido – Yamaha
• #3 Jed Metcher – Yamaha
• #12 Matt Walters – Kawasaki
• #13 Anthony West – Yamaha
• #14 Glenn Allerton – BMW
• #16 Luke Jhonston – Yamaha
• #17 Troy Herfoss – Honda
• #21 Josh Waters – Kawasaki
• #25 Daniel Falzon – Yamaha
• #28 Aiden Wagner – Yamaha
• #32 Oli Bayliss – Ducati
• #37 Michael Edwards – Yamaha
• #46 Mike Jones – Ducati
• #51 Corey Turner – Yamaha
• #61 Arthur Sissis – Yamaha
• #65 Cru Halliday – Yamaha
• #67 Bryan Staring – Kawasaki
• #83 Lachlan Epis – BMW
• #92 Jack Davis – BMW
• #333 Yanni Shaw – Suzuki