Troy Herfoss takes ASBK Wakefield Park Superpole
The top six riders from Superbike QP2 on combined times were promoted through to a ten minute Superpole session on what turned out to be quite a hot afternoon at Wakefield Park.
Troy Herfoss set a new motorcycle benchmark this afternoon at Wakefield Park to take pole for tomorrow’s second round of the 2016 YMF Australian Superbike Championship. The 28-year-old local put in a 57.350 on his seventh and final lap to take pole by almost three-tenths of a second over a Yamaha triumvirate headed by Wayne Maxwell.
Troy Herfoss
“It’s pretty cool to be winning a tyre that just set the fastest lap around Wakefield Park, people can go out and buy that exact tyre so it’s pretty cool,” he said.
“It was a great session, and it’s really exciting having Superpole here at ASBK. Everyone always asks me why I ride a push bike so much, but it felt like I was in a criterium race out there.
“We tested here at Wakefield last week, and my race pace was there, so that gives me some added confidence. The tyre that we’re riding on, is going to do those lap times all the way through to the end of the race so that’s a massive confidence booster.”
Glenn Allerton rounds out the three-rider front row while Cru Halliday heads row two ahead of Mike Jones.
Mike Jones
“We’ve been working with the DesmoSport Ducati team to refine the settings on the 1299 Panigale S around here, because it’s a lot different to Phillip Island, and we’re making great steps forward so I’m really happy about that,” Jones commented.
“To finish Superpole fifth is positive. Hopefully after thinking about it tonight we can make more progress, I can think about some things to improve within myself as well, and we can be up there with the front group in the races.
“Pace over consecutive laps is not so bad. I can do reasonably consistent laptimes and the bike seems to be using its Pirelli tyres really good. I’m confident that over race distance we’ll be even more competitive, so look forward to tomorrow.”
Anthony West was on a spare bike after suffering a technical failure with his #1 bike in QP2. West was not as comfortable on the second bike and thus was the biggest loser out of the Superpole session, slipping from fourth fastest, to sixth fastest in Superpole, unable to match the times he achieved in QP2.
Tomorrow will see Superbike competitors contest two x 16-lap Superbike races, the first of which is scheduled to start at 1155 while the second is slated to commence at 1525.
Supersport
Despite Graffiti Alley Racing’s Guenther topping the time sheets during the final qualifying session for the day(1:00.607), Clarke’s morning pace could not be matched – the Kawasaki star snatching up the first Motul Supersport Pirelli Superpole for 2016, with a 1:00.479 lap at a sundrenched Wakefield Park.
An elated Clarke shared his excitement in taking the first Motul Supersport Pirelli Superpole Award for 2016, and say’s he’s looking forward to being at the front of the grid when racing kicks off tomorrow.
Sam Clarke
“I am feeling really good right about now that’s for sure – we had the pace at Phillip Island and unfortunately I went down, so coming here and rewarding the team with the bike on Pole is the best feeling ever,” he said.
“Everyone out there is fast, and they’re all competition, you’ve got Troy and now a local guy who before this I hadn’t heard of, so we’re going to be battling out there tomorrow.
“My Pirelli’s have handled the track very well. I did the first qualifying session on them with fresh rubber and that’s when I set my fastest time so coming in to the final qualifier, we sort of relaxed in the pits a little bit, and we’re happy to be finishing the day in Pole position for tomorrow.”
Repsol Triumph rider Mark Chiodo was a notable absentee from the front of the field, going down during the first qualifying session, leaving him with the 17th quickest time at the conclusion of the 25 minutes.
