Mark Chiodo on 600 Supersport Pole – Reid Battye fastest 300 Supersport Production
Victorian rising star Mark Chiodo was untouchable in the Australian Motul Supersport Championship qualifying at Phillip Island’s opening round of the 2017 Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship supported by Motul Pirelli (ASBK) this afternoon, soaring to a dominant pole position.
The Repsol Gas Racing Triumph 675 R rider posted a fastest lap of 1m35.899s on his fifth and final circulation during the 15-minute session, just outside of the existing circuit best lap of 1m35.826s set by former national champion Shannon Johnson in 2009.
“It’s really good to take the first pole position of the year,” Chiodo reflected. “I mean, testing has all been good, but it’s another thing to bring it to the round and we’ve shown that we can do that.”
Posting ‘that time’ put Chiodo a full 1.657s ahead of Mason Coote (Mason Coote Racing YZF-R6) in second, while Ted Collins (Next Get Motorsport GSX-R600) will fill the three-rider front row of the talent-packed 35 rider grid.
“P2 in qualifying, I can’t believe it because I’ve had 14 months off the bike and it’s my first race in such a long time,” Coote said. “It’s only qualifying, but I’m over the moon. The bike’s working amazingly well – the Yamaha and Pirelli combination is unreal.”
Collins commented; “That ride was awesome! The bike’s been working well, Traction Control suspension and Next Gen Motorsports have put an awesome package together. I just went out there and did my best – it’s my first front row in ASBK, so I’m pumped.”
Defending national number three, Luke Mitchell (DPH Motorsports YZF-R6) will start out of fourth, 2.013s from the pole-time, after edging out impressive class newcomer and Supersport 300 graduate Sam Condon (Bikebiz YZF-R6).
Positions six through 10 belong to Nic Liminton (ARAI Center YZF-R6), Ryan Taylor (Pablo’s Motorcycle Tyres YZF-R6), Cambridge Olivier (Sydney West Riders Racing YZF-R6), Callum Alderson (AARK Racing YZF-R6) and Ben Burke (Yamaha YZF-R6) respectively.
Race one of the 2017 Australian Supersport Championship is scheduled to be contested across 10 laps at 4:10pm local time on Saturday, with two more races of the same duration due to take place on Sunday alongside round one of the Motul Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK).
Australian Supersport 2017 – Round One – Phillip Island – Qualifying Results
- Mark Chiodo 1m35.899 / Triumph
- Mason Coote 1m37.556 / Yamaha
- Ted Collins 1m37.765 / Suzuki
- Luke Mitchell 1m37.912 / Yamaha
- Sam Condon 1m38.051 / Yamaha
- Nic Liminton 1m38.144 / Yamaha
- Ryan Taylor 1m38.492 / Yamaha
- Cambridge Olivier 1m38.714 / Yamaha
- Callum Alderson 1m38.829 / Yamaha
- Ben Burke 1m38.855 / Yamaha
- Giuseppe Scarcella 1m38.856 / Honda
- Jordan Carlsson 1m38.928 / Yamaha
- Chris Quinn 1m39.146 / Yamaha
- Sam Muldoon 1m39.408 / Kawasaki
- Tom Toparis 1m39.623 / Kawasaki
- Brian Houghton 1m40.599
- Brendan Wilson 1m40.774
- Cam Russell 1m40.881
- Michael Knight 1m41.161
- Hayden Spinks 1m41.243
- Aidan Hayes 1m41.601
- Jack Dawes 1m41.767
- Lincoln Gilding 1m42.099
- Justin Case 1m42.228
- Grant Davis 1m42.300
- Jake Pruiti 1m42.368
- Rhys Belling 1m42.597
- Zac Levy 1m42.638
- Adrian Forde 1m43.363
- Steve Haslam 1m43.417
- Jimmy Broadbent 1m43.444
- Bob Mackenzie 1m44.254
- Joel Rhodes 1m44.321
- John McCabe 1m44.638
- Steven Willmott 1m47.504
A determined line-up of Australian Supersport 300 Championship riders did battle on Friday at Phillip Island during round one of the 2017 Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli (ASBK), with Reid Battye (IPONE Ninja 300) capturing the first pole position of the season.
Battye (Up To 300) stormed to the top of the combined Over and Up To 300 time-sheets with a 1m51.525s, 0.182s ahead of practice pace-setter Tom Edwards (Steelline Ninja 300). Last year’s YMF R3 Cup winner Zac Levy (Puma RV’s YZF-R3) slotted into third overall and was the best of the Over 300 entries with a time of 1m51.862s.
“Qualifying went to plan and we got P1,” Battye said. “The bike felt unbelievable out there. There was a strong headwind, but I managed to get a few slip-streams down the straight and it paid off. So I’m really happy with this.”
Meanwhile, Levy will look to improve further once the lights go out in the races: “It’s definitely good to be first in the Over 300s. We were a bit off the pace in the practices and I was two and a half seconds from my best times here, but we got down to it in qualifying and that’s the main thing. Now I look forward to the races.”
Jack Passfield (Stay Upright YZF-R3) continued his strong run of form in fourth, ahead of Laura Brown (Shelk Ninja 300, 1:52.206), who completed a tight top-five. The top 10 was rounded out by defending Over 300 champion Brandon Demmery (Deborah Motorsports YZF-R3), Up To 300champion Drew Sells (Race Center Ninja 300), Oli Bayliss (Cube Racing Ninja 300), Billy van Eerde (KTM RC 390) and Jack Mahaffy (JDS Moto YZF-R3).
With 42 riders securing their place on the grid ahead of Saturday’s opening eight-lap race at 8:50am local time, three riders will be held as reserves, and the close-knit development category will contest its second race at 4:50pm. Race three will grid up on Sunday alongside the opening round of the 2017 Motul Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK).
Australian 300 Supersport 2017 – Round One – Phillip Island – Qualifying Results
- Reid Battye 1m51.525 / Kawasaki 300
- Tom Edwards 1m51.707 / Kawasaki 300
- Zac Levy 1m51.862 / Yamaha R3 321
- Jack Passfield 1m52.070 / Yamaha R3 321
- Laura Brown 1m52.206 / Kawasaki 300
- Brandon Demmery 1m52.264 / Yamaha R3 321
- Drew Sells 1m52.268 / Kawasaki 300
- Oli Bayliss 1m52.350 / Kawasaki 300
- Billy Van Eerde 1m52.389 / KTM RC390
- Jack Mahaffy 1m52.407 / Yamaha R3 321
- Hunter Ford 1m52.796 / Yamaha R3 321
- Ben Bramich 1m53.067 / Yamaha R3 321
- Scott Nicholson 1m53.124 / Kawasaki 300
- Corey Briffa 1m53.129 / Yamaha R3 321
- Zane Ford 1m53.397 / Kawasaki 300
- Max Croker 1m53.768 / KTM RC390
- Zackary Johnson 1m54.235 / Kawasaki 300
- Yannis Shaw 1m54.611 / Kawasaki 300
- Tyler Ferrari 1m54.884 / Kawasaki 300
- Locky Taylor 1m54.962 / Kawasaki 300
- Luke Sanders 1m55.002
- Mark Ferrari 1m55.063
- Ty Lynch 1m55.231
- Tom Bramich 1m55.575
- Ryan Taylor 1m55.661
- Lewis Wright 1m55.942
- Bronson Pickett 1m56.042
- Jonah Sita 1m56.161
- Grace Poutich 1m56.556
- Nicholas Clair 1m56.639
- Jarred Brook 1m56.701
- Peter Nerlich 1m56.824
- Keegan Pickering 1m57.102
- Boyd Hocking 1m58.751
- Ashley Armitt 1m59.249
- Mark Rogers 2m00.218
- Austin Barnes 2m00.465
- Gregory Farrell 2m01.188
- Shelby Turner 2m01.211
- Peter Avery 2m01.245
- Sean Jarvis 2m01.577
- Javad Asghari 2m02.964
- Scott Chapman 2m03.293
- Matthew Cartellone 2m04.188
