Max Stauffer comes out on top in YMF R3 Cup at Winton

ASBK 2018 – Round Six – Winton

YMF R3 Cup

Images by TBG

Young gun Max Stauffer has taken out the YMF R3 Cup at Winton Motor Raceway, riding  his way to two race victories and third place finish to take out the round, and claiming the overall win in doing so.

Second overall for the round was Tom Bramich (JLT, Yamaha YZF-R3), his win in race three sees him move to within 12.5 points of the championship lead.

Locky Taylor put together a consistent weekend’s riding and that put him into third overall. Taylor ended the round with race results of two third place finishes and a fourth place.

A crash in race two hampered the weekend of the YMF R3 Cup Championship leader Hunter Ford (Yamaha, Yamaha YZF-R3), but he still managed to salvage important points with two second place finishes in race one and three.

YMF R3 Cup Race 1

After today’s racing Max Stauffer (Rock Oil, Yamaha YZF-R3) will be now thought of as a Winton specialist, taking out race one of the YMF R3 Cup. Starting from pole position, Stauffer led from start to finish, but it was a dash to the line between the #127 and Hunter Ford (Yamaha, Yamaha YZF-R3) as the pair were only split by just .186s.

The YMF R3 Cup has been known for its tight finishes throughout this season and today it was a spectacle again. Ford who had to settle for second behind Stauffer in the Supersport 300 class, once again took second place as the pair were involved in another enthralling battle.

The last spot on the podium went to Locky Taylor (Shark Leathers, Yamaha YZF-R3) who finished just over two and half second off the pace of the front pair.

A battle just outside the last spot on the podium went down to the final lap as Tom Bramich (JTL, Yamaha YZF-R3) and Tayla Relph (Earmold Australia, Yamaha YZF-R3) battled it out for fourth position. It would be Bramich who got the better of the battle. Relph would cross the line in fifth after a consistent ride here at Winton.

A season best for Zane Ford (Yamaha YZF-R3) saw him collect sixth position, which should give Ford great confidence heading into tomorrow’s two races.

The next rider to cross the line was Luke Power (G.Williams Eng, Yamaha YZF-R3) in seventh, followed closely by John Lytras (Caboolture Yamaha, Yamaha YZF-R3) in eighth, ninth was Mitch Kuhne (Shark Helmets, Yamaha YZF-R3) and rounding out the top ten was Dan Thomas (Inglis Plumbing, Yamaha YZF-R3)

The YMF R3 Cup will be back on track tomorrow for two more races with the riders doing battle at 12pm for race two, and then race three at 3:20pm.

YMF R3 Cup Race 1 Provisional

1. Max STAUFFER (NSW) 12:18.770
2. Hunter FORD (NSW) +0.186
3. Locky TAYLOR (QLD) +2.798
4. Tom BRAMICH (VIC) +9.469
5. Tayla RELPH (QLD) +10.165
6. Zane FORD (NSW) +16.723
7. Luke POWER (VIC) +24.044
8. John LYTRAS (QLD) +25.378
9. Mitch KUHNE (QLD) +25.596
10. Dan THOMAS (NSW) +26.307

YMF R3 Cup Race 2

Race two of the YMF R3 Cup was action packed right from the start and a red flag bought a premature end to the race, but it would be Stauffer taking the win, making it two from two in the YMF R3 Cup.

Right from the get go the racing was tight with Hunter Ford getting a great jump from second on the grid but he had to hit the brakes and he tapped the back wheel of Stauffer. Stauffer, Ford led a lead group that included six riders, Tom Bramich, Locky Taylor, Zac Levy and Tayla Relph.

The racing was tight and close, but Ford made the move on Stauffer to take the lead and he set off to put a gap on the field. Ford was racing out in front and enjoyed a couple of bike lengths on the field until disaster struck on lap five, when he put the bike down and was out of the race.

Poor Mitch Kuhne came around the bend where Ford’s bike was a made contact which sent him over the bars, these crashes brought out the red flag and the race was declared on lap five.

With the race declared, the podium was filled by Stauffer, who grabbed his second YMF R3 Cup win of the weekend, Levy took second whilst Taylor claimed the last spot on the podium. Just missing the podium was Bramich in fourth and rounding out the top five was Relph.

YMF R3 Cup Race Two Provisional Results

1. Max STAUFFER (Rock Oil, Yamaha YZF-R3) 6:15.454
2. Zac LEVY (Puma RV’s, Yamaha YZF-R3) 6:15.972
3. Locky TAYLOR (Shark Leathers, Yamaha YZF-R3) 6:16.480
4. Tom BRAMICH (JLT, Yamaha YZF-R3) 6:16.670
5. Tayla RELPH (Earmold Australia, Yamaha YZF-R3) 6:17.303
6. Zane FORD (Yamaha, Yamaha YZF-R3) 6:19.616
7. John LYTRAS (Caboolture Yamaha, Yamaha YZF-R3) 6:20.652
8. Luke POWER (G. Williams Eng, Yamaha YZF-R3) 6:20.771
9. Travis HALL (Barrys Dyno, Yamaha YZF-R3) 6:27.150
10. Dan THOMAS (Inglis plumbing, Yamaha YZF-R3) 6:27.706

YMF R3 Cup Race 3

Race three was once again an exciting affair, with the lead changing at almost every turn throughout the eight laps here at Winton, but it would Bramich who got the better of the field to win the drag to the line.

The #44 had a riveting battle with Ford and Stauffer as the trio went back and forth early in the race, but by lap 6 Bramich and Ford made a small brake and went head to head. The last lap was on the edge of your seat material, with the pair making moves at any opportunity, and a drag to the line made the difference.

Ford would settle for second and Stauffer would cruise behind the front two to take out the last spot on the podium. Taylor just missed the podium collecting the fourth position, whilst the top five was rounded out by Levy.

Relph would finish just outside the top five in sixth but very easily could have found herself on the podium if a bit of luck went her way.

Australian Supersport 300 Race Three Provisional Results

1. Tom BRAMICH (JLT, Yamaha YZF-R3) 12:24.475
2. Hunter FORD (Yamaha, Yamaha YZF-R3) 12:24.542
3. Max STAUFFER (Rock Oil, Yamaha YZF-R3) 12:24.814
4. Locky TAYLOR (Shark Leathers, Yamaha YZF-R3) 12:25.428
5. Zac LEVY (Puma RV’s, Yamaha YZF-R3) 12:25.886
6. Tayla RELPH (Earmold Australia, Yamaha YZF-R3) 12:26.340
7. John LYTRAS (Caboolture Yamaha, Yamaha YZF-R3) 12:36.160
8. Luke POWER (G. Williams Eng, Yamaha YZF-R3) 12:36.396
9. Zane FORD (Yamaha, Yamaha YZF-R3) 12:37.080
10. Travis HALL (Barrys Dyno, Yamaha YZF-R3) 12:44.578

YMF R3 Cup Overall at Winton

1. Max STAUFFER Yamaha 55.5
2. Tom BRAMICH Yamaha 50.5
3. Locky TAYLOR Yamaha 44
4. Hunter FORD Yamaha 40
5. Tayla RELPH Yamaha 39
6. Zane FORD Yamaha 34.5
7. John LYTRAS Yamaha 34
8. Luke POWER Yamaha 33.5
9. Zac LEVY Yamaha 32
10. Travis HALL Yamaha 26

YMF R3 Cup Standings

1. Hunter FORD Yamaha 225
2. Zac LEVY Yamaha 219
3. Tom BRAMICH Yamaha 212.5
4. Locky TAYLOR Yamaha 204
5. Max STAUFFER Yamaha 166.5
6. Travis HALL Yamaha 143
7. Harry KHOURI Yamaha 142
8. Tayla RELPH Yamaha 141
9. John LYTRAS Yamaha 139
10. Mitch KUHNE Yamaha 101