Winton Motor Raceway, near Benalla is well known for it’s narrow circuit, tight racing and good spectactor viewing.
The 2014 Swann Australasian FX Superbike Championship will invade the three-kilometre circuit this weekend, August 2-3.
The outright motorcycle race lap record at Winton was set in 2008 by Shawn Giles on an ASBK specification Suzuki GSX-R1000 with a 2m21.802. The qualifying record however belongs to Jamie Stauffer with a 1m21.278 way back in 2006 on a Yamaha YZF-R1. Stauffer also holds the Supersport race (1m23.350) and qualifying (1m22.749) records for the 600cc category. Jamie broke his ankle competing at the Suzuka 8 Hour in Japan last weekend but plans to race this weekend.
As always, tune in to www.mcnews.com.au on Sunday as Trevor Hedge and Phil Harlum call the action as it unfolds via live streaming video. Broadcast on Sunday will start around 10am, stay tuned!
Here Robbie Bugden, Glenn Allerton and Mike Jones give their insights into the coming event at 53-year-old Winton Motor Raceway. After Winton the Swann Australasian FX Superbike Championship heads to Wakefield Park on September 14 for round five before concluding at Eastern Creek on the weekend of November 23rd.
Robbie Bugden – Yamaha Racing Team/ Yamaha Motorcycle Insurance
“I think Winton is a good track. Its very technical and I personally have had success there before.
“There are a couple of different challenges with the track; the layout is very tight and very technical. There’s increasing and decreasing radius turns, the high ripple strip, and obviously the surface it’s self. All of those things make it a challenge that’s for sure.
“I think my favorite part of he track at Winton would be the sweeping left turn. There are a couple of good bumps in it and you enter it pretty fast. It’s a good turn to get it right, and probably a pretty bad turn to get it wrong (laughs).”
Glenn Allerton – Next Gen Motorsports BMW
“I really like Winton, it’s a pretty cool layout. It’s always good for the fans to see all of the track from any point. The racing is always very tight there due to the narrow track so it’s awesome for spectators.
“I think new extra section is challenging, I mean it’s probably not new now, but that extra section where you turn before the pits is very hard and it’s very one lined. You have to make sure that if you’re going to pass someone there that you’re completely committed to it.
“My favorite part of Winton is that fast sweeping left hander. You’re up to fourth gear and you’re approaching over 200kms an hour so it’s an exhilarating corner and it’s a lot of fun.”
Mike Jones – Crazy Dog Kawasaki
“I’m not the biggest fan of Winton. I’m definitely a fan of the layout, I’m just not the biggest fan of the track surface and the run off.
“The most challenging part of Winton is the tricky tight turns, and the rough surface. They have re-sealed the track in a lot of areas so it makes it a little bit difficult to navigate your way around the track.
“Because the track is so tight it bunches up the field quite a lot so it’s going to bring fans some seriously close and action packed racing. I can’t wait!
The Swann Insurance Australasian Superbike Championship will head to Winton Motor Raceway on the 2-3 August 2014.
Some images from the previous round at Queensland Raceway
