Herfoss already under lap record

Troy Herfoss already under Wakefield Park lap record

By Trevor Hedge

Two brisk and breezy practice session have already been here at Wakefield Park this morning.

The Goulburn based 2.2km circuit had a track temperature of 18-degrees celsius at midday today, and an ambient hovering around 11-degrees celsius, but a wind chill making it feel even colder around the circuit. 13-degrees is forecast for Saturday before a relatively balmy Sunday’s expected top of 17-degrees.

The cold temperatures did not stop local Team Honda star, and Swann Australasian FX Superbike Championship series leader, Troy Herfoss from setting a new practice/qualifying record.

28-year-old Herfoss topped the charts with a 58.179 on the Team Honda Racing Fireblade SP. Troy’s 58.179 besting Wayne Maxwell’s previous record of 58.362, which Maxwell also set on a Team Honda Fireblade SP, last year. Maxwell of course won the 2014 Championship with Honda, but is riding for the Yamaha Racing Team in 2015. Troy’s 58.179 in these cold and blustery conditions suggest he will also lower his benchmark 58.025 race lap record come Saturday and Sunday, that previous marker set here on September 14th, 2014.

Teammate Jamie Stauffer underlined the strength of the Honda duo by finishing the morning sessions in second place, albeit four-tenths slower than Herfoss.

Glenn Allerton put in a final flyer to move up the charts with a 58.601 ahead of Kawasaki riders Mike Jones (58.963) and Matt Walters (58.743).

Wayne Maxwell’s 58.783 was good enough for sixth quickest ahead of Cru Halliday (58.946) and Sean Condon (58.995). That top eight all lapping in the 58-second bracket.

Next best was Linden Magee making his return from injury on the Fireblade SP while BcPerformance’s Ben Burke rounded out the top ten.

There are two more 13-minute practice sessions this afternoon before the one and only 16-minute qualifying session for each class.