Brayden Elliott to defend SS lead as FX-ASC heads to Queensland Raceway
Brayden Elliott enters the second half of the Australasian Supersport Championship holding a 21- point lead in the series and this weekend’s fourth round of the year at Queensland Raceway will be a critical opportunity for the Tumut rider to cement his position at the top of the order with just four rounds remaining in the year.
Despite it’s simple layout visually, Queensland Raceway is one of the more challenging circuits on the calendar, which extensive focus upon the high speed straights and heavy braking points requiring both hard work during setup for Brayden’s Hankook Tyres Suzuki GSX-R600 but also his own mental and physical fitness for the six races across the weekend.
“I’m feeling confident in the build-up to round four of the Australasian Superbike Championship at Queensland Raceway. All of my training both mentally and physically in the build up to the event has gone extremely well.
“Queensland Raceway is a challenging circuit that I definitely wouldn’t call my favourite track although I feel with the extensive amounts of preparation that has gone in to myself and also the Hankook Tyres Suzuki GSX-R600 machines that this can be a very good event for myself and the team,” Elliott said.
A recent testing opportunity at the track affectionally known as the ‘paperclip’ provided a good chance for Brayden and his team to further develop his setup after having only raced at the track once before, the corresponding event in 2014. With practice sessions scheduled ahead of the all-important qualifying session on Friday, it will act as the perfect final preparation as Elliott looks to defend his series lead.
“We are once again entering the round as the overall Supersport championship leader which gives me great confidence as I look to continue my form of consistency as I continue to learn and build confidence. Thankfully we were able to test at Queensland Raceway last month where we achieved a very good base setting of the bikes in both wet and dry conditions. I would still like to try some small changes and make final adjustments before the racing takes place but I’m confident we can put in the finishing touches to bike set up throughout Fridays practice sessions,” Elliott added.
With Australian Superbike legend Shawn Giles in his corner again this weekend, Brayden will be looking to utilise the experience of his coach and mentor as an extra boost over his closest competitors in an effort to gain any advantage possible in his quest to return to the podium.
“I will once again be gaining the coaching and mentoring support from Shawn Giles as I continue to take in all of the information and support that he offers. Although Phil Tainton will not be at the event, I will also benefit from his set up advice from his previous success at the track. Its always extremely helpful to be able to talk with Phil throughout the weekend and the team does a very good job at corresponding with any changes we feel need to be made. I’m very thankful for the enormous amounts of effort that not only Shawn, Phil but the whole team have put into the 2015 season and preparing for the fourth round of the Championship,” Elliott concluded.
Brayden will be on track for practice and qualifying Friday with three races each on Saturday and Sunday.
Round four of the 2015 Swann Insurance Australasian Superbike Championship takes place at Queensland Raceway, Willowbank, Queensland from August 14-16.
Check out this video replay of all the action from the previous race at Sydney Motorsports Park
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