16 minute read
ASBK Flashback
By ASBK Trackside Commentator Mark Bracks
WHO CAN CATCH THE “WAYNE TRAIN”?
There shouldn’t be too much taken out of the official ASBK pre-season test at Phillip Island, but it seems that Wayne Maxwell is in “full steam ahead” mode as he continues on from where he left last year. Maxwell took the 2021 title with a pole position, two wins and a new lap record to secure his third ASBK title. At the test he was very smooth and fast and appeared to be riding well within himself, to be just one-tenth of a second off his all-time best lap of the circuit he set two years ago Maxwell is in the form of his career in his quest for a hat-trick of Aussie titles and become the first rider of the modern era to claim four ASBK titles.
With two titles on the trot, Maxwell has to be a firm favourite. Adding to the favouritism for the title is the Boost Mobile with K-tech Team as the sole leading contender that has retained the same personnel. A massive bonus.
Fans are so fortunate that he reversed his decision to retire at the end of last year, to give it another crack. You are a long time retired, and after the rocky road of the past two years, Maxwell and his team are keen to dominate over the entire season.
CONTENDERS TO THE CROWN
There are a number of contenders that could wrestle the crown from Maxwell, but they will have to be on their game at every round.
That’s not to say that Maxwell will have a perfect run. With the level of competition intensifying each year, one mistake can break a season and every rider and team has to be on their game with minimal mistakes and hopefully zero mechanical gremlins. Mike Jones found this out the hard way in the first race of his title defence in 2020 when his Ducati suffered a mechanical issue on the grid - thwarting his championship chances before they really began.
Penrite Honda has to be the favourite. In recent years, Troy Herfoss has been the major threat to Maxwell with the pair engaged in some titanic duels that will be long remembered.
There’s no doubt that Troy has the commitment and passion to rekindle the form that has seen him claim two ASBK titles, and runner up twice in the past three years. The big question is how long it will take him to return to full fitness after the severe leg, hip and arm injuries he suffered at the V8 Supercars round at Hidden Valley (NT) in June last year.
One important cog that’s missing from the Penrite Honda squad this year is Paul Free, who has moved on to the 727 Team with Jed Metcher and Broc Pearson. Who will be Free’s replacement for
the year has not been decided but the legend who is Phil Tainton was assisting at the ASBK test last month. Whether he signs on for the entire year is another question as he has often stated that he wants to spend more time with his extended family.
Phillip Island has not been the most successful happy hunting ground for Herfoss in the past, but there’s nothing like the opening round of a championship to focus the mind and block out the pain.
While a fit Herfoss and the Penrite Honda team may appear to be the major apex predator in ripping Maxwell’s jewels from him, there are a few more sharks circling, impatient to attack.
The Next Gen Maxima Racing Oils .Film BMW Team will also be a major threat, with a two rider assault that boasts six Australian Superbike titles, with longterm rider Glenn Allerton joined by Josh Waters. That’s just a little experience and with the impressive form of the new BMW the pair will be hunting at the front from the outset. Waters’ most recent title was in 2017, but last year was the most challenging one for him on a Kawasaki in nearly 20 years. Waters and Bryan Staring attempted to develop the all-new Kawasaki ZX10RR with no data from overseas to work with. The Team was flying blind and it was reflected in the results. Josh’s best result (an eighth place finish at Hidden Valley) is definitely not a reflection on his ability. The frustration of both riders was evident in body language with no need to ask the obvious.
As for Allerton, he and team owner Shane Kinderis have an extremely long racing relationship that will no doubt help him to go one better than his second place overall last year, and claim his first ASBK title since way back in 2014. Allerton should be the fittest he has been in years after recovering from seasonal injuries.
There’s going to be plenty of work for team owner, manager, crew chief and major backer, Kinderis, attempting to keep two riders satisfied but if anyone can do it, the man from Wangaratta can.
Then there’s the newly-formed BMW Alliance Team, owned by Wayne Hepburn and Nathan Webb.
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ASBK FLASHBACK CONTINUED
After parting with the Next Gen team before the final round last year, there is a lot expected with Lachlan Epis as the lead rider, and long-time privateer Nathan Spiteri coming on board for a two-rider team.
There is a mass of technical support with experienced hands from lands near and far. At the end of last year Phil Tainton cast his trained eyes over telemetry and overall setup to give the team some direction, before the team brought in Jake Skate from Alpha Racing (who is an official partner of the BMW World Superbike Team that ran Tom Sykes and Michael Van De Mark last year). He may
only be a short-term hire but with Skate they have a very knowledgeable local crew and early signs are that they will be on the pace from the start.
With a wealth of experience in his corner, the responsibility for constant top three results is up to Epis. Having competed in the World Supersport Championship for a few years – he was the youngest ever rider to have a full-time ride in the championship – and a few rounds of the WSBK last year – there is a lot expected of him.
Yamaha is the only true factory supported effort in the ASBK, and is the best represented brand on the grid with at least 10 R1s lining up. The other teams have support to varying degrees, but Yamaha provides the only true factory supported two-rider effort.
Yamaha has a very strong line up and entering into his fourth year with the team is Cru Halliday - third overall last year and 2018 600cc Supersport Champion and has run the Yamaha brand for many years. Joining him is two-time ASBK champ Mike Jones back on a Yamaha, but this time on a Superbike. The team has returned to running Pirelli rubber and both riders are extremely happy and very confident heading into the first round.
Back on Pirelli bags, Cru will be on the pace from the start and hopefully he has the ammunition to go a couple of spots better to return Yamaha to championship winners. His new teammate, Mad Mike will no doubt be looking to reproduce that championship winning form. 2021 was a write-off for the Queenslander as he was forced out of the Darwin round with a hand and foot injury suffered during practice and qualifying. Jones will be keen to prove that he is still a rider capable of race victories and claiming a third ASBK title.
There are three other major Yamaha teams boasting championship-capable riders.
Returning with the MotoGO team will be Anthony West, hoping for a dramatic turnaround in results and reliability. MotoGO will be the only major running on Dunlop rubber - adding another factor but he will receive major focus from Robbie Bugden and his tyre team.
ASBK FLASHBACK CONTINUED
The new players in the paddock on Yamaha will be the debut of the 727 Moto Team with Jed Metcher and last year’s 600cc Supersport Champion, Broc Pearson. No effort has been spared in the setup and recruitment of team members, with Paul Free the major and surprise signing. After long term stints at Honda interrupted with a few seasons at the DesmoSport Ducati team, he makes the move to Yamaha to oversee the fortunes of the new team.
Back on Yamaha this year in a privateer team is Aiden Wagner, who had two frustrating years in the factory team. He will be under the ‘Addicted to Track’ banner owned by passionate Queenslander, Mark McGregor. The smile on his face after the test confirmed that he is in a happy place with the new team to end up fifth and just a second off Maxwell’s best time. Will their on-track rivalry be re-ignited this year?
Mark Chiodo is on a Yamaha for the second year, running Pirelli rubber. Chiodo has had a meteoric rise through road racing having never raced a bike until 2015. He first competed in Supersport before graduating to ASBK in 2018 in Team Suzuki, then in 2019 when he was with the Penrite Honda Team.
In 2022 Chiodo has dual BSB Supersport Champion, Glen Richards as crew chief. Richards has a wealth of knowledge – both in the UK and Australia – and it is somewhat of a coup that Chiodo managed to secure his services for the year in front of other more fancied folk hunting for his expertise.
In the background will be engine tuner extraordinaire, Gary House. It appears to be a close knit team that gets on well together, which may well prove to be a strong combination. I’m tipping that we may even see a podium visit as Chiodo proved in 2019 that he can lead a race as he did at the Bend that year.
Another rider who may well climb the podium is South Australian, Arthur Sissis. Since he jumped on a Yamaha, his results and consistency have ramped up and he showed at the Bend late last year he has tuned some serious speed and horsepower. Combine that with his bullet-like starts and there’s a good chance that Arty will be a consistent top five runner.
After running Mike Jones and Oli Bayliss in the DesmoSport Ducati team last year, it will be a solo rider outfit for 2022. Bryan Staring joins the team after being cut loose late last year after five years with the BC Performance Team when Kawasaki withdrew factory support. Along with Waters, Staring sat out the final round at the Bend in December after riding with the team since 2018.
Staring is a three-time Australian Champion in three different classes, (125cc, Supersport and Superbike) the only rider to do so. He has also competed successfully in the now defunct World 1000cc Superstock Championship that was run with the WSBK as well as points scoring finishes in a MotoGP season in 2013.
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ASBK FLASHBACK CONTINUED
In his first hit out on the Ducati V4 at the recent test he seemed comfortable on the bike from the start and made steady progress over the rain-interrupted two-day session to be fourth fastest. With a resume such as his, swapping over to Pirelli rubber, and his results on the Kawasaki, discount Staring at your peril.
In the Kawasaki corner is journeyman Matt Walters. The Rover Coaches/Kawasaki Connection Team is very much a family run affair. While Kawasaki officially withdrew from the ASBK late last year, Walters now has support through the Kawasaki dealer network and is more than capable of pulling off a few surprises against more fancied rivals. BCPerformance returns with Kelvin Reilly at the helm, but on a much smaller scale budget than what Staring and Waters enjoyed last year. 2022 rider Ben Burke has raced extensively in the UK and Asia where he tasted success and while he may not be up the front every weekend, he will be keeping plenty of the field honest.
The ASBK features a very strong line-up of talent and there will be plenty to keep fans interested, with tantalising battles shaping up throughout the top 15. It’s my estimate that lap times will be closer than ever; bringing the field closer together.
Just what spectators and riders thrive on.
REVVED UP
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Motorcycle Sportsmen of Queensland Road Race Enduro 11-14 August 2022
Queensland Super Sprint Series Round 4A | 19-21 August 2022
IOR Rosebowl Polocrosse Carnival 20-22 August 2022
Australian Superbike Championships 20-22 August 2021 Morgan Park Raceway, Warwick www.southerndownsandgranitebelt.com.au MGCCQ - QLD Circuit Racing State LATER THIS MONTHChampionship Round 3 26-28 August 2022 Warwick 1000 Sustainable Warwick Horse Trials One Day 27-28 August 2021 Event 27-28 August 2022 6th Cottonvale Digout 27-29 August 2021 OTHER EVENTS
Waddle, Saddle & Pedal 28 August 2021Cottonvale | 7th Cottonvale Digout 19-21 August 2022 Killarney | Waddle, Saddle & Pedal 28 August 2022
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Southern Downs and Granite Belt
The MA RACESAFE Medical Team launches into a new Australian Superbike Championship season, all thanks to the support of our major sponsors - Motorcycling Australia, Motul Pirelli and Thor.
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We are looking forward to working together with RACESAFE to support and enhance the range of services they can offer, which will no doubt benefit our MA membership in many ways.” Quoted Motorcycling Australia CEO Peter Boyle.
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MA RACESAFE Medical Team will include for the 2021 Australian Superbike Championships :
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• MA RACESAFE Medical Team including, - Emergency Director - Series Chief Medical Officer - Intensive Care Paramedics - Emergency Nurses - Sports Physiotherapists - High Speed Chase Driver - Technical Support Officer - Orthopaedic Surgeons - Emergency Doctors
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