2019 ASBK – Round Six – Phillip Island
Superbike Race Two
Wayne Maxwell completely dominated the opening 12-lapper while Troy Herfoss displayed even more determination than normal to take second ahead of Mike Jones. While Maxwell had been by himself up front, the battle for second place had been frenetic and took place with Josh Waters and Cru Halliday in close company.
Mike Jones may have ‘only’ scored third but he still extended his lead in the championship over Cru Halliday out to 14.5-points. The 25-points for Wayne Maxwell promoted him into third place, four-points behind Halliday, 18.5-points over Jones. Herfoss’ hard fought second place had pushed his tally up to 216-points, thus we had 20-points covering the top four in the championship ahead to this final race of the penultimate round.
Away we go!
All riders got away cleanly but it was pole-sitter Mike Jones that led them through Southern Loop for the first time with Wayne Maxwell and Matt Walters in close company.
Jones and Maxwell started to break away from the field from turn four and around the back of the circuit, the pair down the chute to start lap two nose-to-tail. Despite tailing Jones around turn 12 the Ducati still had enough mumbo to pull away from the Suzuki down the main straight.
Maxwell made his way past at turn three with an inside move that made the Ducati man stand the Ducati down a little. Matt Walters was still a strong third place.
Cru Halliday then saw his championship chances slide away from him as the #65 went down while trying to pass team-mate Falzon at MG Hairpin.
Mike Jones was back into the lead with ten laps to go but not for long as Maxwell again took the lead at turn four.
Troy Herfoss then put in a new fastest lap of the race on lap four to close in on third placed Matt Walters and then pass him around the back of the circuit. Next target Jones…
Herfoss set another new fastest lap of the race on the next circuit, a 1m32.512s to close to within striking distance of the leading duo. Would Herf’ have enough rubber left to take the battle all the way to Maxwell and Jones in the closing laps….?
Mike Jones goes down!
Jones went down at turn four, he was just a little wide on entry and while trying to gather it back up and on-line he was brushed on the inside by Maxwell who was on the normal tighter line, the result saw Jones on the deck, and Maxwell in the lead…
Officials notified us that the incident was under investigation, for what reason I don’t really know unless they had a lot more camera angles than I had seen…
Bryan Staring goes down…!
Another championship contender sees his championship chances disappear before his eyes as Bryan Staring.
Mark Chiodo goes down!
With five laps to run it was Herfoss shadowing Maxwell and that pair had three-seconds on Matt Walters.
The Cessnock Kawasaki privateer was starting to come under attack from Josh Waters and Daniel Falzon as they tried to steal that podium from the 26-year-old. He was not giving up without a very big fight, the ZX-10R wriggling and writhing around on corner exit but Walters pin-point accurate on corner entries in what was an impressive performance.
Last lap board
Troy Herfoss lunges up the inside of Wayne Maxwell into turn one on the final lap, maintains sway through Southern Loop, Maxwell goes up the inside before turn three… Maxwell has the inside line at turn four, maintains advantage into Siberia. Herfoss on the pipe of the Suzuki before slipping up the inside before Hayshed in an awesome move!
Herfoss holds on through Lukey Heights and MG Hairpin, leads Maxwell around turn 11…… Gets the power down….. Maxwell got a great run off 12 but Herfoss had done enough! Herfoss the race winner by 0.028 of a second at the chequered flag!
Herfoss wins and takes series lead!
Troy Herfoss the new championship leader by three-points over Maxwell. Jones still right in the hunt, only 4.5-points off the championship leader and of course that means less than five-points separates that top trio heading to the championship finale at Sydney Motorsport Park early next month.
Josh Waters got the better of Falzon and Walters to climb the final step on the rostrum for this race, and also third place for the round.
Superbike Race Two Results
- Troy Herfoss
- Wayne Maxwell +0.028s
- Josh Waters +5.845s
- Daniel Falzon +5.865s
- Matt Walters +7.018s
- Glenn Allerton +21.089s
- Damon Rees +27.446s
- Alex Phillis +27.875s
Superbike Championship Points
- Troy Herfoss 241
- Wayne Maxwell 238
- Mike Jones 236.5
- Cru Halliday 222
- Josh Waters 216
- Bryan Staring 211.5
Source: MCNews.com.au