Iconic American motorcycle customiser Arlen Ness has died, aged 79, surrounded by his family in California.
Arlen was known for his wild paintwork as well as his outlandish custom choppers, baggers and cruisers.
As well as producing his own customs, he worked with several motorcycle companies, including the axed Victory Motorcycles, to produce limited-edition production models.
He also branched out into riding apparel and merchandise featuring his wild designs.
Facebook eulogy
His company’s Facebook page has published this eulogy:
It is with heavy hearts that we announce Arlen Ness the visionary, loving husband, father, grandfather and leader of our family passed away last night March 22, 2019. Arlen passed away comfortably in his home surrounded by loved ones after the most creative and inspirational life anyone could imagine.
The most important things in Arlen’s life were his wife of 59 years Beverly, his children, grandchildren, friends and motorcycles. Arlen once said that “Motorcycling has been a great ride…my whole life since I’ve been motorcycling has been wonderful. I’ve met so many nice people. Friends all over the world…. We can go almost anyplace and stay with friends. It’s been great.” With few words Arlen conveyed his priorities every day, family and friends.
Everyone who knew Arlen respects him for his achievements and for who he was as a person, both of which are superlatives. The respect is how Arlen came to deserve the commonly spoken nickname “The King of Custom Motorcycles”.
Arlen rarely reflected on his own success. He never planned for it, this is because what he achieved had never been done before; it had never been dreamt of.
Arlen has touched the lives of our family, the Arlen Ness team and thousands of others around the world with his genuine character. We will announce a memorial service and celebration of life after some private time, and appreciate your understanding. We thank you for your respects and condolences.
Although the Ness family cannot put their loss into words, they can look up and smile knowing Arlen has done something that few men do in a lifetime of trying. He has inspired.
Arlen bio
He was born in Moorhead, Minnesota, on July 12, 1939.
After moving to California and working in a blowing alley, he raised money to buy his first bike, a 1947 Knucklehead Harley-Davidson which he customised.
It was followed by many more custom motorcycles.
He was married to his wife Beverly for 59 years and is succeeded in the custom bike business by his son, Cory and grandson, Zach.
A driver who crossed double white lines and killed a teenage motorcyclist was charged with a traffic offence rather than manslaughter in an investigation marred by police bias.
A Northern Territory Coronial Inquest has been told police took five weeks to interview the female driver of the Subaru wagon that hit 16-year-old Xavier Lengyal’s bike just 200m from his home.
Xavier’s family told the Coronial Inquest that police treated the crash investigation as their son’s fault.
“Our family was left feeling like idiots and completely unjustified with the impression of guilt, due to being pushed away and the sense of Xavier’s investigation being swept under the rug,” Xavier’s father, Asher Lengyal, said.
Image supplied
Senior police admitted bias in the investigation in which they also took “an inordinate amount of time” to take witness statements.
NT Police only charged the driver with crossing double white lines rather than unintentional vehicular manslaughter.
Crash scene with Subaru on the wrong side of the road (Image: Nine News)
The former is a traffic offence that carries a $263 fine and two demerit points in the NT while the latter can result in up to six months’ jail.
Police say there is a flaw in NT law preventing driver Maxine Holden from being charged with anything further at the time.
Bias of rider guilty
Motorcycle Council of NSW chairman Steve Pearce fears that police bias against riders could be more widespread than just the NT Police.
“It’s almost like the reversal of the law of natural justice; that riders are guilty until proven innocent,” he says.
“I think there is a view that riders are more likely to be at fault in accidents involving motorcycles and that speed is the common factor,” Steve says.
“We see this in single-vehicle accidents involving a motorcycle, where the rider is automatically deemed to be at fault.
“This ignores factors such as road condition, line markings, recent roadworks, lack of signage.”
NT Assistant Commissioner Narelle Beer told the coronial inquest they had since made “major changes” to their Major Crash unit.
They include a joint management team and a superintendent dedicated to overseeing Major Crash.
Steve says speed is often cited as the biggest killer on our roads because of a lack of expertise among police accident investigators.
“Are investigators using speed as a catch-all reason for motorcycle accidents?” he asks.
Police accident investigators are also in a conflict of interest as they are responsible for prosecuting motorists.
“Therefore, they are only looking for offences committed, not the cause of the crash,” he says.
“We need to look for world’s best practice in this area.”
There is concern that police and media jumping to conclusions and blaming motorcyclists for crashes could lead to viewing riders not as vulnerable road users, but as “temporary Australians” with a death wish.
Based on police accident investigations, most Australian statistics seem to show that speed is the biggest killer.
For example, the NSW Motorcycle Safety Action Plan 2017-2019 says “inappropriate speed” is a contributing factor in 54% of motorcycle fatal crashes and 28% of motorcycle serious injury crashes.
It’s more likely less than 10% based on two significant studies in the UK and USA.
The British Transport Laboratory found that less than 8% of all road crashes were caused by exceeding speed limits and the 2005 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s long-term Naturalistic Driving Study said it was just 7%.
Both studies found driver inattention was the biggest killer. The US study said it was as high as 80%, yet NSW road authorities say it is only 25%, based on inadequate police crash investigations.
That’s almost double the figure the US study said was due to speed.
Steve says speed is too often cited as the biggest cause of single motorcycle accidents when there are plenty of other factors involved.
“Other factors unique to motorcycling such as the impact of road conditions, weather, bike setup, rider experience, rider familiarity with their motorcycle, rider fatigue are too often ignored,” he says.
“If we took crash investigation to the next level, we would be better equipped to determine what factors to employ to educate riders and reduce injuries.”
Front row starter declares it will take consistent 57s to win on Sunday.
Image: Supplied.
It could take consistent 57s lap-times to contend for the victory in Wakefield Park’s second round of the 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship, according to Team Suzuki Ecstar’s Wayne Maxwell.
With the top seven riders in qualifying today all posting laps in the 57s bracket, Maxwell is tipping the race-pace will be ultra-quick on Sunday. He won race one there last year.
Maxwell slotted his GSX-R1000R into second on the grid following Q2 this afternoon at the Goulburn circuit and, just like arch-rival Troy Herfoss, he’s declared the front row to be significantly important during both 20-lap races that are scheduled.
“We’ve got a target that we’re going to aim for tomorrow in the race tomorrow, the high 57s, and hopefully that puts us in a good position,” Maxwell told CycleOnline.com.au. “That’s roughly where everyone is, so you’ll have to be there for over half-race distance and then see how it all pans out – we can go from there.
“Track position is very important, so I’m happy with second on the grid. We can’t afford to lose any more points… It’d be super-nice to get some back, but we can’t lose any more. Cru [Halliday] has a good pace, so does Troy, and a bunch of others aren’t far behind us either.”
The clash between round one winner Aiden Wagner and Maxwell in race two at Phillip Island’s opener was one of the major storylines last month, resulting in seventh overall for the 2013 ASBK title-winner. A strong finish at Wakefield will be pivotal for his title hopes.
British grand prix hero faces a different type of challenge ahead of MXGP weekend.
Words: Adam Wheeler
Image: Supplied.
Before the crowds, tension and anticipation of MXGP rolls into the vast bowl of Matterley Basin this weekend for the British GP, one of the heroes of the event past and present Tommy Searle faced a different kind of challenge.
Luke Woodham was in a feisty mood with the raw power and grunt of his V8 and fancied ripped up some of the Winchester soil at the epic venue that has been a popular draw for world championship motocross for almost 15 years.
For 28-year-old Kawasaki racer Tommy Searle this was a mean duel. The Brit has spine-tingling recollections of success at Matterley – his maiden podium finish as a sixteen year old, emphatic MX2 victory in 2012 and a rostrum appearance in his country’s colours at the 2017 Motocross of Nations, but this was another kind of experience.
The torque and speed of his BOS GP Kawasaki KX450F seemed slight opposition to Woodham’s crazed collection of horses under the V8’s bodywork but Searle had the knowledge and the right tools for the face-off.
Unused to such a snarling and potent rival, the sight of the V8 on the Matterley course was initially unnerving: “I was worried I’d get taken-out by the car!” Searle grinned. “It was amazing to watch it spinning sideways everywhere and it was so loud that I couldn’t even hear my own bike.”
The traction and poise of the Kawasaki eventually proved to be the difference. Searle not only had the ideal weapon for the fight but also the skills – the same combination that he hopes will make the thousands and thousands of British fans go bananas for what will be the second round of 19 on the 2019 MXGP calendar.
“The V8 looks good and sounds good and was impressive to watch but for all that power there was not much of a contest,” he said. “A motocross circuit is such a special kind of track and with special kinds of demands and nothing is going to beat a bike that it is built for it. I reckon I could do three laps in the time it takes to do one!”
Former Gymkhana Grid champion and drift expert Woodham hammered the V8 around the slopes and curves, but Searle bagged the bragging rights. Now he wants more. For more than 10 years the #100 has been the reference for British followers of motocross and he knows Matterley Basin is the best and biggest stage to shine for his fans.
“I’m feeling good,” he says. “I’m healthy and happy with my bike, and I’m heading to an event that I always look forward to and have good memories of.”
Woodham and Searle enjoyed a dry and fine English day for their ‘tête-à-tête’. The British grand prix is the first European stop for the 2019 season after the opening salvo in Argentina two weeks ago and there will be many eyeing the skies for the biggest fixture on the UK dirt bike schedule.
“There is some doubt about the weather with this race being so early this year but if the forecast holds as it is then it will be a big weekend,” Searle said.
Four wheels or two, a pack of revving MXGP bikes or the din of thousands of cheers and fans’ airhorns, Matterley will again feel the noise of first-class motorsport in a matter of days and hours.
Penrite Honda Racing’s defending champion aims for fourth Wakefield overall.
Image: Foremost Media.
Reigning Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike champion Troy Herfoss is anticipating a share of uncertainty on Sunday in round two of the 2019 series at Wakefield Park after the front row was split by just 0.085s.
While Yamaha’s Cru Halliday took pole position with a record-braking 57.138s ahead of Wayne Maxwell (Team Suzuki Ecstar) and Herfoss today, it remains unclear who of the trio will be strongest over race distance.
Herfoss, who originates from Goulburn, has proven the king of Wakefield Park by winning every ASBK overall at the venue since 2016 and a fourth-consecutive ‘home’ win would be a remarkable feat at the conclusion of tomorrow’s two 20-lap races.
“The front row is really important here,” Herfoss told CycleOnline post-qualifying. “I mean, I would rather be on pole position, but the inside is probably a little bit safer going into turn one. Getting a few clear laps is the main thing.
“Guys passing each-other at the beginning of the race stretches everyone out, so if I can get away with Cru and Wayne – they’ve both got really good pace – that would be nice. We’ll see what happens after five or six laps, because I haven’t really seen anyone do a lot of laps in succession.
“I’m unsure of what tyre they were on in qualifying and how good they’re going to be after half-race distance, so the first race will be really interesting I think. You’ve got to ride your own race around here, because if you get sucked in with somebody else you can make a few mistakes around here.
“I know what I can do for the race, physically and with the bike, so if we can make a few improvements in warm-up I believe my pace is as good as the next guy’s. It’s then going to be a matter of being able to make passes when you can in the race.”
Wakefield Park has been on the Penrite Honda Racing team’s radar as an ideal location for Herfoss to regain points in the title-race, currently sixth after a lacklustre opening round at Phillip Island in February to begin his title defence.
In-form Kawasaki privateer makes gains by going through first ASBK session.
Image: Russell Colvin.
Leading Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship privateer Matt Walters has given the newly-introduced two-stage qualifying format his tick of approval at Wakefield Park.
Walters was 11th in this morning’s timed practice, which meant he had to transfer through Q1 if he were to further improve upon his grid position in Q2, which was exactly what he managed to do.
It was a particularly impressive showing from the Kawasaki-mounted series mainstay, eventually slotting his Ninja ZX-10RR into eighth on the grid for tomorrow’s pair of 20-lap races. He improved his personal best lap to 58.009s in the second outing, well within a second of pole.
“It’s not a bad structure because you get to kind of redeem yourself if you don’t have such a good timed practice,” Pirelli-equipped Walters told CycleOnline.com.au. “There’s definitely not as much traffic on the circuit, so that helps.
“I struggled a little bit in Q2 because we had to use two tyres in the first one just to get through – we didn’t have a fresh one left once we made the second session. That’s just how it goes, it’s a part of it.
“It wasn’t too bad though, we made the most of it and I was happy with how we ended up. I was just fortunate I didn’t have to do many laps on that tyre I ended up qualifying on in both Q1 and Q2. I took my time to go out in the second session and it paid off.”
The two-stage structure sees the top nine from the sole timed practice session go directly through to Q2, leaving riders below to take part in Q1. The top three riders from Q1 then move into Q2, both sessions 15 minutes in duration.
Goulburn talent Toparis to lead Supersport field from front of the grid.
Image: Russell Colvin.
Yamaha Racing Team’s Cru Halliday has captured pole position in Wakefield Park’s second round of the 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK).
Halliday recorded a flying 57.138s lap-time in Q2 of the revamped premier class qualifying format, a new best lap of the Goulburn facility.
A flurry of fast times were lodged in the closing moments of the 15-minute session, with Halliday edging former record-holder Wayne Maxwell (Team Suzuki Ecstar) by just 0.052s. Third was defending champion Troy Herfoss (Penrite Honda Racing).
No less than seven riders were within the 57s bracket, as DesmoSport Ducati replacement Mike Jones slotted into fourth, leading Daniel Falzon (Yamaha Racing Team), second of the Suzukis Josh Waters and round one winner Aiden Wagner (Landbridge Racing Yamaha).
After topping Q1 directly prior, last year’s privateer champion Matt Walters (Kawasaki) was an impressive eighth, while Bryan Staring (Kawasaki BCperformance) and triple champion Glenn Allerton (Maxima BMW) rounded out the top 10.
Image: Russell Colvin.
In Supersport qualifying it was points-leader Tom Toparis (Yamaha) who rode his YZF-R6 to pole position with a 59.399s, a few tenths shy of the circuit best lap set by Halliday one year ago.
While Goulburn local Toparis was 0.483s clear of the field out front, joining him on the front row will be fellow Yamaha-mounted rider Broc Pearson – the only other rider in the 59s – with Suzuki newcomer Reid Battye rounding out the top three.
Fourth on the grid is another rookie in Oli Bayliss (Cube Racing Yamaha), with the top 10 completed by Nic Liminton (Yamaha), Ty Lynch (Yamaha), Rhys Belling (Yamaha), Aidan Hayes (Yamaha), Dallas Skeer (Suzuki) and Sam Lambert (MV Agusta).
Image: Russell Colvin.
It was a tight opening affair in the YMI Supersport 300 category as pole-setter Max Stauffer pushed through on the final lap to deliver victory by just 0.069s on his YZF-R3.
Stauffer was involved in an entertaining duel with Ben Baker (Yamaha) and John Lytras (Yamaha) for position in the thrilling 10-lap battle, the trio eventually finishing in that order. Zac Levy and Locky Taylor filled the top five on their Yamahas.
2019 ASBK – Round Two
Wakefield Park Saturday Wrap
Australian Superbike qualifying has a new look for season 2019. A MotoGP style Saturday morning ‘Timed Practice’, ahead of a split qualifying session in the late afternoon. With 24 Superbike entries this weekend that meant that the fastest nine in the 35-minute Saturday morning session go straight through to ‘Q2’, while the slowest half of the grid fight it out first in Q1. With both of those sessions limited to only 15-minutes. Friday times have no bearing on today’s proceedings.
Mike Jones and the ASBK Superbike field head out of pit-lane – Image by Rob Mott
Troy Herfoss had been quickest on Friday with a 57.455 and the reigning champion did not join the circuit on Saturday until more than halfway through the 35-minute ‘Timed Practice’ session. His first flying lap at full pelt though was good enough to rocket past his competitors and top the timesheets, a 57.444. Herfoss then returned to the pits, his spot in Q2 almost certainly assured.
Troy Herfoss – Image by Rob Mott
Cru Halliday also left it until late in the session to secure his spot in Q2, second quickest on 57.602 ahead of Mike Jones, who is standing in for Troy Bayliss this weekend on the DesmoSport Ducati, and put in a 57.647.
Mike Jones – TBG Image
Daniel Falzon was fourth quickest ahead of Ecstar Suzuki duo Wayne Maxwell and Josh Waters.
Daniel Falzon – TBG Image
Aiden Wagner had a major tumble yesterday and is battling back up to full speed, a 58.320s his best after putting in an incredible 25-laps during the Saturday morning session. Wagner had been baulked by a number of riders that were let out of pit-lane in front of him on Friday, something that should not have happened, and was apologised for by M.A. officials. Wagner was left with one almost completely destroyed YZF-R1 as a result, a hefty blow to his privateer team finances. Wagner himself is also a bit battered and bruised but his injuries should hopefully not hold him back tomorrow as he sets out to defend his championship lead.
Aiden Wagner – TBG Image
Bryan Staring was the fastest Kawasaki, and leading Dunlop runner, in P8, ahead of Glenn Allerton. The BMW man the final rider to automatically garner a spot in Q2. New Zealand’s Damon Rees rounded out the Saturday morning ‘Timed Practice’ top ten.
Matt Walters – Image by Rob Mott
Those from P10 back, would start the Q1 session, from which the top three then have the option of also joining the Q2 session. However, no extra tyres are allocated for these riders. Thus unless they had found a lot of speed in that session, they might be unlikely to put wear on their tyres, at the risk of questionable gains when put in the Q2 mix with the fastest nine.
Saturday Superbike Timed Practice Results
Troy Herfoss – Honda 57.444
Cru Halliday – Yamaha 57.602
Mike Jones – Ducati 57.647
Daniel Falzon – Yamaha 57.666
Wayne Maxwell – Suzuki 57.812
Josh Waters – Suzuki 58.091
Aiden Wagner – Yamaha 58.320
Bryan Staring – Kawasaki 58.386
Glenn Allerton – BMW 58.444
Damon Rees – Honda 58.665
Matt Walters – Kawasaki 58.716
Alex Phillis – Suzuki 58.729
Glenn Scott – Kawasaki 58.916
Mark Chiodo – Honda 59.013
Lachlan Epis – Kawasaki 59.057
Ted Collins – BMW 59.301
Arthur Sissis – Suzuki 59.346
Sloan Frost – Suzuki 59.415
Brendan McIntyre – Suzuki 60.004
Phil Czaj – Aprilia 60.728
Will Davidson – Yamaha 61.194
Michael Edwards – Yamaha 61.740
Hamish McMurray – Kawasaki 61.885
Paul Van Her Heiden – BMW 62.860
Superbike Qualifying
The Q2 session for the slower half of the Superbike field got underway on schedule at 1445 as rain still threatened, but somehow managed to just keep slipping past Wakefield Park Raceway. The track temperature though had dropped a few degrees, down to 31-degrees celsius for the qualifying sessions. Many teams also had a wet-bike ready to roll, just in case the heavens did open at an inopportune time.
Mark Chiodo – TBG Image
Mark Chiodo was keen to make progress, a 58.796 immediately lowering his own marker from this morning and the quickest time set by the group of 15-riders taking part in Q1. That was until the half-way point of the 15-minute session, when Glenn Scott dropped in a 58.744 to push Chiodo back to P2.
Alex Phillis – Image by Rob Mott
Alex Phillis then gazumped them both with a 58.658, only for a matter of seconds though before New Zealander Damon Rees shot to the top with a 58.443s. Phillis then bettered him on the next lap to go back on top with a 58.386.
Matt Walters went out with a new rear bag and shot to the top with a 58.279. That time stood to the flag to make it a Walters, Phillis, Rees top three. That trio earning the right, should they choose, to join the fastest nine riders from this morning in another 15-minute session, Q2, after a 15-minute break.
The rain somehow managed to stay just outside the circuit when the timers started on the final 15-minute Q2 session that would decide the grid for Sunday’s 2 x 20-lap races.
Mike Jones was the first rider out of pit-lane and set a 57.910 on his first flying lap, then backed it up with a 57.865, followed by a 57.638.
Mike Jones – TBG Image
Daniel Falzon had been in second place behind Jones for almost the entire first half of that session, before the South Australian ran off the circuit. He eventually rejoined the circuit and continued to circulate, without returning to pit-lane, getting straight back down to business.
Daniel Falzon – Image by Rob Mott
With six-minutes remaining Troy Herfoss, Cru Halliday and Wayne Maxwell exited pit-lane for their final time attack. Provisional pole-sitter Mike Jones had also been in the pits, but re-joined the circuit with less than five-minutes to run.
Wayne Maxwell – Image by Rob Mott
It was on!
Cru Halliday dropped in a 57.138, followed by Maxwell on 57.190. That 57.138 by Halliday a new fastest ever motorcycle lap of the Wakefield Park Raceway. Herfoss dropped in a 57.429 to move up to P3, demoting Jones to P4. The reigning champion then improved further to 57.223, but remained P3.
Pole position to Cru Halliday!
Cru Halliday will start from pole position when the opening 20-lap Superbike race gets underway at 1140. Halliday also scores a championship point for that pole position which moves him onto 56-points, strengthening his second place in the championship standings behind series leader Aiden Wagner on 71-points.
Superbike Qualifying Results / Grid
Cru Halliday – Yamaha 57.138
Wayne Maxwell – Suzuki 57.190
Troy Herfoss – Honda 57.223
Mike Jones – Ducati 57.638
Daniel Falzon – Yamaha 57.698
Josh Waters – Suzuki 57.805
Aiden Wagner – Yamaha 57.904
Matt Walters – Kawasaki 58.009
Bryan Staring – Kawasaki 58.226
Glenn Allerton – BMW 58.260
Alex Phillis- Suzuki 58.386
Damon Rees – Honda 58.443
Glenn Scott – Kawasaki 58.564
Mark Chiodo – Honda 58.796
Lachlan Epis – Kawasaki 58.864
Ted Collins – BMW 59.100
Sloan Frost – Suzuki 59.155
Arthur Sissis – Suzuki 59.282
Brendan McIntyre – Suzuki 59.775
Phil Czaj – Aprilia 60.339
Will Davidson – Yamaha 60.780
Michael Edwards – Yamaha 61.544
Hamish McMurray – Kawasaki 62.263
Paul Van Der Heiden – BMW 62.385
Supersport 600
Oli Bayliss wrecked one of his Cube Racing YZF-R6 machines in morning qualifying. Along with Reid Battye, and Broc Pearson, Oli had found some more speed this morning, and were all pressing hard to try and close the gap to Supersport benchmark setter Tom Toparis. That trio still needed to find another half-a-second to get on terms with Toparis, but in Q1 they had managed to close the gap to half of what it was on Friday.
The Cube Racing crew were left with some work to do after Oli lost the front at turn nine in Q1.
The second 25-minute qualifying session got underway just after 1330, as rain loomed on the horizon. Riders had complained of a dirty track after QP1, due to dirt washed across the circuit during the heavy rain of Friday afternoon. It should have cleaned up a little after the other sessions had been on track. With the threat of rain hanging over their heads, competitors were eager to see if conditions had improved.
Tom Toparis – Image by Rob Mott
Tom Toparis dropped in a 59.638 to lower his morning marker. That time still a lot slower than those has recorded during testing here in the lead up to this round, but as good as he could manage on a track that was not offering up all that much grip.
Broc Pearson – TBG Image
Broc Pearson then went second quickest with 15-minutes remaining in the session. A 60.049 displacing Reid Battye out of that second spot.
Toparis then went out again and dropped in 59.399, further stretching away from his competitors. Broc Pearson then became the only other rider to record a sub-minute lap, a 59.882 to the young Queenslander. Toparis though kept banging in lap after lap in the mid 59s, underlining his race pace advantage over his competitors.
Tom Toparis – Image by Rob Mott
Supersport Qualifying Results
Tom Toparis – Yamaha 59.399
Broc Pearson – Yamaha 59.882
Reid Battye – Suzuki 60.130
Oli Bayliss – Yamaha 60.188
Nic Liminton – Yamaha 60.477
Ty Lynch – Yamaha 60.824
Rhys Belling – Yamaha 61.070
Aidan Hayes – Yamaha 61.110
Dallas Skeer – Suzuki 61.212
Chris Quinn – Yamaha 61.443
Sam Lambert – MV Agusta 61.506
Andrew Edser – Kawasaki 61.684
Jack Passfield – Yamaha 61.717
John Quinn – Triumph 62.827
Supersport 300
Qualifying was extra important for the YMI Supersport 300 category today. The short Wakefield Park circuit only has 34 grid spots allocated, yet there were 38 entries for the category, meaning that the slowest four would miss the cut and not get to race.
After recently turning 15, Max Stauffer is really starting to come of age. A race win late last season, followed by two race wins and the round win at the Phillip Island season opener last month, and today young Max set the fastest ever Supersport 300 lap of Wakefield Park to claim pole position.
Max Stauffer with dad Jamie, one of Australia’s most successful domestic road racers with two Australian Superbike Championships to his name, along with an Australian Supersport Championship – TDJ Image
Supersport 300 Qualifying Results
Max Stauffer – Yamaha 65.536
Ben Baker – Yamaha 66.114
Zac Levy – Yamaha 66.144
John Lytras – Yamaha 66.195
Locky Taylor – Yamaha 66.211
Hunter Ford – Yamaha 66.217
Travis Hall – Yamaha 66.285
Harry Khouri – Yamaha 66.405
Brandon Demmery – Yamaha 66.435
Yanni Shaw – 400 Kawasaki 66.475
Supersport 300 Race One
Underlining the popularity of the Supersport 300 category was the number of 600 Supersport competitors, and majority of the ASBK Superbike competitors, all lining the pit-wall to watch the start of the opening ten-lap race of the weekend.
Max Stauffer capitalised on his pole position to get away to an early break over Baker, Levy, Taylor, Lytras and Khouri. Harry Khouri was in fact the first one to break last year’s race lap record for the category, a 66.562. Only to bested on the next lap by Ben Baker who lowered the benchmark to 66.029 to catch and overhaul Max Stauffer.
Zac Levy then pulled a big out-braking move on Stauffer to push the championship leader back to third place. Stauffer got him back quickly, as a seven-rider freight train of junior two-wheel psychopaths commenced battle good and proper.
John Lytras then lowered the lap record to 65.974, pushing himself up to third place as Max Stauffer took the battle for the lead back up to Ben Baker. Lytras though had other ideas, pushing past Stauffer to take second place.
Two laps later Lytras then stole the lead from Baker as they approached the last lap board. Baker got him right back, Stauffer was still right in that mix too.
Max Stauffer wins the Supersport 300 opener by a nose – TBG Image
The Kurri Kurri youngster got the tactical advantage though on the run out of the final turns to put in his fastest lap on that final circuit. Stauffer taking victory by a nose over Baker, while Lytras rounded out the podium.
Supersport 300 Race One Results
Max Stauffer – Yamaha
Ben Baker – Yamaha +0.069
John Lytras – Yamaha +0.208 – TBG Image
Supersport 300 Race One Results
Max Stauffer – Yamaha
Ben Baker – Yamaha +0.069
John Lytras – Yamaha +0.208
Zac Levy – Yamaha +1.090
Locky Taylor – Yamaha +1.594
Harry Khouri – Yamaha +1.940
Travis Hall – Yamaha +1.975
Brandon Demmery – Yamaha +10.012
Senna Agius – 400 Kawasaki +10.022
Tristan Adamson – Yamaha +14.975
Seth Crump – KTM +15.631
Supersport 300 Race One Results
Max Stauffer – Yamaha
Ben Baker – Yamaha +0.069
John Lytras – Yamaha +0.208 – – TBG Image
YMF R3 Cup Qualifying Results
Max Stauffer 65.555
Ben Baker 65.664
John Lytras 65.791
Locky Taylor 66.089
Zac levy 66.168
Hunter Ford 66.230
Harry Khouri 66.583
Brandon Demmery 66.598
Travis Hall 66.633
Kyle O’Connell 67.255
YMF R3 Cup Race One
Max Stauffer had taken pole position in the YMF R3 Cup category and started with Ben Baker and John Lytras alongside him on the front row. That trio had also finished in that order in the opening Supersport 300 race earlier in the day.
In this bout though Ben Baker managed to loft the front off the line and clashed with Max Stauffer but the two youngsters stayed upright to lead the field through turn one for the first time as Lytras, Levy, Taylor and Ford gave chase.
After reviewing the start-line footage though the officials handed Ben Baker a 10-second jump-start time penalty. That 10-seconds to be added to his final race time, despite him tussling for the lead on track with Lytras and Stauffer.
Locky Taylor, Hunter Ford and Harry Khouri also still had their hat in the ring for a possible podium as the race broached the halfway stage of its eight-lap distance.
Max Stauffer though had the smarts on his competitors to do it once again and took victory by five-hundredths-of-a-second over Ben Baker with John Lytras rounding out the podium ahead of Hunter Ford. Once that ten-second penalty was applied though Hunter Ford moved forward place to take up a step on the rostrum, as Baker was demoted to ninth place.
YMF R3 Cup Race One Results
Max Stauffer
John Lytras +0.052
Hunter Ford +0.588
Locky Taylor +0.713
Harry Khouri +1.083
Zac Levy +1.0337
Travis Hall +1.494
Brandon Demmery +4.379
Ben Baker +10.050 (10-second penalty)
Luke Johnston +13.142
Mitch Kuhne +15.455
Zylas Bunting +15.506
Tristan Adamson +17.693
Jacob Roulstone +19.116
Reece Oughtred +29.815
Keegan Pickering +34.197
John Blenkin +38.096
Ryan Smith +39.582
Kyle O’Connell +39.617
Kristian Agostini +46.310
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
The 2019 bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup is bursting into life for the first time ever at Wakefield Park this weekend in what is the opening round for the new junior Road Race academy.
All riders are on a control spec’ Yamaha YZF-R15, and are serviced and transported between the rounds by Yamaha Australia. Before each round all the bikes are run on the dyno to ensure parity, a proper controlled category.
The bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup features a field of ambitious young riders looking to become the first to claim an Oceania Junior Cup round, and make an initial claim for one of the five positions in the 2019 Asia Talent Cup Selection Event, and a potential place in the 2019 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Selection Event.
Staking that first claim today was Cros Francis when he topped the opening qualifying session by over half-a-second from Carter Thompson and Glenn Nelson.
Rain was threatening on the horizon as the riders exited pit-lane for the final 15-minute qualifying session at 1405 on Saturday afternoon. Late in that Q2 session pacesetter Cros Francis went down at turn two but was up and okay.
Few riders managed to improve on their morning markers. The only riders in the top ten to impove their standings was Angus Grenfell who moved up to P5, and Max Gibbons who moved up to P7. Thus Cros Francis takes the inaugural bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup pole position.
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup Qualifying Results
Cros Francis 75.747
Carter Thompson 76.378
Glenn Nelson 76.521
Jacob Roulstone 76.836
Angus Grenfell 77.037
Lucas Quinn 77.247
Max Gibbons 77.424
Marianos Nikolis 77.444
Tom Drane 77.739
Jacob Hatch 77.992
Reece Oughtred 78.095
Archie McDonald 78.244
Zak Pettendy 78.308
Cormac Buchanan 78.312
Jai Russo 78.715
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup Race One
No sooner were they underway than we had a red flag situation with after Max Gibbons went down at turn two, and was in an unsafe position.
We were quickly underway again with Jacob Roulstone and Glenn Nelson the early pacesetters throughout the opening lap.
Carter Thompson then took the lead on lap three as Roulstone, Nelson, pole-sitter Cros Francis, and Angus Grenfell gave chase. Nelson the fastest youngster on lap three, a 66.542. Marianos Nikolis though bettered that benchmark on the penultimate lap with a 66.094 to move up to fifth place.
11-year-old Carter Thompson the first ever race winner in the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup.
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup Race One Results
Carter Thompson
Glenn Nelson +0.079
Cros Francis +0.159
Jacob Roulstone +0.226
Marianos Nikolis +0.453
Angus Grenfell +0.729
Tom Drane +4.927
Cormac Buchanan +11.541
Jai Russo +11.819
Zac Pettendy +12.102
Reece Oughtred +12.356
Archie McDonald +13.086
Lincoln Knight +24.885
Tom Connors +32.287
Hunter Diplock +36.152
Jamie Port +36.840
Varis Fleming +36.884
Alex Kenworthy-Jones +38.006
Patrick Bognar +38.061
Dominic Fletcher +38.144
Toby James +59.573
Sidecars Race One
Three-wheelers make up part of the ASBK action this weekend in Goulburn with the Horsell Consulting backed sidecar category making their first appearance for the year.
The Suzuki powered LCR outfit of Howard Ford and Lee Menzies started the opening eight-lap bout from pole position but it was Western Australians Jero Joyce and Corey Blackman tussling it out up front with the Corey/Danyon Turner outfit when the opening race got underway just after midday.
As the race wore on the WA duo eventually managed to break clear from the pack and score a 1.5-second victory. The Turners just managed to stave off a late race attach from Steve Bayliss and Aaron Wilson to claim second.
Sidecars Race One Results
Joyce/Blackman
Turner/Turner +1.525
Bayliss/Wilson +1.853
Ford/Menzies +5.993
Brown/Sheldrick +18.564
Clancy/Dawson +19.702
Alton/Clancy +21.628
Edis/Schluter +21.905
Reynolds/Warne +38.532
Underwood/Ford +39.309
Sidecars Race Two
Corey and Danyon Turner won the second Sidecar bout but Joyce and Blackman set a new lap record on their way to second place, a 65.336.
Honda Motorcycle fearlessly challenged the four-stroke gasoline-powered status quo today with the unveiling of its CR Electric prototype at the Tokyo Motorcycle Show. Dubbed the “E. Rex Prototype,” the electric motorcycle features a chassis based on a CRF250R and a motor built with the help of M-TEC (Mugen), makers of the Mugen Shinden electric superbike which has won the Isle of Man TT Zero race five consecutive times. It is fully functional and has been ridden on Honda’s test course.
The Honda CR Electric prototype is powered by a Maxwell Li-ion battery. From its aluminum twin-spar frame to its Showa suspension, the electric motorcrosser looks primed for some Glen Helen action.
“The goal of the prototype is to continue development of on- and off-road EV motorcycles on a performance level,” stated Colin Miller, American Honda’s public relations officer.
One of the smartest things Honda’s R&D Department did was to make the CR Electric prototype look like a conventional, combustion-powered motorcycle, from giving it a mock cylinder head to using a standard side cover. Keeping things familiar will go a long way toward the mainstream embracing an electric motorcycle.
With the recent announcement that Alta Motors was shuttering production, it’s refreshing to see a major player like Honda grabbing the reins in the wide-open electric dirt bike realm. While it is ultimately just a prototype, we wouldn’t be surprised to see this thing in production sooner more so than later. Honda has already been developing replaceable battery packs with Panasonic, so it will be interesting to see what direction it takes as it pushes the development of electric dirt bikes forward.
Shoulder injury sidelines Red Bull KTM teenager ahead of Matterley Basin.
Image: Supplied.
Defending MX2 world champion Jorge Prado has been ruled out of this weekend’s British grand prix at Matterley Basin after injuring his shoulder in training.
The 18-year-old Spaniard won both motos in Argentina’s opening round, however an incident a fortnight ago has become more severe than initially expected.
“After such a strong start to the season for the team and Jorge it is disappointing for everyone that he and Jeffrey [Herlings] are now missing Matterley Basin and the first European round of 2019,” said Claudio De Carli, Red Bull KTM team manager.
“Unfortunately this is part of the sport but, fortunately, it could be worse and we hope Jorge will be back on the bike very quickly. We’re in good shape and we are confident, and we believe this will not be such a big setback for us in what is a long season.”
A detailed medical examination in Belgium revealed a haematoma under the left shoulder blade was causing the discomfort experienced while he tried to continue training. He’s now been advised to rest and will potentially return for Valkenswaard.
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