Image: Russell Colvin.

Reigning ASBK champion Troy Herfoss has secured pole position in the Superbike support class at Phillip Island’s Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.

The Penrite Honda Racing ace set a time of 1m32.171s, comfortably edging out former multi-time Superbike world champion Troy Bayliss (DesmoSport Ducati), who made his return aboard the Panigale V4 with a 1m32.789s lap.

Maxima BMW’s Glenn Allerton was third fastest with a lap of 1m34.283s, the former ASBK champion debuting the new BMW S 1000RR.

Jed Metcher (Suzuki) was fourth followed by Mark Chiodo (Penrite Honda Racing), while the top 10 was rounded out by Lachlan Epis (Kawasaki), Dean Hasler (BMW), Phillip Czaj (Aprilia), Ryan Taylor (Yamaha) and Luke Follacchio (BMW).

Image: Russell Colvin.

In the Supersport 300 class, Matthew Rindel (Yamaha) dominated the opening race with an incredible 21.911s victory over Cooper Corbet (Yamaha) and Zane Kinna (Yamaha).

Patrick Bognar (Yamaha) was fourth ahead of Josh Noden (Yamaha), while ASBK regular and early front-runner Luke Jhonston (Kawasaki) was forced to retire from the outing.

Both categories will be back on track tomorrow for racing, as the grand prix classes take on qualifying.

Detailed results