2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship

Maxima BMW Set for titanic tussle in rural Victoria

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Round five of the seven-round Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) gets underway this weekend at the tight and technical country Victorian venue of Winton and a new look Maxima BMW squad are hoping to get back on track in the best way possible with a great points haul.

Glenn Allerton was forced to sit on the sidelines at the previous Morgan Park round due to wrist injuries, but the three-time champ will make his long-awaited return to top flight competition this weekend.

At the recent two-day Winton test Allerton focused on getting his #14 BMW S 1000RR and himself ready for battle. He is going in while still a little wounded, and was searching for a suspension set-up that would help ease the load on his troublesome wrist. 

Glenn Allerton

“The physiotherapy after the test has definitely helped with the inflammation in the joint, and apart from the small teething issues we had, the team and I made some big steps forward in terms of suspension. I really feel like the changes we made over the two days benefitted me quite a lot. I’m sure at the end of the three practice sessions come Friday, we will have a good setting heading into Saturday’s qualifying and the races for Sunday.”

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Aaron Morris heads into his third Australian Superbike Championship start in the premier class with confidence after a solid weekend at Morgan Park Raceway in July and a positive test at Winton two weeks ago.

“Once I got the hang of Winton at the test, I actually started to really enjoy the circuit,” explained Morris. “At first, I didn’t really know what to expect, but in the end, it was a lot of fun aboard the Maxima BMW S 1000RR, it’s quite technical and flowing. The team and I walked away from the test in a positive state of mind. In saying that, we know we still have a little bit of pace to find. I’m not too stressed, as we have three thirty-minute practice sessions on Friday to try a few more things on the bike and get a few more laps around the circuit. I believe we’ll be in for the hunt come qualifying and the races.”

With two Australian Superbike round starts under his belt now, Morris also explained that he now understands more about what he can get out of both himself and the overall bike setup.

“Obviously I knew my fitness had to step up to another level before I went into round four, which I have been working on very hard at late. But the main thing I took from Morgan Park, which I can apply to this weekend, is just understanding what the bike does from the start of the race, compared to the end of the race. I feel a lot more confident about the races from here on in the rest of the season, so I’m expecting to be able to deliver good results for the Next Gen Motorsports team and their sponsors,” concluded the 27-year-old.

Maxima BMW’s Team Manager, Wayne Hepburn is optimistic about this weekend for both Allerton and Morris.

“The test at Winton Motor Raceway proved two things; one, Glenn is getting closer to full fitness every day, which is a credit to him and his hunger to keep fighting on to achieve good results and two; Aaron keeps getting faster and faster every time he gets on the bike,” said Hepburn.

Hepburn also explained that Maxima BMW’s Chief Technical Officer Shane Kinderis is back for this round after returning from race duties overseas.

“While the team generally know which direction to go in regards to machine set-up, it will certainly help that little bit more having Shane back for the round so he can ‘sprinkle that last bit of fairy dust’ over the bikes.”

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2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championships Calendar

• Round 5: Winton Motor Raceway, VIC – 6-8 September 2019
• Round 6: Phillip Island GP Circuit, VIC – 4-6 October 2019
• Round 7: Sydney Motorsport Park, NSW – 1-3 November 2019

Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship Standings

Source: MCNews.com.au

2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship

Winton Motor Raceway – Round 5 Preview

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Mike Jones has announced he’s all set for the return of the Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship to Winton Motor Raceway next weekend (September 6-8), where the rider will be looking to extend his one-point championship lead on the DesmoSport Ducati, with three remaining rounds left to run.

Mike Jones currently sits on 184-points, a point ahead of Cru Halliday, while Bryan Staring sits in third on 176-points. Troy Herfoss currently sits fourth with 169-points, with Wayne Maxwell a further 11-points behind completing the top five, with Josh Waters a single point further back.

Championship leader Jones is upbeat heading into Round 5 at Winton, sharing, “I’m riding better than I ever have.” Here’s what he had to say ahead of Round 5.

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What’s been the reasons behind your good form that sees you sitting atop the ASBK Championship table?

MJ: It’s a combination of things, but it’s mostly down to DesmoSport Ducati team’s effort because I’ve got a group of guys who are just as committed and passionate as I am. I think I’m riding better than I ever have and I put that down to the past two seasons riding in the Spanish Championship. It’s helped me develop as a rider and I’m at the top of my game. Additionally, in my opinion, I believe I’m on the best bike in the field.

How tough has the competition been in the ASBK Championship in 2019?

MJ: It’s the toughest it’s ever been! I didn’t foresee the Championship being so close and it’s one of the closest Championships we’ve had in Australian Superbikes. It’s great for the riders, and the spectators, too.

What do you need to do well for the remainder of the season to give yourself the best chance of winning the Championship?

MJ: I just need to be on top of my game every time I hit the track because everyone is really racing well. Both the team and I need to give 100 per cent, and I believe we’ve done that, so we’ll just keep doing what we’re doing.

What does the future hold for you?

MJ: Ultimately, my goal is to race in the World Superbikes, and it’s been a goal since I was a kid. Winning the Australian Championship is very beneficial for assisting me to get a ride overseas. Right now, though, the market is very tough over there and there’s not a lot of positions available, so I’m just taking one step at a time. The way I’m riding in ASBK I’m very comfortable here in Australia, but we’ll see what the final result is in the Championship. We’re in a results-based industry, so we’ll see how we go at the end of the year.

What do you do away from the track in your personal time?

MJ: When I’m away from the track my focus is still heavily on racing. I spend my time training on a bicycle and at the gym trying to stay fit. I also love to have fun with my girlfriend, family and friends because they ease my mind and take my entire focus off the motorbike.

Tickets are now on sale for Spokes.com.au presents Round 5 of 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship at Winton Motor Raceway from September 6-8. Head to ASBK.com.au (link) for more info or to purchase.

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2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championships Calendar

• Round 5: Winton Motor Raceway, VIC – 6-8 September 2019
• Round 6: Phillip Island GP Circuit, VIC – 4-6 October 2019
• Round 7: Sydney Motorsport Park, NSW – 1-3 November 2019

Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship Standings

Source: MCNews.com.au