At four-years-old Cameron Swain had a crash on his brand-new Yamaha PW50 and hung up his boots swearing he wouldn’t ride again. Fast forward nine years and he is Australia’s latest motorcycle racing rising star and hot property, winning last weekend’s 2021 bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup title after what can only be described as the perfect season.
Unlike recent OJC recruits, the 13-year-old from Queensland didn’t come from a dirt track or motocross background, he ventured into racing on a Metrakit 80, eventually going through the North Coast Road Racers and MotoStars Junior program run by former Australian MotoGP rider, OJC and GTR MotoStars Team Coach, Damian Cudlin.
Swain’s 2021 season over three rounds and nine races of a COVID interrupted mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul, saw him amass a super impressive six wins, two second places and one third – the only OJC rider to podium at every race, had never crashed in two years, and won the 2021 title by 56 points.
Cameron Swain – Image by RBMotoLens
His small build and raw talent, as the youngest competitor in the field, was noticed immediately in 2020 from the opening round the at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit where he battled with the front runners finishing in sixth place. No mean feat as the OJC competition is intense and often with three-quarters of the field covered by only a second or two.
Swain would finish the 2020 Championship in fourth place, a year in which he learnt the importance of race-craft and suspension set-up.
Cameron Swain – Image by RBMotoLens
Cameron Swain: “At the end of last year, we had a bad set-up all weekend and we were talking to Oceania Junior Cup Technical Manager Trevor Manly, as at that time as people were telling us the set-up was right, but I was struggling all weekend. I had a look at the front runner’s suspension set-up and made those changes and I ended up on the podium. I discovered it was all about suspension, pre-load, ride height, not just about riding. People think it just comes down to the good rider, but if you have crap settings its never going to work.”
Swain said his father Jason was always on the phone to Manly, searching for answers for the right set-up.
Swain: “We would be at Morgan Park all the time and I’d get into tyre slides, and we would call Trevor and he would tell us what to do. Also, Joe Salter from Ride Dynamics who is a suspension tech, and rider coaching was helping me a lot. We would call him and or Trevor and they would tell us what to change and we just kept on improving.”
Cameron Swain at the 2021 OJC opener at Wakefield Park – Image RbMotoLens
Swain admits he also needed to make adjustments to his riding style if he was to compete at the front of the pack 2021.
Swain: “Joe is not a bad rider himself and Stephanie Redman also helped with coaching advice. I needed to improve on the way I tipped in into the corner, where I looked through the corner, and my braking into a corner. I learnt how to use less brake to have more speed into the corner, as I’d brake late and really hard, but I’d lose too much speed and slow down in the corners. It was really Trevor who helped us sort out the forks and how they should be, in particular spring rates and fork height, and we have pretty much set that and stuck to it for the whole year. Between the two of them we found this awesome set-up.”
Cameron Swain leads the Oceania Junior Cup – Image RbMotoLens
The OJC class is where riders not only learn the importance of suspension, ride heights, health and fitness, but also the importance of slip-streaming to not only qualify well, but also to utilise it on track to win races.
For Swain however, he was often qualifying on clear track away from other riders, something he preferred, and which helped him qualify at the top, and start the races from the front row.
Swain: “The way I did it (to win the title) on my own was pure corner speed, they would use less corner speed and they would catch me on the straights slip-streaming, but because I gained my speed on the corners where they would lose so much, they couldn’t gain on the straights.”
Cameron Swain and Hayden Nelson at Wakefield Park – Image Neil Cameron
Swain admitted he didn’t think at the start of the year he would be crowned a Champion.
2021 ASBK Championshi – Image RbMotoLens
Swain: “But I was on the podium at every race, and it felt great getting the photos on the straight with the other champions Wayne Maxwell (Superbike), Broc Pearson (Supersport), and Ben Baker (Supersport 300 and R3 Cup), as it was always a dream. I saw Carter Thompson (2019 OJC and 2020 R3 Cup Champion) do it and I was working my hardest to get there, I knew I had a good shot at it this year and I knew this was the year to pull it out. It is pretty good; I got the most podiums and victories and for me this was more exciting to me.
“Beating Carters records as he is a pretty big name at the moment is a cool thing. I teared up on the in lap, I still had that feeling where I wanted to win that race but wrapping it up with two races to go was just awesome as the next two races, I could just go for it and not worry about crashing. The emotions kicked in on the in lap, thinking about the whole year, and when I came and hugged Dad and a good mate of mine Johnny Lytras and Aaron, it was pretty cool.”
While the ASBK season is over, the Swain clan now turn their attention to 2022, and it seems Cameron is hot property with a number of Supersport 300 and R3 Cup teams, as well as teams from the British Talent Cup that are interested in the young man’s talents.
Cameron Swain – Image by RBMotoLens
Swain has big dreams and plans for the future and hopes to one day make it to MotoGP.
While the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup title was run and won yesterday by Cameron Swain, there was no rest for Australia’s youngest riders in races 2 and 3 of the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul.
The Oceania Junior Cup has provided sensational action not just over the weekend but all year.
Every session has provided handlebar-to-handlebar action throughout Friday’s practice, yesterday’s qualifying and first race where 13-year-old Queenslander Swain claimed his maiden Championship title after a dominating performance this year.
Race 2 started with the usual Oceania Junior Cup fury as Swain, Larkin, Sam Drane, Ryan Larkin, Nate O’Neill, Hudson Thompson, Harrison Watts and Levi Russo jostled for position on the opening lap at the front of the pack.
With riders sometimes four-wide going into corners battling over the same patch of bitumen on lap 4, it was Thompson who came off second best crashing out of the race. Pending any appeals, Hayden Nelson was later relegated 3 positions as he was deemed to have caused the crash causing the red flag
The race was declared with Swain taking top spot, Drane 2nd and Larkin in 3rd.
Race Two was declared with Swain taking top spot, Drane 2nd and Larkin in 3rd – Image by Optikal
Pos
Name
Bike
Time/Gap
Speed
1
Cameron SWAIN
Yamaha YZF-R15
7m50.558
134
2
Sam DRANE
Yamaha YZF-R15
+0.058
136
3
Ryan LARKIN
Yamaha YZF-R15
+0.110
134
4
Hayden NELSON
Yamaha YZF-R15
+0.244
135
5
Nate O’NEILL
Yamaha YZF-R15
+0.321
139
6
Harrison WATTS
Yamaha YZF-R15
+0.527
141
7
Levi RUSSO
Yamaha YZF-R15
+0.883
138
8
Rikki HENRY
Yamaha YZF-R15
+6.520
139
9
Marcus HAMOD
Yamaha YZF-R15
+8.733
134
10
Varis FLEMING
Yamaha YZF-R15
+8.757
135
11
William HUNT
Yamaha YZF-R15
+8.940
140
12
Cameron RENDE
Yamaha YZF-R15
+9.404
138
13
Bodie PAIGE
Yamaha YZF-R15
+9.455
142
14
Valentino KNEZOVIC
Yamaha YZF-R15
+9.519
141
15
Teerin FLEMING
Yamaha YZF-R15
+9.716
139
16
Toby JAMES
Yamaha YZF-R15
+17.155
132
17
Lachlan MOODY
Yamaha YZF-R15
+21.354
133
18
Elijah ANDREW
Yamaha YZF-R15
+52.319
132
DSQ
Hudson THOMPSON
Yamaha YZF-R15
+0.492
142
DSQ
Jack FAVELLE
Yamaha YZF-R15
+1 Lap
92
Race 3 would see Larkin jump out in front the pack with Watts, Swain, O’Neill, Nelson and Levi Russo hot on his tail.
Marcus Hamod would crash on lap 2 as he was attempting to stay with the front bunch.
The battle continued at the front with riders swapping positions as often as corners came up.
On lap 4 Larkin managed to gain a small gap on the pack as they diced amongst themselves.
On the final lap Larkin had a 0.828 lead on the chasing pack which was enough of a gap for him to take victory as Swain, Nelson, and Russo battled to the line, with Swain finishing 2nd and Nelson 3rd.
OJC Round Podium – Ryan Larkin, Cameron Swain and Hayden Nelson – Image RbMotoLens
The 2022 bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup will field the brightest young talent from Australia and New Zealand in 2022, in the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul.
In its fourth year, the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup, Motorcycling Australia’s junior road race academy, has already catapulted riders into international competitions such as the Asia Talent Cup, Red Bull Rookies Cup, European Talent Cup and the Moto3 Junior World Cup.
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup – Image by RBMotoLens
Officially supported by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM), FIM Oceania and recognised by Dorna Sports sl, as part of the Road to MotoGP program, the OJC program is already proving to be the international springboard it was intended to be.
The bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup provides some of the most spectacular racing in the world. Next year, a full grid of 20 riders has been confirmed who will ride the new race prepped 2022 Yamaha R15 V3.
The 2022 season will see nine new riders debut with the return of 11 riders from the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup 2021 year.
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup – Image by Rob Mott
The youngest rider joining the paddock is Hunter Corney from Gowrie Junction, Queensland, who will just scrape in on the 11-year-old cut off, with the eldest newcomer 15-year-old Cameron Rende from Could Creek, South Australia. New Zealander Nixon Frost, an 11-years-old from Lower Hutt, and 15-year-old Western Australian Abbie Cameron from Cardup, are just some of the new talent that will be racing in the OJC in 2022.
Riders competing in the 2022 Championship are provided with a race-prepped Yamaha R15, leathers, helmets, boots and glove, transportation of bikes, pre-event service of bikes, technical support, spare parts budget, and OJC team uniform.
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
Riders competing in the 2022 Championship will receive full technical support from the OJC technicians and elite coaching to help develop their bike skills and technique, health and fitness, sportsmanship, and off-track activities such as fan and media engagement.
One look at a bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup race video was all it took for Elijah Andrew to make the switch from motocross into the youngest feeder category of road racing.
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup – Image RbMotoLens
Until this year, the 11-year-old from Marayong, NSW, had never ridden a road bike, but had competed in motocross and Minikhana since the age of four where he started on a PW50 before progressing to a KTM 50, KTM 65, Husqvarna 65 and a Husqvarna 85.
Since joining the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup aboard the factory prepped Yamaha YZF-R15, he hasn’t looked back.
Elijah Andrew
“My dad showed me a video of an Oceania Junior Cup race and he asked me if I wanted to do it one day and I said yes and he signed me up straight away. It was very hard at first, I had to learn the bike, the riding style, the gears and the handlebars, as it was the opposite of what I was used to on a dirt bike. I wasn’t sure how I was going to go, but I went really good.”
Elijah Andrew – ASBK bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
Elijah’s first weekend on track, Round 2 of ASBK at Winton Motor Raceway, may have been a learning experience but he impressed straight away, smashing his lap times by more than 30 seconds from the first time on track to the end of race weekend.
Elijah’s goal for the year was to score a top ten finish in the Championship.
At Round 3, at Wakefield Park Raceway, he not only improved his lap times in every session but scored his first top ten finish – a ninth – in race 2 at Wakefield.
“My goal was to at least get a top 10 finish this year, but I already got a top ten finish. I was really excited as I started 17th and finished 9th so I was really happy about that.”
Oceania Junior Cup – Image Rob Mott
Elijah is ecstatic with his move to Motorcycling Australia’s junior road racing academy – the Oceania Junior Cup.
“I love racing bikes really fast and its great because the Oceania Junior Cup bikes are all the same. You make new friends and I enjoy working with the mechanics on how to set up the bikes better and working with our coach Damian Cudlin. I’m excited to learn a new track each time I go out. You get to ride really fast, talk with your friends as well as make new friends.”
He hopes to one day replicate the success of his own heroes, ASBK Champions Desmosport Ducati’s Mike Jones and Boost Mobile with K-Tech’s Wayne Maxwell.
“I met Mike at the official ASBK marshals barbecue and talked to him at Wakefield. I will definitely do OJC next year and eventually I want to go into MotoGP and win a MotoGP Championship.”
ASBK bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup – Image by RBMotoLens
It was Elijah’s Dad Noel – himself a road and recreational dirt bike rider – that got him interested in the sport of motorcycling.
“It’s really good to have Dad supporting me, he teaches and helps me a lot. Big thanks also to Motorcycling Australia and ASBK for putting this championship on and to all our sponsors.”
Away from racing Elijah keeps himself busy with scouts, gymnastics and riding his mountain bike to keep fit and healthy when he isn’t attending school at St Andrews Primary in Marayong.
Elijah is definitely a rider to watch in the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup as part of the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul.
Elijah Andrew – ASBK bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
For those interested, the opportunity to join the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup in 2022 is now open.
Expressions of interest for riders to compete in the 2022 bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup are open for riders aged between 11 and under 16.
The OJC provides 20 riders with identical race machines, and victory comes down to a rider’s ability to get the most out of themselves and their Yamaha YZF-R15.
The focus of the OJC program is the development of junior riders, both on and off-track, providing riders with the skills and knowledge about training, nutrition, media and bike skills.
Expressions of interest for 2022 are now being accepted online at the ASBK website (here).
Hudson Thompson set for Oceania Junior Cup campaign
Hudson Thompson, younger brother of ASBK two-time Champion Carter, has some big shoes to fill, as the 2021 bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup debutant paves his future in the sport.
Hudson Thompson
Racing is definitely in the genes of the Thompson family, with older brother Carter, the 2019 Oceania Junior Cup and 2020 YMI R3 Cup Champion, and is this year competing in both the Dunlop Supersport 300 and Yamaha Finance R3 Cup, as well as the Asia Talent Cup.
Hudson, the 11-year-old from Charmhaven on the NSW Central Coast in his first year in the Championship, already has people in the Australian Superbike Championship, paddock talking about his ability and skill and are predicting a bright future in the sport.
Hudson, who initially wasn’t keen on motorcycles, has come through the dirt track ranks, getting into the sport aged 7 after watching his older brother ride.
From riding a KTM 50 on dirt track to joining the MotoStars training academy, run by former MotoGP rider and Oceania Junior Cup Official Coach, Damian Cudlin, Hudson made his debut this year in the Ocean Junior Cup.
Damian Cudlin
“Being compared to Carter all the time wouldn’t be easy, but sharing a household with him does have its advantages – he has a great training partner and they push each other a lot. Hudson is certainly a very talented rider in his own right, and when he’s happy and feeling good, he can be very, very fast. Having coached him for a long time now, I think once he gets a taste of the podium in OJC, he’ll be there all the time. I’m looking forward to seeing that, and where he can take it from there.”
Oceania Junior Cup – Image RbMotoLens
After two rounds of competition, Hudson sits in sixth place in the Championship on 80 points and is only six-points away from breaking into the top three. An impressive result for a rider who spent little time on track in 2020 because of COVID-19 and only rode the Oceania Junior Cup factory prepped Yamaha YZF-R15 for the first time at Round 2, Winton Motor Raceway this year.
While he dreams of one day following in the footsteps of his heroes Damian Cudlin and Jack Miller, for now he is just concentrating on meeting goals he has set for himself this year and is pleased with his first two round results.
Hudson Thompson
“I was a bit nervous because it was my first ever race on a big track and it had a lot of Aussie title stars there too. I was just happy I got through it and didn’t crash. I’ve improved a heap and think I have done really good so far. I expected to be in the top ten this year, but I didn’t really expect to be going this well early in the season. It’s a pretty tight championship and I hope to finish in the top 5 by the end of the year and to get some podiums. I definitely think that’s achievable, but I just have to work hard.”
Hudson Thompson
In between rounds Hudson keeps himself busy with plenty of walking, running, and mountain biking to stay fit. Hudson is also a big fan of the Oceania Junior Cup program.
“I like how it teaches race craft and how there is a coach and mechanics always there for us and they give us heaps of knowledge. We are all really close, but on the track you have to be a bit selfish to get the positions you want. There are a lot of different types of riders in the OJC and different skills, I feel like OJC is a very good tool for us to get a lot of knowledge about racing.”
Hudson has already mapped out his racing future with another year in OJC, before he wants to tackle the Asia Talent Cup which he hopes will open doors on the way to a MotoGP ride one day.
Expressions of interest to compete in the 2022 bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup are now open for riders aged between 11 and under 16, and can be accessed here (link).
The OJC provides 20 riders with identical race machines, and victory comes down to a rider’s ability to get the most out of themselves and their Yamaha YZF-R15.
Riders receive race weekend technical and coaching support on how to get the best out of their Yamaha and themselves.
Full racing gear is supplied including OJC signature leathers by Ricondi, team uniform, helmets, boots and gloves.
The focus of the OJC program is the development of junior riders, both on and off-track, providing riders with the skills and knowledge about training, nutrition, media and bike skills.
2021 ASBK Championship Calendar (Updated)
Round 1 Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC February 18-21 Cancelled
Round 2 Winton Motor Raceway, Benalla, VIC March 12-14
Round 3 Wakefield Park Raceway, Goulburn, NSW April 16-18
Round 4 Hidden Valley Raceway, NT – Supercars 2+4 (Superbikes only) June 18-20
Round 5 Morgan Park Raceway, QLD August 20-22
Round 6 The Bend Motorsport Park, Tailem Bend, SA September 23-26
Round 7 Wakefield Park Raceway, Goulburn, NSW October 15 – 17 *
Round 8 Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC November 5-7 *
bLU cRU OJC joins Australian 2020 MotoGP & WSBK rounds
It’s been announced by MA that Australia’s bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup will join the 2020 Australian World Superbike and MotoGP championship rounds, both held at Phillip Island in the new year, giving the young up and coming racers an opportunity to show their talent on the world stage.
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup – Image by Rob Mott
Officially recognised by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) and Dorna Sports sl as part of the Road to MotoGP program, after only one season the Motorcycling Australia Australian Junior Road Race Academy initiative has secured a spot at the two international events, alongside four Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) rounds for its 2020 calendar.
The Oceania Junior Cup will kick off in 2020 at the Official ASBK Pre-Season test at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit (January 29-30), before the season starts in earnest at the WorldSBK at Phillip Island (February 27).
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup – Image by Rob Mott
Next the Juniors will travel to Wakefield Park in Goulburn alongside the ASBK for Round 2 over the March 27-29 weekend, followed by a mid-year test at Morgan Park in Queensland held July 28-29, before Round 3 at the same venue on August 7-9.
Winton will hold Round 4, over the September 11-13 weekend, with Round 5 returning to Phillip Island in early October, followed by the season closer in late October, with Round 6 to run October 23-25, alongside the MotoGP.
Motorcycling Australia Operations Director, Martin Port, said the addition of OJC to the WorldSBK and MotoGP calendar, was further evidence of the success and worldwide recognition of the academy.
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup – Image by Rob Mott
Martin Port – MA Operations Director
“It’s an understatement to say the inaugural season of OJC has exceeded our expectations – with lap records, ridiculously close racing, the show has simply been world class. Then to have had the opportunity to send our OJC kids to the Red Bull Rookies Cup and the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup (IATC) selection events, with the only two new Aussie recruits into the IATC coming from the OJC, we couldn’t be prouder. Now, thanks to the vision from the Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC) and PI SBK Pty Ltd, to invest in Australian Junior Road Racing, the OJC will show case its racing future at two of Australia’s largest international motorcycle racing events. What MA have produced this year in terms of junior rider development and action-packed racing under the Road to MotoGP program has been recognised by both the WorldSBK and MotoGP events, so we are very proud of that.”
Craig Fletcher – Australian Grand Prix Corporation General Manager
“The Oceania Junior Cup is such a wonderful program and we’re excited to see the young talent shine for the first time on the world stage supporting the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix on one of the most celebrated MotoGP circuits in the world come October 2020.”
bLU cRU Oceania Juniors Cup
David Bennett – Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, General Manager
“We’re thrilled to add the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup to the Motul FIM Superbike World Championship, Yamaha Finance Australian Round at Phillip Island in 2020. This is a great opportunity for the next generation of Australian riders to showcase their talent on the world-stage and it’s fantastic to see Motorcycling Australia create such an exciting talent pathway that will hopefully see an Australian rider in the Superbike World Championship in the future.”
2020 bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup Calendar
Pre-Season Official Test – Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC 29-30 Jan
Round 1 – WorldSBK – Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC 27 Feb-1 Mar
Round 2 – Wakefield Park Raceway – Goulburn, NSW 27-29 Mar
Mid-Year Official Test – Morgan Park Raceway, QLD 28-29 Jul
Round 3 – Morgan Park Raceway – Warwick, QLD 7-9 Aug
Round 4 – Winton Motor Raceway, Benalla VIC 11-13 Sep
Round 5 – Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Cowes VIC 2-4 Oct
Round 6 – MotoGP Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Cowes VIC 23-25 Oct
Registrations of interest are now open for the 2020 bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup (OJC), which will run alongside the Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK).
Riders aged between 11 and under 16 as of 1st of January 2020 are all encouraged to apply for next years series, following a highly successful season of racing in 2019.
2020 bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup returns in 2020 – Image by Russell Colvin
This year’s OJC racing has been a bell ringer, with riders learning about race craft and racing in general, plus bike set-up thanks to a full deck of technical support at the track, including Öhlins support. Riders also learn the art of dealing with media, health and nutrition and much, much more.
Also included are the Yamaha YZR-R15’s, all the riding gear, such as the AGV helmets, TCX boots, Ricondi leathers and gloves. Finally, motorcycle transport and all entries will be covered throughout the 2020 season.
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup riders have a Yamaha R15 and gear provided as part of the program fee
Martin Port – Motorcycling Australia Operations Director
“Thanks to all our partners in helping to get the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup off the ground, we now have a road racing academy to help the younger generations to go all the way to world championship competition, if that’s where they want to head in the future. With the Oceania Junior Cup, you simply turn up and go racing. In the process you learn everything you need to know to succeed in the sport. So, I encourage all riders to apply.”
Supported by the FIM and endorsed by Dorna’s Road to MotoGP program, the OJC has a clear progression plan for it riders to feature in the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup and the Red Bull Rookies Cup.
The bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup head to Broadford for Round 2 over the weekend, with Carter Thompson winning the round on a countback following three races. Carter Thompson, Agus Grenfell and Tom Drane all finished the weekend on 56-points, with Marianos Nikolis and Jacob Roulstone completing the top five, both on 42 points.
Carter Thompson, Angus Grenfell and Tom Drane claim top honours at Round 2
Saturday kicked off with Cros Francis topping qualifying with a 1:12.029 enough for pole, while Kiwi Cormac Buchanan and Jacob Roulstone completed the front row. Angus Grenfell head the second row from Carter Thompson and Jacob Hatch.
Oceania Junior Cup Race 1
Race 1 on Saturday saw Roulstone emerge in first position followed by Grenfell from the start, as Thompson made up two places to slot into third. Francis couldn’t capitalise on his pole position as he was bundled back to fourth, but in a perfect example of the hard-fought nature of the Oceania Junior Cup Francis had catapulted to the lead by the end of the second lap. Tom Drane also made his way up to the lead group of six.
Jacob Roulstone
The field largely held station until lap four where the arguing over the lead began, with the lead group of six going hammer-and-tongs into turns one and two, each rider fighting to be last of the late-brakers.
Jacob Roulstone, Cormac Buchanan and Angus Grenfell
Lap six and Wakefield Park winner Thompson had really hit his straps, passing Grenfell for the lead. The racing was tight right down through the order, with the field splitting into three major ‘trains’ of riders. The top six were really showing their class as the leaders built up a ten second lead from the chasing field.
Carter Thompson
As the leaders reached for the finish line the lead group of six was covered by just over half a second, with Drane taking the honours from Francis who backed up his overall second place from Wakefield Park admirably.
Glenn Nelson and Jacob Roulstone
Roulstone finished fourth and Thompson, looking dangerous in the closing laps, was bundled back to fifth. Glenn Nelson rounded out the top six.
Cros Francis
Race 1 Top 10
Tom DRANE
Cros Francis
Angus GRENFELL
Jacob ROULSTONE
Carter THOMPSON
Glenn NELSON
Jacob HATCH
Marianos NIKOLIS
Alex KENWORTHY-JONES
Zak PETTENDY
Oceania Junior Cup Race 2
The opening race of Sunday closely mirrored the day before, with a number of ‘trains’ forming and competition fierce all the way up and down the field. A lead group of four emerged off the start, with Jacob Roulstone, Cros Francis, Grenfell, and Glenn Nelson battling for the lead through most of the race.
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup at Broadford
The chasing pack was led by Saturday winner Tom Drane who settled into fifth off the start, ahead of Cormac Buchanan and Alex Kenworthy-Jones. By lap six Drane had broken away from the second group and was looking to tag onto the back of the leaders, building a gap over the chasing pack now led by Thompson.
Jacob Roulstone, Cormac Buchanan and Angus Grenfell
At the finish it was Roulstone a mere fifteen hundredths ahead of Francis, still looking for his maiden victory in the Oceania Junior Cup despite a second place overall at Wakefield Park. Grenfell also reprised his third place from Race 1, finishing three tenths off the win to round out the podium.
Angus Grenfell
Glenn Nelson in fourth just missed out on the podium by under a tenth of a second, while Drane in fifth couldn’t quite bridge the gap to the leaders by the time the chequered flag came out. Thompson led the rest of the field home in sixth, more than four seconds further back.
Cros Francis and Jacob Roulstone
Race 2 Top 10
Jacob Roulstone
Cros Francis +0.156
Angus Grenfell +0.312
Glenn Nelson +0.388
Tom Drane +0.708
Carter Thompson +5.515
Cormac Buchanan +5.675
Alex Kenworthy-Jones +5.981
Marianos Nikolas +6.335
Reece Oughtred +6.617
Oceania Junior Cup Race 3
Roulstone once again decided to put his stamp on the race early, leading the field across the line to begin lap one, with Buchanan in second and Grenfell completing the leading group of three, with Drane, Reece Oughtred and Nelson pursuing a second further back.
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup Race 3
Buchanan’s running at the front didn’t last long, unfortunately, as he fell at turn two on lap two, bringing out the red flag.
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
The race was subsequently shortened from twelve to ten laps and the field lined up again to take the restart. After the restart Grenfell took the lead ahead of Nelson. Francis was the big benefactor from the red flag, making his way back to third ahead of Roulstone and Oughtred.
Reece Oughtred
The battle at the front of the field raged intensely as the riders tried to make the most of their second-chance opening laps, with the lead group expanding to include almost half the field in the first four laps. When the action did settle down a little, Roulstone worked his way back to the front, with Nelson hot on his heels. Francis managed to hold down third from Oughtred and Thompson.
Glenn Nelson
Lap six and the field had bunched back up at the front with Thompson overtaking for the lead ahead of Nelson, and Oughtred finding his way past Francis. Roulstone was back in fifth and Grenfell in sixth. Race 1 winner Drane was stuck back in ninth.
Jacob Roulstone
On lap nine the riders made their way down through the esses on the approach to the penultimate corner, and in the squeeze Francis and Thompson appeared to make contact.
Jacob Roulstone, Cormac Buchanan and Angus Grenfell
Francis was sent into a low-side and in the following chain reaction Roulstone and Nelson also crashed. The red flag went out once again and the race was declared, with Thompson awarded the victory ahead of Grenfell, Oughtred, Marianos Nikolis, Archie McDonald, and Drane.
Nelson, Roulstone and Francis were all involved in the Race 3 crash
Race 3 Top 10
Carter Thompson
Angus Grenfell +0.235
Reece Oughtred +0.468
Marianos Nikolas +1.089
Archie McDonald +1.134
Tom Drane +1.559
Max Gibbons +12.020
Jai Russo +12.090
Hunter Diplock +12.208
Zakary Pettendy +12.559
Carter Thompson, Angus Grenfell and Tom Drane on the Round 2 podium
Oceania Junior Cup Round 2 Overall Top 10
Carter THOMPSON – 56
Angus GRENFELL – 56
Tom DRANE – 56
Marianos NIKOLIS – 42
Jacob ROULSTONE – 42
Cros FRANCIS – 40
Reece OUGHTRED – 39
Archie McDONALD – 34
Alex KENWORTHY-JONES – 33
Glenn NELSON – 32
Round 3 of the 2019 bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup takes place at Morgan Park Raceway, Warwick, Queensland, 5-7 July 2019.
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.
The YRT pairing of Daniel Falzon and Cru Halliday topped FP1 at Wakefield Park in dry and warming conditions under a cloudy sky. A gnat’s whisker separated the pair at the top, a 58.075 to Falzon and 58.093 for Halliday. Next best in the opening session was Mike Jones on the DesmoSport Ducati, standing in for the injured Troy Bayliss. Maxwell and Herfoss were P4 and P5 respectively.
YRT had tested here privately in the lead up to this round, electing not to join the rest of the field during the official ASBK Test here earlier this month. At that test it was Wayne Maxwell atop the timesheets with a 57.659, heading Herfoss’ 57.728. But talk was that Mike Jones had actually gone a couple of tenths quicker again, but did not have a transponder fitted to net an official time.
Aiden Wagner suffered a hefty tumble in FP1 here this morning, knocking himself and his machine around quite heavily. Wagner was P6 in the opening session ahead of Bryan Staring, Glenn Allerton and Josh Waters while Matt Walters rounded out the FP1 Top Ten.
Aiden Wagner – TBG Image
FP2 got underway at 1340 this afternoon and just as riders were really start to get down to business, a red flag put a temporary halt to proceedings. Sash Savin had gone down at turn two on his BMW and needed to be moved to safer ground.
Sash Savin – Image Rob Mott
Cru Halliday was the first rider to dip into the 57s when the action got underway again just before 1400. A 57.916 to Halliday, who this year makes his return to Superbike after dominating the 600 Supersport category last year for YRT. Shortly after his team-mate joined him in that bracket, a 57.919 to Falzon, making it a YRT 1-2 at the top with 14-minutes remaining in the 30-minute Superbike FP2 session.
Falzon then upped the game further, the young South Australian dropping in a 57.757 to top the charts.
Herfoss then put in a 57.846 to go P2, splitting the YRT men. A couple of minutes later Herfoss then shot to the top with a 57.455. Maxwell then went P2 with a 57.754, pushing the YRT duo back to P3 and P4.
A red flag then came out just as the session was coming to a close. Ted Collins crashed coming out of the last turn and pitched his BMW over the pit wall! The young Queenslander walked away fine, but it was one very spectacular and unprecedented accident…
Wayne Hepburn – NextGen BMW
“Ted was on a really good lap. We had our own sector splits, which he was about to drop a second and a half off his previous lap time. He simply asked too much of the bike on the exit of the last turn, which he admitted to. This resulted in Ted having a big highside. The Maxima BMW S 1000RR went over the fence, which was pretty spectacular. Thankfully, Ted was able to walk away from it uninjured which is the main thing. Unfortunately, this is motorcycle racing and these things happen. As I said, Ted is fine. The team has a bit of work to do to get him going again. I don’t believe we will get him going for the final session this afternoon, but we’ll have him right for tomorrow. Ted was doing everything which he was asked to do. However, he just got a little bit enthusiastic.”
Ted Collins machine ended up over the wall and in pit-lane! – Image Russ Colvin
The fastest recorded motorcycle lap time around Wakefield Park was a 57.182 set by Maxwell last year, will we see that beaten later this afternoon…? We thought that might be eclipsed later this afternoon in FP3 but then came the thunder and lightning! A massive downpour soaked the circuit shortly after 1500, and we would see no further quick times set today.
Teams scrambled to get the gear away from the cavalcade of water, and their power cables etc. to dry ground as the drains at the circuit failed to cope with the downpour
ASBK Superbike Friday Combined Times
Troy Herfoss – Honda 57.455
Wayne Maxwell – Suzuki 57.754
Daniel Falzon – Yamaha 57.757
Cru Halliday – Yamaha 57.916
Mike Jones – Ducati 58.116
Josh Waters – Suzuki 58.193
Alex Phillis – Suzuki 58.676
Aiden Wagner – Yamaha 58.677 (FP1)
Bryan Staring – Kawasaki 58.699
Damon Rees – Honda 58.760
Matt Walters – Kawasaki 58.839
Glenn Scott – Kawasaki 58.889
Glenn Allerton – BMW 58.916
Ted Collins – BMW 59.417
Sloan Frost – Suzuki 59.425
Lachlan Epis – Kawasaki 59.432
Mark Chiodo – Honda 59.435
Arthur Sissis – Suzuki 59.807
Brendan McIntyre – Suzuki 60.455
Phil Czaj – Aprilia 61.079
Will Davidson – Yamaha 61.509
Michael Edwards – Yamaha 61.734
Hamish McMurray – Kawasaki 62.640
Paul Van der Heiden – BMW 63.360
Sash Savin – BMW 63.752
Supersport 600
Local Goulburn lad Tom Toparis dominated the season opener at Phillip Island, and was obviously be out to do the same this weekend in front of his home crowd.
There were a few young fellas out to try and stop that happening though. Oli Bayliss and Nic Liminton both on the early pace, a 61.238 to Toparis versus a 61.529 to Bayliss. Those times were expected to tumble in FP2 though, and that they did. Only a few minutes into FP2 though Nic Liminton stopped on track with a mechanical failure and the session was red flagged to check for any oil on the track. Oil was duly found and we had quite a delay while the track was cleaned. Liminton took no further part in FP2.
When action recommenced it was Oli Bayliss setting the pace. At 15-years-old, Oli is making fast progress and the team have been working very hard in the lead-up to this first year in Supersport to give him the opportunity to shine, and it is a chance he is grabbing with both hands. His level of commitment, as can be seen in this great shot by Rob Mott, can certainly never be questioned.
Oli Bayliss using all the track this morning at Wakefield Park – Image by Rob Mott
Times quickly started to drop further, Toparis the first man to dip under the magic minute mark, a 59.507 with ten minutes to go, a clear declaration of his intentions to dominate on home turf. And, it must be said, he does look in almost untouchable form. For the best of the rest to challenge him, they either need to make a significant step up, or Toparis needs to put a foot wrong.
The Supersport lap record was set here last year by Cru Halliday at 59.050s, will Toparis best it this weekend…?
Supersport 600 Friday Combined Times
Tom Toparis – Yamaha 59.507
Oli Bayliss – Yamaha 60.471
Broc Pearson – Yamaha 60.565
Reid Battye – Suzuyki 60.635
Ty Lynch – Yamaha 61.060
Nic Liminton – Yamaha 61.666 (FP1)
Aidan Hayes – Yamaha 61.675
Rhys Belling – Yamaha 61.736
Chris Quinn – Yamaha 62.039 (FP1)
Dallas Skeer – Suzuki 62.157
Sam Lambert – MV Agusta 62.184
Andrew Edser – Kawasaki 62.756
Jack Passfield – Yamaha 62.848
John Quinn – Triumph 64.501
Supersport 300
In the Supersport 300 ranks it was Max Stauffer setting the pace from Harry Khouri, both riders under the existing lap record.
Brandon Demmery returns to racing this weekend after that horrifying crash in the MotoGP support events at Phillip Island in 2017. Those injuries included a double compound fracture of the Tibia and Fibia, a compound fracture of the Femur, numerous break in his Pelvis, a broken right wrist, a torn bladder and an incredible amount of bruising. He was ninth in FP2 this morning at Wakefield Park and ended the day 11th on combined times.
Supersport 300 – Friday Combined Times
Max Stauffer – Yamaha 66.306
Harry Khouri – Yamaha 66.478
Ben Baker – Yamaha 66.572
Zac Levy – Yamaha 66.677
Travis Hall – Yamaha 66.828
Hunter Ford – Yamaha 66.834
Locky Taylor – Yamaha 66.844
John Lytras – Yamaha 66.916
Laura Brown – Yamaha 67.021
Senna Agius – Kawasaki 400 67.110
Brandon Demmery – Yamaha 67.313
Yanni Shaw – Kawasaki 400 67.460
Seth Crump – KTM 67.602
Kyle O’Connell – Yamaha 67.626
Luke Johnston – Yamaha 67.684
Mitch Kuhne – Yamaha 67.746
Zylas Bunting – Yamaha 67.887
Tristan Adamson – Yamaha 68.090
Callum O’Brien – Kawasaki 68.345
Bronson Pickett – Yamaha 68.927
Sidecars
Three-wheelers join the ASBK action this weekend in Goulburn with the Horsell Consulting backed sidecar category making their first appearance for the year.
The LCR outfit of Steven Bayliss and Aaron Wilson were the pacesetters today with a 67.243. The lap record for the category here at Wakefield Park is 65.309, and is expected to fall this weekend.
Sidecar Friday Combined Times
Bayliss/Wilson 67.243
Ford/Menzies 68.211
Joyce/Blackman 68.431
Collins/DeAngelis 68.831
Alton/Clancy 69.346
Clancy/Bonney 69.655
Edis/Schluter 71.766
Clancy/Dawson 72.035
Underwood/Ford 72.313
Turner/Turner 73.920
Judd/Spanknebel 74.932
YMF R3 Cup Friday Combined Practice Times
Stauffer 66.208
Lytras 66.368
Baker 66.762
Hall 66.829
Taylor 66.932
Brown 67.212
Khouri 67.263
O’Connell 67.338
Ford 67.339
Johnston 67.832
Demmery 67.849
Kuhne 68.042
Levy 68.098
Bunting 68.111
Adamson 68.305
Pickett 68.723
Oughtred 68.754
Roulstone 69.726
Smith 69.996
Agostini 70.217
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
The 2019 bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup roared into life for the first time ever at Wakefield Park today for the opening round of the new junior Road Race academy.
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.
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