Image: Russell Colvin.

McMartin Racing’s Wayne Maxwell has set a blistering time at the Phillip Island ASBK test to go beneath the Australian Superbike qualifying lap-record held by Mike Jones (DesmoSport Ducati).

Maxwell topped the timesheets for the second day running in a Ducati dominated day, the former champion putting down a record-breaking 1m31.776s in the third session of the day.

Reigning champion Jones was runner-up with a 1m32.434s, as the top three was rounded out by multi-time title holder Troy Herfoss (Penrite Honda Racing), who recorded a 1m32.497s in the final session of the test.

Kawasaki BCperformance’s Bryan Staring improved his time with a 1m32.603s for fourth, followed by Yamaha Racing Team newcomer Aiden Wagner, who posted a 1m32.792s time.

Yamaha privateer Daniel Falzon was sixth ahead of Josh Waters (Suzuki), Cru Halliday (Yamaha Racing Team), Matt Walters (Kawasaki) and Lachlan Epis (Suzuki).

Reigning Supersport champion Tom Toparis (Kawasaki) went fastest in the category on day two with a 1m36.185s time, while Jack Hyde’s (Yamaha) 1m36.469s from day one was still good enough for second.

Nic Liminton (Yamaha) set a 1m36.605s time to finish in third, as Oli Bayliss (Cube Racing) and Jack Passfield (Yamaha) were fourth and fifth respectively.

Kawasaki-mounted Tom Bramich was quickest in the Supersport 300 category, finishing ahead of Harry Khouri (Kawasaki) and Luke Jhonston (Yamaha), while the Oceania Junior Cup was topped by Marianos Nikolis (Yamaha) followed by Angus Grenfell (Yamaha) and Cameron Swain (Yamaha).

Detailed results

Image: Supplied.

Frenchman Fabio Quartararo will replace Valentino Rossi at Monster Energy Yamaha Factory Racing from 2021, the 20-year-old signing a two-year deal that will see him line-up alongside Maverick Vinales.

Quartararo had a breakout debut season in 2019 with Petronas Yamaha SRT, earning Rookie of the Year honours and topping the Independent Rider’s Championship.

“I‘m delighted about what my management has achieved in the last few months together with YMC,” said Quartararo. “It was not simple to establish, but now I have a clear plan for the next three years and I‘m really happy.

“I will work hard, like I did last year, and I‘m extremely motivated to achieve great performances. I feel like the winter period is too long – I‘m really excited to go to the Sepang test next week to ride my new YZR-M1 and meet and work with my crew again. I want to thank YMC and Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team, who have given me the opportunity to enter the MotoGP class in 2019. I will give my all to do them proud again this year.”

Yamaha Racing’s managing director Lin Jarvis commented: “We are very pleased that Fabio will be joining the Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP Team line-up for 2021 and 2022. His results in his MotoGP debut year were sensational. His six pole positions and the seven podiums in the 2019 season were a clear sign of his brilliance and exceptional riding skills.

“Inviting him to move up to the Yamaha Factory Racing Team after he completes his contract with Petronas Yamaha Sepang Racing Team was a logical next step. For the upcoming season he will be provided with a factory-spec YZR-M1 and he will receive full support from Yamaha.

“Fabio is only 20 years old, but he is already showing great maturity on and off the bike, and we are excited to have him join us in 2021. Fabio and Maverick will provide a big stimulus to all of us in the Yamaha Factory Racing MotoGP Team to continue to develop the YZR-M1 and leave no stone unturned in our quest for MotoGP World Championship victories.”

Multi-time world champion Rossi and Yamaha have mutually agreed his decision to continue racing in 2021 will be taken mid-2020, although the manufacturer has assured the Italian legend of the availability of a factory-spec YZR-M1 bike and support under a satellite team should he continue he career.

Image: Russell Colvin.

Former champion Wayne Maxwell has topped the timesheets on day one of the official Mi-Bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) test at Phillip Island, the McMartin Racing rider making a strong public debut aboard the Ducati Panigale V4 R.

Maxwell set a 1m32.366s in the final session of the day, comfortably edging out Yamaha Racing Team newcomer Aiden Wagner, who set a 1m33.006s in the third session.

Reigning champion Mike Jones, who also rode the DesmoSport Ducati Panigale V4 R for the first time against his rivals, was a fraction behind in third, posting a time of 1m33.062s in the fourth session.

Penrite Honda Racing’s Troy Herfoss showed the Michelin tyre is on pace after setting the fourth fastest time with a 1m33.136s, followed by Cru Halliday (Yamaha Racing Team) in fifth – the 2018 Supersport champion lodging a 1m33.354s fast-time.

Kawasaki BCperformance’s Bryan Staring was sixth ahead of Daniel Falzon (Yamaha), while the top 10 was completed by Josh Waters (Suzuki), Glenn Scott (Kawasaki BCperformance) and Glenn Allerton (Maxima BMW).

In the Supersport category, Jack Hyde (Yamaha) edged out reigning champion Tom Toparis (Kawasaki) for P1, setting a time of 1m36.469s to defeat Toparis’ 1m36.964s. Oli Bayliss (Cube Racing) was third ahead of Nic Liminton (Yamaha) and Jack Passfield (Yamaha).

The Supersport 300 category saw Harry Khouri (Yamaha) edge out Luke Jhonston (Kawasaki) and Luke Power (Kawasaki) for the top spot, while the Oceania Junior Cup class was topped by Lucas Quinn (Yamaha), Marianos Nikolis (Yamaha) and Cameron Swain (Yamaha). Riders return to the track tomorrow for the final day of testing.

Detailed results