Australia’s first CBR1000RR-R SP arrives
The first CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP to arrive in Australia will make its debut appearance at Honda’s expo display at the Phillip Island World Superbike and ASBK season opener this weekend.
This lone ranger is the only unit to hit Australia so far, with the remaining models’ due mid-year. It’s fate? To become Troy Herfoss’s steed for his 2020 Australian Superbike campaign with Penrite Honda Racing.
Herfoss is extremely excited to get out on the track with his all-new race machine in the coming months and looks forward to seeing it in action when Team HRC riders Alvaro Bautista and Leon Haslam head out to race for the first time on Saturday.
Troy Herfoss
“It looks so fast, it’s going to be a serious contender, I am shaking with anticipation to ride this thing. The technology and craftsmanship that has gone into it is so obvious, it looks mean! I’ve seen some of the dyno stats from Europe where the bike is straight out of the box, it’s got quite a bit more horsepower than my current race bike as standard so I can’t wait to feel that power in the coming months.”
Troy Herfoss will race the CBR1000RR-R SP in ASBK with Penrite Honda Racing in 2020
It will likely be some time before Herfoss races the new Fireblade in ASBK however. As of now there is only one bike in Australia, and 20 need to be here before it become eligible for ASBK Superbike competition. The outgoing model remains competitive in ASBK with Herfoss only narrowly being beaten to the title in 2019, and of course he was crowned champion in 2018.
Joining the new CBR1000RR-R SP Fireblade on show at the Honda display over the WSBK weekend are the all-new CRF1100 Africa Twin and top spec Africa Twin Adventure Sports with Showa EERA (Electronic Suspension)
Lighter, more powerful and with more features than ever before, the new Africa Twins are forged through adventure and will be available in Honda dealers from March.
The 2020 Motocross models, the CRF450R and CRF250R will also be on display.
| Thursday 27th February 2020 | ||
| *Thursday session not open to public* | ||
| Time | Class | Program |
| 13:10 | Oceania Junior Cup | FP1 |
| 13:30 | Australian Supersport | FP1 |
| 14:05 | Australian Superbike | FP1 |
| 14:40 | Australian Supersport 300 | FP1 |
| 15:15 | Oceania Junior Cup | FP2 |
| Friday 28th February 2020 | ||||
| Time | Event | Program | ||
| 8:25 | Oceania Junior Cup | Qualifying | ||
| 8:45 | ASBK Supersport | FP2 | ||
| 9:05 | Australian Superbike | FP2 | ||
| 9:30 | ASBK SS300 | FP2 | ||
| 9:50 | FIM Medical Inspection | |||
| 10:00 | FIM Track Inspection | |||
| 10:30 | WorldSBK | FP1 | ||
| 11:30 | WorldSSP | FP1 | ||
| 12:25 | Pit Walk 1 | |||
| 13:00 | Australian Superbike | Q1 | ||
| 13:25 | Australian Superbike | Q2 | ||
| 13:50 | Oceania Junior Cup | R1 | 6 Laps | ||
| 14:15 | ASBK Supersport | Qualifying | ||
| 15:00 | WorldSBK | FP2 | ||
| 16:00 | WorldSSP | FP2 | ||
| 16:55 | ASBK SS300 | Qualifying | ||
| 17:15 | Parade Laps | |||
| Saturday 29th February 2020 | ||||
| Time | Class | Program | ||
| 8:25 | ASBK Oceania Junior Cup | R2 | 6 Laps | ||
| 8:50 | ASBK Supersport | R1 |10 Laps | ||
| 9:30 | FIM Medical Inspection | |||
| 9:40 | FIM Track Inspection | |||
| 10:00 | WorldSBK | FP3 | ||
| 10:35 | WorldSSP | FP3 | ||
| 11:05 | Australian Superbike | R1 | 12 Laps | ||
| 11:40 | ASBK SS300 | R1 | 8 Laps | ||
| 12:15 | WorldSBK | Superpole | ||
| 12:55 | WorldSSP | Superpole | ||
| 13:40 | Pit Walk 2 & Safety Car Laps | |||
| 15:00 | WorldSBK | R1 | 22 Laps | ||
| 16:15 | Australian Superbike | R2 | 12 Laps | ||
| 16:50 | ASBK SS300 | R2 | 8 Laps | ||
| 17:15 | ASBK Supersport | R2 | 10 Laps | ||
| 17:50 | Hyundai N Experience (Test Drive) | |||
| Sunday 1st March 2020 | ||||
| Time | Class | Program | ||
| 8:20 | Oceania Junior Cup | R3 | 6 Laps | ||
| 8:50 | FIM Medical Inspection | |||
| 9:00 | FIM Track Inspection | |||
| 09:30 | WorldSBK | Warm Up | ||
| 09:55 | WorldSSP | Warm Up | ||
| 10:30 | Australian Superbike | R3 | 12 Laps | ||
| 11:05 | Pit Walk 3 & Safety Car Laps | |||
| 12:00 | WorldSBK | SP Race | 10 Laps | ||
| 13:15 | WorldSSP | RACE |18 Laps | ||
| 15:00 | WorldSBK | R2 | 22 Laps | ||
| 16:15 | ASBK SS300 | R3 | 8 Laps | ||
| 16:45 | ASBK Supersport | R3 |10 Laps | ||
| 17:20 | Hyundai N Experience (Test Drive) | |||
Source: MCNews.com.au