Wayne Maxwell to defend Australian Superbike Championship crown in 2022
Trev –So Wayne, that was a pretty short retirement….
Wayne Maxwell – “(Laughs) Yes that’s right, a little lesson not to speak before you were 100 per cent sure I guess…
“2021 didn’t really work out how we thought it was going to work out. We thought the contact tracing and Covid was getting under control, but it wasn’t meant to be.
“Anyhow, it was a successful year for us, and hopefully a good platform towards us having a good season in 2022.”
Wayne Maxwell – 2021 Australian Superbike Champion – Image RbMotoLens
WM – “Obviously it’s a massive challenge, I have gone all-in with focus. I’ve got two fantastic partners with Nick and Dim in Ohvale. We are also surrounded by a great bunch of people around us and with the support of Motorcycling Australia it is going to be something great for us to help change things, to hopefully make going racing easier and help with the future of the young kids coming through and to have this great platform for a road to MotoGP.
Rocket Ronny in action at a Port Melbourne Ohvale Ride Day – Image RbMotoLens
“To ensure all that doesn’t go wrong, I have finished up my day job to fully focus on Ohvale now, so I don’t have be out on building sites on the tools like I have for the last five years or so, which will give me a lot more flexibility and time to train, and then work a bit later at night once the kids go to bed.”
Wayne Maxwell at one of the regular Ohvale ride days at Port Melbourne – Image RbMotoLens
Trev – Just glancing back to 2021 again, from the outside looking in, you looked to be doing it relatively easy at The Bend. I know looks can be deceptive, but the team must have given you a bike that was pretty much spot-on that weekend.
WM – “Life, and especially racing, is so much about being in the right place at the right time, for me to be in that team, with Craig as the leader, Adrian’s commitment, along with everyone else, the main key people obviously,Greg and Julie from Racer’s Edge, and Dale, all of our supporters, Barry and Ken Horner have got a wealth of knowledge and are obviously second to none when it comes to engineering.Without the support of all those things needed to go racing, without the support of all those it doesn’t happen. Everyone actually enjoys being there. No one is grumpy, it is a fantastic environment, I guess that is what produces the results on track.”
Craig McMartin working on the set-up of the Boost Mobile Ducati V4 R – Image RbMotoLens
Trev – How much time do you spend with Adrian going over the data, and providing feedback for him to fine tune the bike over the course of a race weekend? I presume you have a great baseline to work from now, then it is just a matter of fine tuning the package to the conditions over each day of the race weekend.
WM – “We spend a little bit of time, I don’t spend too much time as I try to stay in my lane, I am the rider, everyone plays their role, everyone is equally important from the rider, to whoever makes the lunches, it doesn’t happen without everyone.
“With Adrian I spend a little bit of time, probably mostly at night, we never really go out for dinner, we just stay together at our accommodation and eat there, as we all enjoy each other’s company. Once dinner finishes up, we have an ice-cream, then we pull the laptop out and have a look at some of the data for half an hour or so. Then the next morning Adrian will come back to me with some stuff, and we roll on from there.”
Adrian Monti and Wayne Maxwell embrace at The Bend after Wayne wrapped up the championship – Image RbMotoLens
Trev – The systems now are so sophisticated that I imagine unless the bike gets really out of shape, you hardly even feel the traction control system working, is that right.
WM – “Yeah. Honestly it is a very complex the way it is done. Every brand has a different strategy in the way they do it, from dropping cylinders, retarding ignition, or pulling the throttle back, or even a combination of all of the above. Unlike the MoTeC system that some teams are moving to this year, we can’t change the way all that works. We actually don’t have a lot of adjustment when it comes to that with the Marelli system, it is all set in the background pretty much like any other kit ECU, be that a Yamaha or a Honda or whatever, you can’t really change the background behind the way it works, you can only really change the numbers that they allow you to change. It’s not perfect, but we have a very good system and can work around it.”
Wayne Maxwell – Image RbMotoLens
Trev – Engine brake control was something you were struggling early on with in regards to the standard ECU, which is the reason why you wanted to go MoTeC in the first place, yet you still did win races with the stock electronics, how much work is still spent on refining engine brake control with your current Magneti Marelli electronics?
WM – “It’s more than just you say the current engine brake control, yes we spend a little bit of time with the engine brake control, refining that, but it’s more the data to work out exactly what’s needed. Look at Toprak, doesn’t matter what you do with engine brake control if he has the back wheel in the air half the time.And we can’t adjust the chassis, to say kick the front out so we still have good feel when the wheel comes off the ground, we run standard steering head angle and triple clamps, it is probably a bit more important for us than in some series where they can adjust the geometry more.”
Wayne Maxwell – Image RbMotoLens
Trev – As early advocates for MoTeC, would you and your team likely support a move to a control MoTeC ECU across the board? I know the Ducati and Honda team have made some big investments in the homologated kit now, but with Motorcycling Australia not having the resources and tools to plug into those systems, and thus ensure people are not accessing functionality that they shouldn’t be using, it does seem very open to potential abuse…?
WM – “It does. And just say you have got a Yamaha, and you are a customer with a kit ECU, what’s to say that the Factory Yamaha Racing Team are not using a different program, that you can’t even get.. In our circumstances with Marelli, everyone on a Ducati can get exactly what we have.
“Or if we went to a MoTeC control ECU, which we would be 100 per cent supportive of, and having the same as everyone else, I feel that way everyone has the same and there are no excuses.
“To my mind, racing has never been easier, at the moment, than it ever has. Everyone has access to the same tyres, no special tyres for special riders/teams, there is nothing like that, everything is accessible.
“Back when I first started every manufacturer had two factory bikes, they had special tyres… Back then I think as a kid I was just naive to all that, I just thought well he is on the same bike and I am going to beat him, on the same bike…
“But right now I think the access is pretty equal. For people’s peace of mind, the control ECU is good in some respects. But of course you still have to drive it, you still have to be able to analyse the data, you’ve still got to be able to give good feedback.. And I still don’t think it is going to change the results.”
Wayne Maxwell testing at Phillip Island – Image by RBMotoLens
Trev – Nor do I think to a degree, not to any huge margin.But in some ways racers have to be protected from themselves, and looking for things to blame other than themselves. So it would take that little metric out of the blame equation.
Wayne – “Definitely.”
Trev – Do you think there is enough technical oversight in ASBK? Supersport 300 is starting to be called Superbike 300 around the pits, due to the amount of alleged cheating going on there. Of course we do have to allow Motorcycling Australia some leeway over the past couple of years of the pandemic, in regards to staffing and logistics issues, but do you think 2022 should be the time they started getting serious in this area? I have raised this with Motorcycling Australia via Peter Doyle, and while he said more oversight would be a great thing, he immediately pointed out the economic impact that these extra human resources would cost, and asked, would competitors swallow paying larger entry fees to help fund such policing of the rules? What’s your take on the situation?
WM – “You are damned if you do, and you damned if you don’t if you are Motorcycling Australia.You pull someone’s bike down only to find they are not cheating and they are going to be ropeable. Thus they are stuck between a rock and a hard place, they are working towards trying to find a happy medium of a system to put in place. But let’s be honest, if you are winning in Supersport 300 there is not a Superbike team kicking in the door to sign you up, it doesn’t really matter… It’s just a class for learning the ropes….
“I never won anything, because I was too big, in the smaller categories, not until we got to the big bikes, and got the experience and got better. I can guarantee you now that there are guys finishing fifth and sixth in those classes now, that will probably out-do the guys that have been winning in the years to come.”
Wayne Maxwell – 2021 Australian Superbike Champion – Image RbMotoLens
Trev – That’s an interesting way of looking at it…. Thanks for the chat Wayne, see you at Phillip Island in a few days time.
Wayne Maxwell talks the ASBK season finale and 2022 possibilities
MCNews.com.au caught up with Wayne Maxwell ahead of the December ASBK season finale at The Bend to talk testing, tactics, and if the rumours that he is not going to retire after all have some basis in truth…
Wayne currently holds the lead in the Alpinestars Superbike class in what has been a highly disrupted season.
Trevor Hedge: Thanks for the quick catch up Wayne. You tested recently at Phillip Island, have you also managed to test at the Bend ahead of the season finale?
Wayne Maxwell: “No testing at The Bend, it was a bit of a weird one because they bought in this 28 day test ban, but people had already been there the whole time during Covid that live there and still could go, but people from NSW and Victoria they were the ones that suffered. Apparently they couldn’t change that, but no… no testing.”
Wayne Maxwell testing at Phillip Island – Image by RBMotoLens
Trev: 28 days isn’t the normal testing ban is it? Normally it’s a week?
Maxwell: “Normally eight days off the top of my head, for the testing stuff. They weren’t 28 days obviously, same as they did for Wakefield last year, because not everyone could go due to closed borders. When the 28 days started, people living in that state would have been going, and people from many states could go, but not NSW and Victoria. We’ve got some information from other people testing there – that was what we needed – obviously the tyres are a big concern from the past. So that’s information we have been given and hopefully that’ll be useful when we turn up.”
Wayne Maxwell at Hidden Valley – Image by Half Light
Trev: You suffered a DNF in the first race last time we visited the South Australian Circuit, but then bounced back with two podiums on the Suzuki. Bryan Staring dominated the round on the Dunlop shod Kawasaki, is the track surface now not quite as abrasive as it was in those early days?
Maxwell: “Yeah according to the intelligence, it looks like the track temp, being Adelaide in December, will be double what it was when we were there previously. We had sun when we were there but the winds were quite cold. Hopefully Falzon stays well away from me and doesn’t clean me up, and doesn’t try and do a home hero kind of thing. Just get a couple of podiums and the job will be done.”
Wayne Maxwell on the Suzuki in 2019 – Image by TBG
Trev: You’ve also won at the circuit, the first time we visited back in 2018, when you were riding for Yamaha. Mike Jones holds the current race lap record on the big 1299 V-Twin Ducati at 1m52.875. A fella called Wayne Maxwell holds the qualifying lap record, 1m52.175 on the Yamaha YZF-R1M, how much do you think might be lopped off that lap record this time around?
Wayne Maxwell: “I think we’ve been pretty much a second faster everywhere we’ve been, like at most of the circuits, the shorter circuits it’s half-a-second, some of the longer ones it’s a second. So look, I’m confident we can get into the 50s. I don’t know about any further than that though, but into the 50s would be somewhere. Obviously we’ll be working hugely on our race set-up, because of the history of the circuit with tyre wear, but we’ll see how we go. My qualifying record has been quite good this year so hopefully I carry that on.”
Wayne Maxwell at The Bend in 2018 – TBG Image
Trev: We traditionally have had a three race format at The Bend, but the finale will just be two races, which means that including the point for pole positon there are 51-points up for grabs. You take a 26-point lead over the recovering Troy Herfoss – who has not completely ruled out competing at The Bend – and enjoy a 32-point lead over Glenn Allerton. That is a very commanding position to be in, but as they say, this is racing and anything can happen. Mathematically, Cru Halliday, Oli Bayliss and Bryan Staring remain in the hunt as rank outsiders. What mindset are you taking to the finale, just shoot for the win and let the numbers sort themselves?
Maxwell: “Same approach as every weekend, Trev, I’m just going to turn up to win and go there to win. When you’re in the position to win, then you can make the choice to win or not. It’s when you’re not in a position to win that things can go bad. Same approach, turn up and go, I think I have enough experience in this position and have messed it up enough times to not do it again.”
Wayne Maxwell – Image by RBMotoLens
Trev: On a final note, plenty of talk getting around that you might be reconsidering your decision to retire at the end of the season. I believe you and Craig really wanted to put Troy Herfoss on the Boost Mobile Ducati next season, but with Herf’ now staying with Honda, who else would you like to see on your bike, that you think would do it justice? Or are you coming back for another swing?
Maxwell: “Look, I’ve been thinking, as I’ve had a lot of time to think. Sitting at home, not doing much in Victoria. I’ve said in the past, it was very naïve of us to think that 2021 was going to be smooth sailing and thought that somehow it wasn’t going to spread or something. So it was pretty naïve of us to think that. I’ve been considering – there has been some discussion both ways – but I said I’m not making an decisions till after The Bend. I’ll see how the weekend goes, how the emotions are, see if I would still like to do it. Obviously, I’m in a fantastic team and environment, and look it’s not a no and it’s not a yes. We’ll have to see and make sure that all the things are lined up to make it work if it’s going to happen.”
Boost Mobile Ducati’s Wayne Maxwell takes a 26-point lead over Herfoss and 32-point lead over Allerton into the season finale where 51-points will be up for grabs
Trev: Thanks Wayne.
The mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul will crown five 2021 ASBK Champions at South Australia’s The Bend Motorsport Park, in what will be an epic Grand Finale, December 3-5.
World Endurance Championship rider Josh Hook has confirmed he will race with Penrite Honda at the event. MotoGP star Jack Miller has bought himself a V4 R Panigale and hopes to race the event, all going well this weekend at Valencia. Those two are sure to make an impact even if riding on unfamiliar motorcycles and tyres.
Race Fans can grab their tickets for the ASBK Grand Finale which are on sale now through Ticketek. More spectator information can also be found at www.thebend.com.au.
Following the Grand Finale on Sunday December 5, a family friendly and BBQ style ASBK presentation event will be held to celebrate and crown the 2021 ASBK Champions.
ASBK will return to The Bend in December for a season finale, after a highly disrupted season 2021
The ASBK Grand Finale will overate under a COVIDSafe Plan in accordance with SA Government regulations and all interstate travellers, volunteers and race fans will be required to be double vaccinated for entry into South Australia.
For those fans who are unable to be trackside, you can catch all the fantatic action through ASBK TV partners, SBS, Foxsports Australia, Sky Sport NZ and via the ASBK TV Live Stream. And of course, as we have been doing for over two decades, the best news coverage of the event will be brought to you right here on MCNews.com.au.
Trev: We’ll start off with the Darwin weekend, you and the Boost Mobile squad had some unique challenges with Crew Chief Adrian working from home, which meant the team was all wired for sound and Greg was on the tools. Somewhat of a strange weekend I guess?
Wayne Maxwell: “It was definitely somewhat of a challenge in that respect, trying to set everything up, and try and make sure it worked but overall we sort of got through it and everyone stepped up in the team and knew what we were up to before we got there. A few people stepped in over the weekend who usually aren’t in those roles and those guys were great.”
Wayne Maxwell – Image by RBMotoLens
And that two-plus-four lap with the Boost Mobile car, via your shared sponsor, did you let the car through on purpose around the back of the circuit when you looked around, was there bit of a game plan on that to line up that run to the line?
Wayne Maxwell: “Yeah that was the overall plan, you being a Ford man, I dunno if you would have been going for the Ducati or Ford, but that was the aim to try and make it a drag race to the line, so obviously I let him past and James went underneath, and then he sort of had to wait for me a little bit, so he’d ruined his run onto the straight but the Ducati can definitely out-accelerate the V8.”
Boost Mobile Ducati – Image RbMotoLens
I’d always go for the bike, did you go out in the car with him on the weekend and experience that braking power?
Wayne Maxwell: “No I didn’t, I’ve never been in a V8 actually. I let Craig and Julie go out and do it. I didn’t know whether it would scare me or not, I just stuck to riding the motorbikes for the weekend. Hopefully there’ll be some opportunities to do some more activations with Boost down the track.“
Wayne Maxwell – Image by Half Light
So obviously there are some pros and cons running ASBK alongside supercars, what’s your take on it? The air fence being moved on and off, is far from ideal, and scheduling changes etc, but I guess when you’re trying to satisfy your team sponsors there are some definite positives.
Wayne Maxwell: “Definitely, the camera footage quality, and the professionalism that some people in our paddock haven’t experienced before, to see the premium motorsport category in Australia up close, we need to get to that. Scheduling was good, they cleaned the track thoroughly, M.A. and whoever looked after the V8 side of safety all worked together. Coverage wise I think it was one of our better events.“
Wayne Maxwell talking to Riana Crehan after the opening race in Darwin – Image RbMotoLens
So you’re keen to see more of this in the future?
Wayne Maxwell: “I think two rounds a year would be enough to be honest with you, one to two. Just to keep the exposure. It all depends, we sort of have a support round with WSBK normally but that’s not going to come any time in the next year, so we’ll wait and see and go from there. Our categories I think are better than people are giving it credit for at the moment and we can stand on our own two feet and make sure we race at all the best tracks in Australia, and put on a good show.”
Wayne Maxwell – Image by Half Light
Which tracks would you like to join the V8s at?
Wayne Maxwell: “Darwin obviously works but it’s obviously a big expense, so I don’t know if the rest of the paddock want to go to Dawrin. They are talking about the V8s racing at night in Sydney, which would be a great opportunity to get a foot back in the door there at SMP. We could race in the day and add the 600 category which would be a pretty cool event and that is the hot rumour at the moment...”
Nothing separated Maxwell and Herfoss throughout the whole 16-laps of the opening race in Darwin – Image Half Light
You’re leading the championship, you said you have a good package but obviously there’s a long way to go, that is if the plague stays abated so we can run the full calendar. I guess the main talking point out of the Darwin weekend was young Oli stepping up to take you on. Have you followed him much before? Give us your evaluation of where you think he’s at, at the moment and if you think his form may continue to the other tracks.
Wayne Maxwell: “Yeah look, I’ve always said on the record that my legacy is to try and promote and set a standard for these young guys, we’ve had world champions in the past and we could have more in the future. Oli did a fantastic job all weekend, he didn’t make many mistakes for someone of his age and experience, less mistakes than I would have made at that age for sure, so he did a fantastic job. His riding, he’s well in control, I haven’t watched the race back yet, but it’s great.
Wayne Maxwell leading Oli Bayliss – Image Half Light
“Hopefully it gives everyone, some of the other guys in our category and other categories, an example – look it is achievable, so they say… now how do we achieve it. It’s fantastic. I don’t know how he will go at other tracks, obviously Morgan Park he’s done a few laps at. It’s hard to say whether that form will stay, or if the bike worked for that track for him on the day. Time will tell. Eventually it shows he’s going to work it out and he’s going to be a really good motorcycle racer and hopefully follow in his dad’s footsteps and become a World Champion.“
It looked liked you gave him heaps of room as he came past at the end of the straight, maybe more than you’d give Herf or Mike?
Wayne Maxwell: “I don’t know, my head wasn’t really in it, I was having issues in the race and I just thought I’d let him go through, he wasn’t even close to the limit of trying to stop, it was a real calculated easy pass, so he was just better than I was in the race. There is no excuse, and he’s a deserving winner.“
Wayne Maxwell – Image by Half Light
Your head wasn’t it, was that because Herf had been taken off to hospital?
Wayne Maxwell: “That as well and being such a massive three weeks, being away and unorganised and not having everything there, like the whole team, it was quite a fair bit of stress. I just wasn’t at my best for some reason and I guess that’s part of it, I haven’t raced anyone but Troy for the last so long, so maybe that was it.“
You looked like you did try and have a go a couple of corners from the end, but had a rear end slide there, was that part of the game plan to leave it to that final lap, and then that slide robbed you of that chance?
Wayne Maxwell: “Nah, I never really think I had a chance with the issues we had going on. I was in a little bit of a rhythm and then it was a bit unusual for me, as normally I’m fairly good right at the end and fight back, but it just wasn’t my day and wasn’t meant to be. That’s a bad day so we’ll move onto the next one.”
Wayne Maxwell and Boost Mobile Ducati Team Owner Craig McMartin – Image by RBMotoLens
That sounds like you may have had an issue you don’t want to canvas with the bike or tyres?
Wayne Maxwell: “No definitely not the tyres, just some stuff because Adrian wasn’t there, we had some problems like with the electronics, which were out of our control, just having that one less person, but nothing major and it probably might not have made the difference to win the race, but as usual our bikes were fantastic, so there’s no dramas moving forward.
Wayne Maxwell checking out the data himself at Hidden Valley
“I’m excited to see how we roll on to Morgan Park, as that’s pretty much marked down on the calendar as the biggest challenge for us. Obviously maybe a tiny bit easier as Troy doesn’t look like he’ll be back for that one, but it’s still going to be a massive challenge. Mike has a point to prove, Oli is on a mission and there’s other guys with new motorbikes, you can’t really rule out anyone.”
Wayne Maxwell – Image Half Light
So I guess as you’ve said you’re probably going to give the game away at the end of this season, after hopefully defending your championship, which you’re looking in good shape to do, for the rounds coming ahead, and then your focus is going to switch to running the Ohvale FIM MiniGP World Series in Australia, which is going to step up a few gears next year, is that right?
Wayne Maxwell: “That’s the plan, definitely going to finish the end of the year. I love motorbike racing and I love all that, so I want to make a difference, we see so many people come and go from the sport and when their time is up, they don’t give back as good as they should have. I’m not in the financial position of some of the guys overseas are to help, but with my knowledge and understanding I would like to work closely with the M.A. guys to get the ASBK to a level where it’s more sustainable. And that side of it, help some of the other teams to get more sponsors and show what I’ve learned and help in that way.
Wayne Maxwell – Image RbMotoLens
“Craig and I have talked about running the bike next season, there’s a number of options for riders, we’ll see how that goes. The Ohvale is going to be a massive focus for us, to bring through the next generation of Jack Miller, Remy Gardner and perhaps the next Oli Bayliss.“
Wayne Maxwell congratulates Oli – Image RbMotoLens
Now you bring that up, with you and Craig talking about continuing with the Boost Team and running the Ducati. I had heard a rumour that you might have had Herf in line to ride for you and Craig next year, if you continued down that line.
Wayne Maxwell: “Yeah, if as a Team Manager you’re not asking the best most dedicated guy in the paddock to ride your motorbike, you’re not doing your job are you? So regardless of the contract or whatever he’s got, I’m confident we have a really good package and he’s been around motorcycle racing so he knows how that works, so he knows how I operate pretty well and I know how he operates, and he knows how good Craig’s bikes are.
Herfoss riding for Boost Mobile Ducati in 2022 has been discussed – Image RbMotoLens
“Obviously those talks have completely stopped right at the moment with his current situation. But if he wants to come and ride a motorbike with us we’d be mad not to consider it and try and of course bend over backwards to have him on the bike.”
Wayne Maxwell leading Troy Herfoss in race one at Hidden Valley – Image by RBMotoLens
Thanks for the chat.
Wayne Maxwell: “Thank you.“
ASBK Championship Points
Pos
Rider
Total
1
Wayne MAXWELL
132
2
Troy HERFOSS
106
3
Glenn ALLERTON
100
4
Cru HALLIDAY
88
5
Oli BAYLISS
87
6
Bryan STARING
87
7
Mike JONES
74
8
Arthur SISSIS
71
9
Jed METCHER
70
10
Josh WATERS
53
11
Anthony WEST
52
12
Matt WALTERS
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 *
With the current break in racing activity we thought it a good idea to start rolling out this series that I have dubbed ‘Twisted ASBK Interviews’.
This is a somewhat comedic departure from the norm that hopes to shed some light into the personalities of ASBK Superbike riders.
Some of these were conducted in person at the track earlier this year, while others were conducted more recently over the phone.
A few of them certainly got me laughing out loud and I hope you view them through the prism of good fun they were taken in. We kicked the series off with Mike Jones and now we have a chat with current ASBK Championship points leader Wayne Maxwell.
Wayne Maxwell – TBG Image
MCNews.com.au: Who is the dirtiest rider you least trust when racing against?
Wayne Maxwell: “Aiden Wagner.”
MCNews.com.au: Who would you most like to punch in the ASBK paddock?
WM: “I love them all. ” 🙂
MCNews.com.au: Who would you least like to be punched by in the ASBK paddock?
WM: “No one, I’m not really worried about anyone.”
Wayne Maxwell in action during testing at Wakefield Park last month – Image by TDJ
MCNews.com.au: If you were stuck on a deserted island, which rider would you choose to be stuck with?
WM: “Herfoss.”
MCNews.com.au: Who is the king of swiping right during ASBK race weekends?
WM: “Halliday.”
MCNews.com.au: Which rider has the hottest sister?
WM: “I don’t really know, I’m married with two kids. What about mums?” *laughs*
Wayne with his family – TBG Image
MCNews.com.au: Who is the biggest princess in the ASBK paddock?
WM: “Cru Halliday.”
MCNews.com.au: Who has the most fitting nickname in the paddock?
WM: “Wild Man Waters.”
Wayne Maxwell on the grid with engineer Adrian Monti at the 2020 season opener – Image by Rob Mott
MCNews.com.au: What is the worst track ASBK visits?
WM: “None, they are all good.”
MCNews.com.au: Which corner on the calendar is your favourite?
WM: “Turn 3, Phillip Island.”
MCNews.com.au: Which corner would you liked to see nuked from orbit?
WM: “Winton, Turn 2.”
Josh Waters and Cru Halliday chasing Wayne Maxwell at the season opener – TBG Image
MCNews.com.au: If you could overtake one rider, on one corner, who would it be, and where, and how?
WM: “Herfoss, last corner, last lap at Wakefield.”
MCNews.com.au: Which animal would you most liken yourself to?
WM: “Something that’s soft and cuddly and nice. Teddy bear.”
MCNews.com.au: You need to borrow tools. Who would you ask first? Who would you never ask?
WM: “I would ask Kev Marshall first.”
Wayne Maxwell congratuled by his family after winning the opening race of season 2020 at Phillip Island – Image by Rob Mott
MCNews.com.au: If you weren’t racing, what would you be in jail for?
WM: “Stolen goods.”
MCNews.com.au: If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?
WM: “Punchy”.
MCNews.com.au: How would you describe yourself in three words?
WM: “Fun, serious, likeable.”
Wayne Maxwell, Cru Halliday and Josh Waters on the podium at 2020 ASBK Round One – Image by Rob Mott
MCNews.com.au: If you won a million dollars on Lotto what would be the first thing you would buy?
WM: “Ducati V4 R.”
MCNews.com.au: If you could keep one of your race bikes from throughout your career which one would it be? And why?
WM: “I’ll tell you at the end of the year.”
MCNews.com.au: What is your plan for life after racing…?
WM: “More motorbikes, try and make a difference to the sport that’s given me so much.”
Maxwell won the opening round of ASBK 2020 – Image by Rob Mott Source: MCNews.com.au
2020 mi-bike Australian Superbike Championship Round One – Phillip Island Wayne Maxwell
Wayne Maxwell had a great start to his 2020 mi-bike Australian Superbike campaign at Phillip Island, breaking the lap record to take pole and then following up with three race wins.
Maxwell was on pole from Cru Halliday and Josh Waters – TBG Image
Maxwell heads to the second round of the series at Wakefield Park on a perfect 76 championship points, with nearest competitor Cru Halliday 16-points behind.
Wayne Maxwell takes his third win of the weekend in Superbike Race Three – TBG Image
MCNews.com.au caught up with Wayne immediately following the conclusion of racing at Round One, to get his thoughts on the season opener, his Ducati V4 R, and the issues being negotiated with Motorcycling Australia regarding the homologation of the MoTeC ECU for the Boost Mobile backed Ducati V4 R.
Wayne Maxwell Interview
Trevor Hedge: Wayne, a perfect haul for the weekend, pole, three wins. From testing pace I thought you might even be a little bit further in front, but it was a hot pace out there across all twelve laps in the three races.
Wayne Maxwell: “Mate they are a classy bunch of riders, it’s a testament to the field you know, if I had made a mistake, Cru would have been there to pick up the pieces, so I just tried to stay in a rhythm, not making mistakes. It’s much easier racing as two, rather than in a pack of two.”
Wayne Maxwell leads Cru Halliday
Trev: There’s been a bit of banter this weekend, with your Race 1 and Race 2 comments, as in you want some parts for the Ducati that aren’t available to you, they might have been initially apprived, only for permission for those parts later to be withdrawn by M.A….?
Maxwell: “Yeah, we went through the process that Motorcycling Australia has, they have three processes, a reflashed ECU, a manufacturer homologated ECU, or an MA approved option. We went through the process, got all the approval documents, made the investment into making that happen and then obviously after the test, that got revoked, because I’m too fast basically, or I’m not sure….”
Wayne Maxwell – Image Rob Mott
“They said it’s for other reasons, that they didn’t meet the paperwork and there was some kind of error on their end. But they had weeks and weeks to do their due diligence and a lot of people in different departments gave me the approval, not only technical. So I’m not sure where that ones going to head. When Honda get their new bike, are they going to have to run the standard ECU?”
Trev: Where is that advantage going to come from if you get the MoTeC system? Engine braking control, is that where you’re looking to improve the bike?
Maxwell: “Yeah, just some control. We can’t tune the fuel, we can’t do anything at the moment, engine brake control, it’s a little bit of that, it’s just a little bit everywhere. It’s a safety factor, when you go to Wakefield to be competitive you have use first gear in the last corner. Have you ever gone down to first gear on a road bike? The bike likes to goes sideways. So you know something needs to be done, if we can’t have what they have approved and then revoked, then we need to come to some middle of the road agreement and go from there.”
Maxwell leads Waters and a busy ASBK Superbike pack – Image by Rob Mott
Trev: You must be confident heading into the rest of the reason?
Maxwell: “I would probably say I’ve won a race at Wakefield Park every year, I’m probably the only one to beat Troy there. Last year I led and we had some issues with the Suzuki in the middle of the race, but we led most of the race and set a pretty hot pace. That was in the early stages, but he’s a hard man to beat around there, I’m under no illusions, if I can go there and finish second to Troy, or just collect some points… I can’t wait to just keep building up my points and my key is to finish every race. That’s what cost me in the past.”
Wayne Maxwell
Trev: What’s the workload for you and the team, between here and Wakefield Park, working on machine set-up? You’ve got the official test there, will you be able to test outside of those official days?
Maxwell: “Unsure, definitely the official test and we’ll see where we sit. It depends what happens if we get more parts, that will change our testing program and approach. At this stage we’ll take this package there, try to speak to the Ducati factory and try and get some parts that Mike and those guys are getting out of the back of the Factory Ducati pits here this weekend at World Superbike and see how we go.”
Wayne Maxwell on pole – Image by Rob Mott
Trev: What is the next step with that battle you’re going to have with M.A., getting access to that MoTeC ECU?
Maxwell: “I don’t really want to make it a big process, and legal and drawn out, people have jobs to do, it’s nothing personal. We just need some clarifications with what we can do. They’ve got three ways they can approve it, so they are saying they need manufacturer proof from Italy now. I’m sure there’s no manufacturer proof from other brands, from the headquarters overseas, so look, we can’t do that, as obviously there’s other issues going on internal with Ducati in Australia and Europe as Ducati restructures here, so it’s difficult at the moment. I don’t know, they can approve it, they need to set some parameters and we’ll put forward another proposal from there. But all this is eating into time, and when you can lose a championship by five-points, that makes it difficult.”
Wayne Maxwell – TBG Image
Trev: Thanks Wayne, thanks for your time.
ASBK next heads to Wakefield Park later this month, the Goulburn circuit playing host to Round Two of the series over the March 27-29 weekend.
2020 mi-bike Australian Superbike Championship Points
Wayne Maxwell has kicked off the 2020 ASBK season on a strong note, dominating the official two-day test at Phillip Island on board the Craig McMartin prepared Ducati V4R, after moving to the Italian marque for 2020 from Yamaha.
Maxwell and the new Ducati V4 proved a force to be reckoned with.
The Boost Mobile backed team worked through options with the K-Tech suspension over the two days and obviously made plenty of progress as Maxwell topped the test by almost seven-tenths of a second.
Wayne Maxwell – 2020 Phillip Island ASBK Test – Image by Rob Mott
Having been the only rider to dip into the 1:32s on Day 1, Maxwell topped off the two-day test as the only rider in the 1:31s on Day 2, with a 1:31.776, well clear of fellow Ducati rider Jones, who was next fastest with a 1:32.434.
Trevor Hedge caught up with Maxwell to pick his brain on the move to the Ducati, and his thoughts on how the season is shaping up.
Trevor Hedge: So Wayne, you put a lot of fast laps in and really set the pace over the duration of this test, you must be very happy.
Wayne Maxwell: “I’m super stoked, the Boost Mobile Ducati was excellent, Craig, Adrian, Dale, Greg and the team worked really well. We were also lucky to have James here from K-Tech HQ inEngland, with some updated K-Tech components. He was here with us, helping install and finding settings that worked on the bike, so I was really happy with that. Obviously again, this week exceeded my expectations, and has put us in a really good position to be in, right in the mix for the first race.”
Wayne Maxwell – 2020 Phillip Island ASBK Test – Image by TBG
Trevor: How does testing here relate to the other circuits we go to during the year? We know this is ‘your’ circuit, we could probably put you on a moped and you’d still go okay, but the pace you have set here is really, really fast, do you think it will translate to the other circuits?
Maxwell: “I first tried the bike at Wakefield, spent the whole day there and it exceeded my expectations immediately and didn’t really change anything that day. We’ve got some updates and have changed a few things, and I feel really confident. Wakefield has been a circuit which has maybe eluded me, and Troy is so strong there, while I haven’t been strong enough to get it over the line there as many times as I maybe should have.
“But I’m confident and we’ve got a fast bike, so we’ll get Phillip Island out of the way and see how we shape up. We have some updates on the way with the electronics, now that’ we’ve had the ECU homologated, so it’s just step by step. We’ve got this bike and it’s good now, so we need to then start work on the new package as bits and pieces come through.”
Wayne Maxwell – 2020 Phillip Island ASBK Test – Image by Rob Mott
Trevor: So you’ve come from the other most evocative bike in the field, the cross-plane crank Yamaha, sounds great, feels great, and now you’re on the V4 – another bike the really stirs the senses – what’s the comparison between the two? Looking at your bike, the riding position looks so stretched out and flat, is that apparent when on the bike?
Maxwell: “I still don’t feel 100 per cent comfortable, we’ve just sent some foot pegs back to the guys from KH Engineering to make some different ones. I don’t know how all the other Ducati riders ride the bike like that elsewhere around the world, they must do yoga 30 times a week.
“I’ll just to try and get a bit more comfortable, this circuit isn’t so bad, but other places where you’ve got to climb over the top of it a bit more with faster changes of direction, the old body will tighten up and be no good at the end of the race unless we can get the riding position a little more comfortable. So we’ll get my feet out in front a bit and be nice and relaxed. It won’t make us any faster, but perhaps more comfortable and consistent over the duration of a race.”
Trevor: Get some foot forward controls so they aren’t slowing you down perhaps…
Maxwell: “That’s it mate.”
Wayne Maxwell – 2020 Phillip Island ASBK Test – Image by Rob Mott
Trevor: The Yamaha has always got out of the corner quite well, how does the V4 compare, and how does it compare to what you’ve ridden in recent years? Picking up the throttle on the way out of the turn etc?
Maxwell: “Picking up the drive it seems okay for sure, but that’s definitely not the strongest part of my riding, out of the stop-go corners, I’m more of a fast flowing sort of guy, that’s why Phillip Island is good for me. I managed to get out of the stop-go corners okay though here this week. It has really good grip with the K-Tech on the side of the tyre, and the V4 provides quite a flat and linear power. When I was a kid, my dad had a VFR750 and I always remember it taking off from home and having that V-Four sound, so it reminds me of being a kid and I’m loving it.”
Wayne Maxwell – 2020 Phillip Island ASBK Test – Image by Rob Mott
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.
The first enthralling round of the 2019 Australian Superbike Championship is but a memory – a vivid one at that – and now the second round at Wakefield Park is nigh. Bracksy looks back and peers into the future of what is shaping up as a momentous weekend at the Wakefield Park circuit near Goulburn in NSW, March 22-24.
If Alvaro Bautista was akin to a cyclone engulfing the WSBK paddock at the opening round of that Championship, in the ASBK class, Aiden Wagner was an air-to-ground, below radar low level attack dropping a couple of 500lb HE incendiaries on the ASBK field at Phillip Island.
Aiden Wagner – Maxwell tumbles – Image Rob Mott
A few weeks previously, the 25-year-old Queenslander, on his privateer Landsbridge Transport Yamaha R1 used the official ASBK test to strafe the field with armour piercing shells to let everyone know, he is back, fully fit, ravenous for success, and he doesn’t give a rat’s arse about reputations.
He certainly ruffled a few feathers at the test. By the end of race two of the ASBK Superbike season on Saturday Feb 23 they were singed beyond recognition with his scorched earth, take no prisoners policy.
Aiden Wagner – Maxwell tumbles – Image Rob Mott
With his round one victory with Pole, two wins and a second, the snatching strap of tension has been ratcheted up a notch. Or, five.
The quality and intensity of the on-track competition easily eclipsed the demonstration put on by the lads of the World Superbike field and showed the parity between the different motorcycles in our domestic championship is very even.
The ASBK season was shaping up as a landmark year, even before Wagner bounced back in the paddock. Now he is here, look out. The anticipation going into round two is even more palpable than the season opener.
Mike Jones will stand in for Troy Bayliss at Wakefield Park – TBG Image
2019 is shaping up as the most competitive in many a year, as each season seems to increase in intensity and level of competition.
Round 1 Recap
So let’s have a recap of the opening round then a peer into the looking glass to see what this weekend has in store.
There was plenty of anticipation as the meeting got under way and Bayliss led the first session to continue his testing form, but his weekend was to soon unravel. In the afternoon qualifying session he had a monumental get off heading into turn four when he was distracted by a rider stricken on the edge of the track. The bike was basically obliterated in the cartwheeling that was reminiscent of his crash on a Ducati during the Australian Grand Prix of 2003.
Thankfully, this time he walked away to be able to relate soon after that he had cracked a finger on his left hand and the bike “was sent to heaven”.
In qualifying the prodigal son, Wagner grabbed the number one slot, one-thousandth of a second under Bayliss’s lap record, set at the final round last year. More importantly, he scored an extra championship point that goes with it to lead a Yamaha block out of the front row.
Aiden Wagner – Image Rob Mott
This year the extra championship point for Pole Position at each round could be more critical than ever in deciding the champion. Remember when since Shawn Giles was pipped in a countback with Josh Brookes in 2005…
The privateer gave a bloody nose to the Yamaha Racing Team duo of Superbike returnee, Cru Halliday, and his team mate in the official Yamaha team Daniel Falzon who made up the front row.
Wagner has some very astute people in his corner with Sam Costanzo, the principal of Landbrige Transport and Landbridge Racing. Sam has a fine reputation for preparing race machines while Adrian Monti is a very astute and analytical operator who knows how to set up a race bike, and probably more importantly, the understanding to translate what a rider is talking about to bike set-up.
Aiden Wagner – Image Rob Mott
Before the opening race of the year, many people were asking the annual question of how far into the opening race we’d get before some carnage would erupt. In the past couple of years the season has only reached Turn Four on the opening lap before the cauldron has boiled over. Last year it was Glenn Allerton who hightailed it out of the race as he launched himself high over the bars, nearly bringing rain and almost dragging Wayne Maxwell off his bike as he flew past him.
It is understandable as it’s over four months since the last race of 2018 and we all know the eagerness riders display and the red mist visor is also a deeper tinge than normal for the opening laps of the year. In recent years there has been a bit of drama at Turn Four.
Race 1 – Phillip Island
This year we had to wait a few laps for the first real jaw dropping moment but the opening laps of race one were absolutely manic. What we had been anticipating had been confirmed. This year will be a seven-round, street brawl.
Falzon jumped to the front off the line to lead for the opening corners but Bayliss took over heading into turn 10 and led the frantic first lap across the line from Maxwell and Falzon. After a very mediocre start, Wagner was back in seventh, just shading Waters, the octuplet separated by less than a second. It was on as they all spread across the track careering to the apex on their 200+hp machines like the charge of the Light Horse, fighting for track position.
Wagner was excellent in testing. Now we were witnessing what he could do in a race mixed up with the pack of gangsters in front of him as Wagner commenced his carving exhibition. He showed from the outset that he is not here for a free lunch and it wasn’t even lunchtime Sunday!
Wayne Maxwell leads Aiden Wagner – TBG Image
He was up to second by the end of the third lap managing to pop out in front while everyone else was having a dip at the passing game, particularly Bryan Staring on the Kawasaki BC Performance ZX-10RR as he scythed his way through on the Dunlop shod machine to be among the leading pack climbing from 10th on the grid.
Wagner took the lead on the fourth lap and held it until the final few corners as he and Bayliss, Maxwell, Halliday, Waters, and Staring keeping well in touch
The first jaw dropping moment of the year came at the start of the sixth lap. Wagner led the charge from Maxwell and Bayliss, the others not far adrift as they tipped into Doohan Corner at a head shaking, meteoric rate. Wagner had a couple of bike lengths over Maxwell with Bayliss taking a deeper, more outer line into turn one but his entry speed was a little quicker, or maybe Maxwell slowed a tad but it was j-u-s-t enough for the brake lever of TB#32 machine to touch the rear of Maxwell’s machine.
The front wheel locked, a puff of blue smoke and in a nano second, Bayliss was sliding on his arse at over 200 kays and another steed of the Desmo Sport Ducati stable went looking for directions to the Pearly Gates to join its sibling.
The crash looked innocuous enough considering the speed of his trajectory into the kitty litter. Coming to a tumbling halt after a less than elegant face plant, he sat there, legs spread and punched the ground in exasperation, jumped to his feet and wandered back to the pits.
Bayliss may have exited stage left but that didn’t halt the swashbuckling as Staring joined the fray in fifth behind Wagner, Maxwell, Halliday and Waters. Half race distance and it was on.
The sword clashing continued at every corner and while Wagner led across the line there was plenty of pushing and shoving scything, slicing and magnificent dicing many times a lap.
Less than a second separated the quintet as they commenced the final lap but back markers were looming. The snarling pack negotiated the first couple ok but Wagner was baulked by one over Lukey Heights into T10. Maxwell was his typical blue heeler self as he nipped the heels of the Queenslander.
Out of T11 Wagner jumped on the gas, the pack broke away slightly losing drive which allowed Maxwell the opportunity to storm past into the lead and take the win from Wagner, with Staring filling the last step on the podium after another determined ride from the 2010 ASBK champion to prove that he will be in the mix all year.
Wayne Maxwell was clearly emotional after winning the opening race of ASBK season 2019 at Phillip Island, a win he had not expected as he was yet to feel as though the GSX-R was ‘his bike, and was not fully comfortable after a few years on Yamaha machinery – TBG Image
Wagner demonstrated in the opening stanza he has the goods to push for not only the privateer championship but the outright. He also has his own definitive style in riding a 1000cc machine at Phillip Island, riding more Supersport lines to carry corner speed. This was most evident at Turn 4 as he hung out very wide and swept across the track for a very late apex.
High corner approach had the others seemingly second guessing as if they tried to take an inside line there was a good chance that a collision may occur. In fact, it did happen with Halliday and Wagner touching with feet off the pegs, both lucky to stay aboard such was the hit.
Wagner and Halliday tussle – Rob Mott Image
His antics reminded us in the commentary booth of a philosophy of racing that 2002 Australian Supersport Champion, Shannon Johnson, uttered to explain some of his determined moves, “A front wheel has a three-and-a-half inch rim. If there is three and a half inches of track then there is enough room for me.”
What a scene setter for the year. The first World Superbike race soon after the opening leg was somewhat of an anti-climax compared to the cut and thrust of ASBK.
ASBK Superbike Race One Results
Wayne Maxwell – Suzuki
Aiden Wagner – Yamaha +0.147
Bryan Staring – Kawasaki +0.320
Maxwell had taken first blood, and was somewhat emotional in parc ferme as the 36-year-old had not expected to take the win. After recent years on Yamaha machinery, he was still not feeling fully comfortable on the GSX-R, saying the bike did not yet feel like his. Be interesting to see just how fast he goes when he does get back to that stage with familiarity on the Suzuki!
Wayne Maxwell celebrates victory – Image Rob Mott
Bayliss injuries surface
We didn’t have to wait long for part two later the same afternoon. If the opening race was a scene setter, race two will be in the background for the rest of the season as well. The action was a carbon copy of the opening leg with a few more exclamation marks for good measure – albeit with one disappointing turn of events.
After his whoopsie of the first race Bayliss seemed fine and in his usual laconic way was circumspect with the turn of events of his two massive crashes in less than 24 hours, but ready to come out swinging.
Bayliss headed out on a hastily prepared machine, but on the sighting lap as he applied the front brake for the first time he realised that he could close the ring finger of his right hand, but couldn’t extend it. A torn tendon forced his exit from the rest of proceedings and the loss of plenty of potential points.
Race 2 – Phillip Island
Race two soon turned into a Maxwell vs Wagner vs Waters vs Halliday vs Falzon affair, with the others not far off. Falzon crashed at turn 10 losing the front which baulked those following, allowing the top four a gap over the likes of Staring, Mike Jones (K&R Hydraulics ZX-10R) and Troy Herfoss on the Penrite Honda who was struggling to stay in touch.
Daniel Falzon slides out of contention – TBG Image
Wagner had complete faith in his front end in his desire to poke a wheel up the inside of the opposition and managed to hold his line. After a few laps the rear was starting to walk on him but he didn’t give a toss about what the rear was doing. He was right in the mix.
It all came down to the final lap dogfight. Again.
Hundredths of a second covered the top four and so typical of Phillip Island it all came down to the final four corners: setting up over Lukey Heights, a possible dive up the inside into MG Corner, then the drag through 11 and 12 to the line.
The last five hundred metres of the second Superbike race is now etched in history, but its repercussions may reverberate throughout the year. Maxwell had managed to get in front in the final set of corners and led Wagner, Waters and Halliday as they tipped into Turn 12.
Maxwell hung it up a little higher than usual leaving a bit of vacant bitumen. Wagner saw that lonely bit of bitumen as an invitation and reacted accordingly driving through – hugging the ripple strip, with Halliday and Waters line astern.
Aiden Wagner – Maxwell tumbles – Image Rob Mott
Kaa-boom! A clash as Wagner and Maxwell collided in the rush with Maxwell falling off the inside of the bike, cartwheeling into the track-side beach, spraying the gravel high.
Wagner kept it pinned as the carnage unfolded to take the flag from Halliday second and Waters third and a crater of destruction and controversy hot on their heels. Thankfully, Maxwell was soon on his feet and taking the long walk back to the pits from the outside of the track. Fuming.
Wayne Maxwell dusts himself off… – Image Rob Mott
Controversy
At race’s end, I descended down the stairs from the three-storey eyrie that is the commentary box in the control tower to head to park ferme to conduct the usual post race interviews. I had just emerged from the tower to pass a rapidly advancing and extremely arced-up, Phil Tainton from Team Ecstar Suzuki, who was charging up to race control to explain his point of view.
I hadn’t seen Phil like that in a long time. Hoo-ee, this has just taken the championship to another level.
There were plenty of words said from both sides and also the view of onlookers. Wagner claimed there was a gap. Maxwell claimed there wasn’t any room. Wagner was contrite and apologised to Maxwell for the incident but at the time it fell on deaf ears. Everyone else had their own opinion. Was there a gap or not?
Officials deemed it as a racing incident and no action was taken, much to the chagrin of some. Riders had different opinions with one telling me, “Tell them to stop sooking. It’s a racing incident. I’d rather be fighting for the lead and crashing than being back here where we are.” Touche!
Personally, I think it is fantastic for the intrigue and interest. It brought more international attention to the ASBK and many in the WSBK paddock were talking about it, including Jamie Whitham who thought it was fantastic. It made the opening WSBK race seem like a procession!
Whoever was right, or wrong, it brought back a statement that the great Ayton Senna said at the 1990 Australian F1 Grand Prix, “By being a racing driver you are under risk all the time. By being a racing driver means you are racing with other people. And if you no longer go for a gap that exists, you are no longer a racing driver because we are competing, we are competing to win. And the main motivation to all of us is to compete for victory, it’s not to come 3rd, 4th, 5th or 6th. I race to win as long as I feel it’s possible. Sometimes you get it wrong. Sure, it’s impossible to get it right all the time. But I race designed to win, as long as I feel I’m doing it right.”
But that philosophy didn’t work out all that well for the Brazilian legend in the end did it…
Race 3 – Phillip Island
With the third and final race of the opening round held on Sunday morning, at least we could get our collective breath back over night. Lucky because race three left us all breathless. It was the race of the weekend.
Maxwell was battered and bruised after his 200 km/h+ get off the day before but his determination wasn’t lessened by any stretch. The anticipation was palpable.
Wayne Maxwell kits up – Image Rob Mott
Arthur Sissis stormed from 15th on the grid to grab the holeshot but was soon swamped as Waters led the first lap from Wagner and Falzon – the trio covered by 0.624 sec. Jones joined the fray on the next lap and created history by not only breaking the lap record but being the first rider to dip into a sub 1:32 with a corker of a lap to record 1:31.881!
ASBK Superbike 2019 – Race Three Start – Rob Mott Image
The leading freight train was adding extra carriages as the laps went by. It became a quintet the next lap when Haliday chimed in, 0.753 sec adrift.
Josh Waters leads into turn one – Rob Mott Image
The passing moves had been stepped up especially at the frighteningly fast Hayshed where Jones was making it his corner, just like Jamie Stauffer did in the past, to dive up the inside accelerating through the apex.
Mike Jones leads Cru Halliday – Rob Mott Image
Another couple of laps and there were seven carriages but none of them remained in the same place. It was mental the amount of positional changes and at two thirds race distance, seven bikes were covered by less than a second with Wagner and Jones taking turns to lead the end of consecutive laps.
Wagner made it two victories after getting the best of Jones by 0.317 sec (the largest gap over the three races), with Halliday in third, the trio separated by just 0.394 sec. A blink of the eye behind was Falzon, Waters and a very gallant Maxwell 0.933 away in sixth.
Over the three races you wouldn’t see as much carving in a dozen pubs for a Sunday roast! Enthralling. The total winning margin for the three races was an astronomical: 0.765!
What lies ahead this weekend? There are no similarities between Phillip Island and this weekend’s round at the tight twisty bumpy and extremely demanding Wakefield Park, except they are racetracks.
This weekend extreme tension is a given. How far before the tension is too much and something snaps is anyone’s guess but I reckon something will happen in qualifying in the fist fight for the extra championship point.
Troy Herfoss testing at Wakefield Park – TDJ Image
Herfoss will no doubt start as a favourite such is his affinity with the track and he will have an added incentive of making up for what was, in his and the team’s eyes, an extremely disappointing weekend at Phillip Island – a place that has never been too kind to him.
Maxwell has done well at the the track in recent years and the pair have split wins pretty evenly. Then there is Cru Halliday. He has had some memorable moments at the track and now he is back on a Superbike after his domination of last year’s Supersport title.
Wayne Maxwell testing at Wakefield Park – TDJ Image
Don’t be surprised if he takes a victory as he is a true dark horse for this year’s title, as is his team mate, Falzon. The South Australian, who now works as a fully qualified paramedic, has a hunger for race wins and he may well bring a take-no-prisoners approach into the meeting as well
Unfortunately, Bayliss will be a non starter but that allows Mike Jones to be reunited with the Desmo Sport Ducati team as he has been drafted in to fly the flag in the absence of Troy.
Mike Jones testing at Wakefield Park – TDJ Image
Staring showed that he and the Kawasaki BC Perfomance ZX10 is not too far off the pace. The big question mark for him is whether the Dunlop tyres are up to the rigours of the 2.2km track? Could they even have a weather dependent advantage this weekend..? Saturday and Sunday are looking warm.
Bryan Staring – TBG Image
Then there are the riders with three Australian Superbike Championships in Glenn Allerton and Josh Waters. Allerton and the Next Gen Motosrports BMW team have had a challenging start to the year. Still awaiting delivery of the new HP4, they had a setback with going to Dunlops then returning to Pirelli. At the Island they were well off the mark but anyone who discounts Allerton does so at their peril.
Glenn Allerton – TBG Image
The same must be said for Waters. After the disappointment of last year, the Gixxer and Waters look to be back to their rampaging best. Plus he now has a team mate that is out to claim another title, and we all know what they say about team mates.
Josh Waters testing at Wakefield Park – TDJ Image
Then there is Wagner. What he brings to the table has given the championship that bit of extra mongrel and disregard for reputations that the series has been aching for.
Mike Jones and Aiden Wagner – These two will figure hghly this weekend – Rob Mott Image
After his first round blitzkrieg the opposition will be more prepared to deal with what ever firepower Wagner throws their way. The arsenal of the opposition will be well stocked to defend the attacks.
Aiden Wagner – Image Rob Mott
Wakefield history
An interesting bit of trivia. In the past three years good mates, Maxwell and Herfoss have been the best performers at Wakefield, sharing the wins at three apiece. Herfoss has two second places to Maxwell’s one, with Herfoss’ worst result a fourth, while Maxwell has not fared quite as well overall, with an eighth and a DNF. Herfoss has also taken the last three pole positions. Herfoss’ points haul is 135 points compared to Maxwell on 108.
2019 ASBK Official Test
Wakefield Park – March 4-5, 2019
By Trevor Hedge – Images by TDJ Media
While Wayne Maxwell showed some stellar speed at the Phillip Island season opener, including surprising himself with victory in race one, when I spoke to him during the weekend he said the Suzuki still didn’t feel like ‘his’ bike, and that he was still far from fully comfortable.
Wayne Maxwell was clearly emotional after winning the opening race of ASBK season 2019 at Phillip Island – TBG Image
This week, alongside many of the ASBK regulars present for an official two-day test at Wakefield Park, Maxwell got to turn plenty of laps on the Team Suzuki machine to further familiarise himself with the GSX-R1000R.
Wayne Maxwell
Today Maxwell got familiar enough to top the two-day test with a best of 57.659. That was today’s official benchmark by a slender margin over Troy Herfoss’ 57.728.
Troy Herfoss
More importantly the test gave Maxwell enough time to experiment with different settings on the machine, and to learn more about what affect those changes had on the bike. This will arm him with more knowledge to give better feedback to the team throughout each session from hereon in, as the season progresses.
Wayne Maxwell
Max Croker air-lifted to hospital
Unfortunately though another Suzuki rider was made very uncomfortable today. Young Max Croker crashed heavily and was air-lifted to hospital. There it was confirmed that he has broken the same collarbone that he broke last year, from which he only had the plate removed from about four months ago. The more worrysome injury is to his hand, where early indications suggest that multiple breaks have been sustained that will leave him on the sidelines for some time.
Max Croker
He is currently waiting to see a hand specialist before any treatment plan and prognosis can be made. Team owner Mat Mladin rang in to tell us that they will support Max the best they can on his road to recovery, and when he is ready to go again, his Mladin Racing Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 and all the team support will be waiting for him.
Max CrokerAiden Wagner
Aiden Wagner put in a 58.067 to end the second day third quickest on the time-sheets ahead of Josh Waters.
Josh Waters
Alex Phillis stopped the clocks at 58.896 ahead of Lachlan Epis who with a 59.964 was the final rider to lap under the minute mark.
Alex Phillis
Was Mike Jones actually quickest today….?
One rider missing the test, while recovering from surgery after being injured at round one, was none other than Troy Bayliss.With TB laid up after surgery and wanting to rest up in order to have a fighting chance of some good results when ASBK returns to Wakefield Park to race in a few weeks time, DesmoSport Ducati recruited Mike Jones for testing duties aboard the 1299 Panigale R Final Edition.
Mike Jones
The recently turned 25-year-old turned up on a K&R Hydraulics backed ZX-10RR for the season opener at Phillip Island where he scored a best of second place, and a fourth overall for the round.That’s a pretty good scorecard by anyone’s standards.
Jones of course is no stranger to Ducati machinery and took little time get back in the groove. The team elected to not run a transponder, thus no times were registered on the circuit timing system, but talk around the paddock suggested that Jones might have actually undercut Maxwell by two-tenths-of-a-second to end the day fastest, unofficially at least…
Mike Jones
DesmoSport Ducati were not originally planning to attend this test and actually have the track booked for next Wednesday. But after Troy’s injury they decided to attend anyway and put Mike on the bike. They will test again next week and have now opened up an opportunity for other interested parties to join them on track at that test.
Mike Jones will ride the bike again next week and unless Troy’s hand gets a hurry-on in its strength and dexterity, Jones might actually ride the 1299 Panigale R Final Edition at the race here at Wakefield Park later this month.
Mike Jones
What is YRT’s form like heading to Wakefield Park…?
The Yamaha Racing Team also tested at Wakefield Park recently but their pace is an unknown. Likewise, how will the Kawasaki and the Dunlop challenge via Bryan Staring fare around the tricky Wakefield Park layout?
We will have to wait until the weekend of March 24 when the second round plays out around the 2.2-kilometre Wakefield Park circuit, situated on the outskirts of Goulburn between Sydney and Canberra. See you there!
2019 ASBK Round One – Phillip Island Superbike Race Two
Wayne Maxwell narrowly got the better of Aiden Wagner at the final juncture of race one after the privateer had virtually led from start to finish. Troy Bayliss had been in that mix before tipping off at turn one, while Bryan Staring had got the better of Falzon, Halliday and Waters to claim the final step on the rostrum.
The riders and the teams would have all learned some lessons in that opening 12-lap bout, and then set about applying some tweaks to their machines. While the riders tweaked their own brain spaces ahead of the second of three 12-lap races that make up the opening round of ASBK 2019.
On the warm-up lap Troy Bayliss felt that the discomfort in his hand was going to make racing this bout dangerous for himself and the other riders, so he elected to park the DesmoSport Ducati for this one and watch from the sidelines. He broke a finger on his left hand on Friday, and suffered injuries to the middle finger on his right during this morning’s crash. He is booked in for surgery on Tuesday. TB and DesmoSport Ducati have put so much work in during the pre-season and will be gutted to walk away from here with no points.
Daniel Falzon again got a great launch off the line but it was Josh Waters that led the field through turn one from Troy Herfoss as they negotiated Southern Loop for the first time. At turn four Herfoss got in a little deep and lost a number of positions as Aiden Wagner moved up to second place behind Waters. Through turn 12 for the first time it was Waters, Wagner, Falzon, Maxwell, Herfoss, Jones and Halliday.
Aiden Wagner moved past Waters to take the lead as they entered turn two early on the second lap and immediately put the hammer down to try and get away from the pursuing pack. A big moment coming on to the main straight next time around though allowed Wayne Maxwell and Josh Waters to slip past Wagner and make it a Suzuki 1-2 up front. Daniel Falzon was right on the tail of that trio as Cru Halliday also then joined the party to make that top five fight a very close affair.
Wagner was back in the lead on the next lap but then got in way too hot at turn four, the two Suzuki riders somewhat baulked each other mid-turn also which robbed them of their chance to take advantage of Wagner’s mistake.
Wagner made almost exactly the same mistake on the next lap, and actually came together with Cru Halliday and nearly fell off his machine, but somehow gripped it haed enough to recover. Halliday had fared worse in the clash, losing a couple of positions and valuable track position.
Daniel Falzon had been in the hunt but fell unhurt at turn ten at half race distance. At the halfway mark of the race it was Maxwell from Wagner and Waters, that trio in close company, while Halliday tried to regain the ground he lost in that brush with Wagner. Halliday had actually set the fastest lap of the race in that first half, a 1m32.669, and had been the only man to dip into the 32s, but he had work to do in order to get back in touch with the leading trio in the closing laps.
Halliday did that work though and with 2.5 laps to go got the better of Waters on the run through MG Hairpin to move up to third place and maintained that position through 11 and 12 and right through to turn one to start the penultimate lap. Nothing separated the top four, they were all in with a chance of stealing victory. Lapped traffic though, and a lot of it, baulked them late on that lap, they negotiated it safely to start the final lap with Wagner leading from Maxwell, Halliday and Waters.
Wagner had the rear of his privateer Yamaha break away though which allowed Maxwell through as they negotiated the back of the circuit.
Aiden Wagner – Maxwell tumbles – Image Rob Mott
Wagner then went up the inside of Maxwell as they neogotiated turn 12, the pair touched, sending Maxwell tumbling through the kitty litter, and was then seen tearing off his glove and looking at his hand as he ran to the pit wall and to safety.
Aiden Wagner – Maxwell tumbles – Image Rob Mott
Thus a somewhat controversial win and early championship lead goes to Aiden Wagner from Cru Halliday and Josh Waters.
