Phillip Island ASBK preview
Weather conditions could play a part in this weekend’s sixth round of the 2010 Australian Superbike Championship at Phillip Island.
ASBK Phillip Island
With this weekend’s sixth round of the Australian Superbike Championship at Phillip Island running alongside the 500km V8 Supercar endurance race. predicted high winds and steady showers throughout practice, qualifying and two races will keep riders and teams on their toes.
Superbike points leader Bryan Staring has won four consecutive races and enjoys a handy advantage at the top of the table. Closest challenger, fellow Honda rider Wayne Maxwell, said a number of factors would come into play this weekend.
“The races are shorter, for a start, which changes strategy. There’s certainly no chance of tyres overheating but whether or not there is an advantage in sprinting an entire race or holding back until the last few laps remains to be seen,” explained the Demolition Plus GAS Honda pilot. “The conditions are something we all have to manage. We are expecting it to be pretty wet and windy for most of the weekend, so hopefully the setup won’t vary too much.”
Staring, said he was aiming to maintain the gap over Maxwell and a fast-finishing Glenn Allerton. “I’ve had a few weeks to train at home and we completed a good test at Phillip Island just over a week ago, all signs were positive and the new bike is feeling very strong,” said Staring. “We’re well prepared so there’s no reason why we can’t come away from this weekend with another good haul of points.”
2009 champion, Team Suzuki’s Josh Waters is on the mend following his crash at US circuit Willow Springs but will not contest this weekend’s round. Waters said he would be concentrating on a return at Symmon’s Plains for the final round rather than risking another rider’s or his own safety.
Following an impressive second place finish for the round at Queensland Raceway, Ducati Motologic Racing’s Jamie Stauffer is another rider that will be in contention for a podium placing. He will be the lone Ducati pilot this weekend with teammate Jordy Burgess still sidelined after a qualifying crash last round.
BMW S 1000 R pilot Craig Coxhell will be looking for another rocket start to Saturday and Sunday’s 10-lap races after an impressive performance at Ipswich. Two maximum points hauls saw Coxhell close the gap even further in the Superstock 1000 A&B points race, and like the Ducati, the BMW should come into its own this weekend.
Action from both races will be telecast live on Channel 7.
Race 1 will be shown between 2pm and 3pm on Saturday; race 2 will be shown between 11.30am and 12.30pm on Sunday.
Campground, grandstand and L&H group ticket holders will have the opportunity to attend an exclusive event with ASBK riders as well as V8 Supercar, V8 Ute and Mini Challenge drivers to be held on Saturday evening. Hosted inside the Island Pavilion at the circuit from 5.30pm, the event will feature a series of rider and driver interviews and allow fans to chat and grab an autograph with their heroes A BBQ and drinks will follow the formalities and a performance from Jason Singh, lead singer of Taxi Ride, will round out what is set to be an entertaining and insightful evening.
