ITS
OFFICIAL! CASTROL HONDA & KRUSTY CROWNED '04 DUAL CHAMPIONS
Having already secured the
Supersport title last month, Adam 'Krusty'
Fergusson and Castrol Honda have made motorsport history this weekend
at
Phillip Island by locking in the 2004 Australian Superbike Championship.
Adam was originally acknowledged
as the winner after the previous round of
the Shell Advance series held in Queensland. However after some confusion
regarding the points tally, a recount showed that the veteran rider
could
not quite yet declare victory.
With his fine performance
this weekend at the final round, the point is
mute and the Victorian can now assert the title "Double Champion".
This is the first Superbike
win for Honda Australia in nearly ten years and
the mood is obviously high in the Honda camp.
"There were a lot of
critics out there at the beginning of the season who
didn't think we'd have a chance," Team Manager Paul Free said.
"I think
we've shown that the new CBR1000 and the established CBR600 are setting
the
benchmark for the sportbike racing industry."
"We also had the added
advantage of having the best riders in the country
to get these bikes to the finish line," Free noted.
"Adam was a bit of an
unknown quantity having not raced here in Australia
for a couple of years, but he has made his mark, not only with Honda
but
within the industry worldwide. He has created history and his achievement
will be duly applauded across the globe."
Fergusson, who did not perform
as well as he had hoped at the Queensland
round for a number of reasons, noted that he "can celebrate properly
now."
"I won't say this was
an easy championship to win. It was a close game, I
worked hard and there was some fantastic competition out there who kept
me
on my toes the whole time."
"I have really enjoyed
this series. I'm happy to be racing on home soil and
everything has fallen into place this year. The Team worked extremely
well
together from day one, and I can't thank my mechanic Luke Spence enough."
After a booming start to
the season that looked as though he would provide
the main competition for Krusty in the big capacity class, Josh Brookes
had
to support his team mate from the sidelines as he continues to recover
from
a broken pelvis.
Brookes stamped his mark
of authority early on in the season. In the four
rounds he competed in, Josh made the Supersport podium eight times,
seven
of which were for the winner's trophy. He was also up with the top tier
five times in the Superbike class.
His edge-of-the-seat last
lap win at the World Super's at Phillip Island in
March will go down as one of Josh's personal, as well as Honda Australia's
defining moments.
Josh is recuperating well
from his horrific crash at Wanneroo in June and
is intending to be back in the saddle before the end of the year.
"We've had a near perfect
season," Free commented. "All of us were
disappointed that Josh was taken out early but I know he will be back
in
even better form next year."
"I'd like to especially
thank Josh's mechanic Garry House for his continued
dedication."
When asked to define Castrol
Honda's success this year, Free said, "To sum
up 2004, we've had great support from our sponsors, top notch riders
and
bikes, after market products at our disposal that are at the pinnacle
of
the industry, and a team that knows the true meaning of 'collaboration'.
We're looking forward to working even harder in 2005!"
Down
to the Line For Krusty & Castrol Honda
After
securing the 2004 Supersport championship at Queensland Raceway last
month, Adam ‘Krusty’ Fergusson and the Castrol Honda team
now have their sights firmly set on clinching victory in the Superbike
title this weekend at the Phillip Island. If Krusty gets over the line
in this final round of the SAASC series, it will make him the first
rider in history to achieve the illustrious double championship in the
one year.
It
will also give Honda Australia its first Superbike title for nearly
ten years since the late Kirk McCarthy piloted the RC45 to victory in
1995. Aboard the 2004 CBR1000RR, Adam has finished on the podium in
13 of the 17 races, including seven wins. He currently leads the championship
by 66pts from Yamaha’s Shannon Johnson. With a maximum of 76pts
up for grabs in the final round at Phillip Island, the 29 year old Victorian
need only finish sixth or better to claim the spoils, whilst team mate
Josh Brookes continues to convalesce from a broken hip sustained at
round four.
The
manufacturer’s championship for the season is also within reach
for Honda Australia. With 749 points overall, they sit 23 points ahead
of Yamaha. Team Manager Paul Free is excited about the prospect but
isn’t taking anything for granted just yet.
“We have a good chance of taking out the manufacturer’s
trophy which would just be the icing on the cake considering the rest
of the success we’ve had this year.” There is one further
question mark over the weekend for the Team in regard to Honda Financial
Services Supersport rider Jason O’Halloran. Sixteen
year old Jason underwent an arthroscopy on his ankle last week to try
and sort out ongoing problems he has had since originally injuring himself
at Wakefield earlier this year. Jason has continued to struggle with
his foot, and is hopeful this latest procedure will solve the problem.
A decision on whether or not he will ride the final round will be made
over the next day or so.
Victorians
are encouraged to come down and support local rider Fergusson at
what will undoubtedly be a fantastic finale to the season.
