Subscription

Car Racing

Motorcycle Racing

Racing in Oz

Shop

2005 AUSTRALIAN SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP

2005 AUSTRALIAN SUPERBIKE / SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP

ROUND 2, EASTERN CREEK, MAY 1, 2005

• DEBUT OF NEW 2005 YAMAHA YZF-R1

RACE RESULT:

• 1 Joshua BROOKES, Honda CBR1000RR
• 2 Daniel STAUFFER, Yamaha R1
• 3 Jamie STAUFFER, Kawasaki ZX-10R
  “That was a good race with a bad result. There was no way Daniel was going to make the corner as he came underneath me into Turn Two and he allowed Brookes to get through. Dan then held me up for ages… Brookesy got away and we were never going to catch him. Eventually I got past Dan, but then a backmarker forced me onto the dirt through Turn 11 and almost had me off as I tried to drive onto the straight for the last time. I wish the guys would take notice of the waved blue flags and get out of the way… Anyway, third is better than nothing, but I know if I get away cleanly in the next one I can win as the tyres are holding up well and the bike drives really well off the turns. So I’ll aim to get the lead and ride as hard as I can to hold off Josh and my brother.”
• 4 Adam FERGUSSON, Honda CBR1000RR
• 5 Scott CHARLTON, Suzuki GSX-R1000
• 6 Shannon JOHNSON, Yamaha
• 7 GILES 8 HENDERSON 9 BUGDEN 10 ALLERTON

• 1 Joshua BROOKES, Honda
• 2 Mark AITCHISON
• 3 Joshua WATERS

RACE 2

• 1 Mark AITCHISON
• 2 Joshua WATERS
• 3 Brendan CLARKE

RACE REPORT: HONDA

BROOKES THE VICTOR AFTER ALMIGHTY EASTERN CREEK BATTLE

A typically temperate weekend in Sydney provided the backdrop for a highly successful second round for Josh Brookes and the Joe Rocket Honda race team at the Australian Superbike Championships this past weekend. As a whole, the racing was fast and furious and of the world class standard local fans are now getting quite accustomed too. Tyre grip proved to be one of the more important components for the riders over the course of the three day affair, and two edge of the seat Superbike challenges in the new two race format resulted in young Brookes taking both
wins in the 1000cc class at his hometown track. His superior results gave him a round win and a 16 point lead in the Championship.

A pole position and first race win also secured Josh’s lead Supersport position with a 12 point gap from Fergusson who was somewhat frustrated with himself and his lack of pace throughout the event, putting it down to the Creek “not being my favourite track, nor am I fully comfortable with the bike set up or myself quite frankly this weekend!”

Although Adam struggled somewhat to get the pace he wanted all weekend, the 2004 Champion put in consistent rides in both classes allowing him to progress up the series ladder two more much needed positions in the Superbike competition and reinforce his second position in Supersport.

Junior Honda team runner, Jason O’Halloran (Rocket Racing) put in a solid effort to boot finishing fifth for the round after some very tight racing in the two twenty minute plus lap races.

With a near perfect weekend – save for a second Supersport race crash in turn three for Brookes – Josh walked away with a big smile on his face. “I’m happy with my results. The series has been going well for me so far and I feel really comfortable with the Michelins and both of my race
bikes;” an excellent outcome for the recently turned 22 year old talent .

Race Action

Sandwiched between the two Stauffer boys on the Superbike grid, Josh and the other top runners simply whirled quicker and quicker as the weekend progressed, with lap times getting down to just over 1:32 at the New South Wales circuit.

After a top three start in race one, Brookesy found himself on the tail of the two Stauffers, with Honda team mate Adam Fergusson just behind in fourth after losing some ground on the trio at the front. Quick thinking at the half way mark allowed Josh to take advantage early on in the piece after a mistake from the front runners enabled him to take the top spot. As the men continued to ride as a tight threesome, Brookes managed to hold off them off until the chequered flag.

Race two was a similar affair with Brookesy pegging Jamie Stauffer on the change of direction before turn seven, and eventually making it through to the lead on the run to the main straight where he kept the Kawasaki man at bay enough to take the double win. Fergusson in the meantime made his way up past Johnson (Yamaha) and Giles (Suzuki) to secure another 4th place for the day, not ecstatic but at least satisfied with his result.

Josh’s Supersport effort was equally impressive with a pole position and first race win, however a crash in the second outing under cold tyres marred his otherwise perfect score for the weekend. Brookesy got away in his characteristic position up front with Mark Aitchison (Yamaha) in just behind him. Honda privateer and last year’s ‘Stars of Tomorrow’ Champion, Bryan Staring also got an absolute flyer of a start from the second row to hang with the lead group and have a battle
with fellow up-and-comer, O'Halloran who was having his own tug-o-war with Yamaha’s Robbie Baird. In the interim, Brookes capitalised on the mayhem and pulled away to cement the lead.

Fergusson, who never really found his comfort point on the CBR600RR over the weekend, established himself around mid pack and had to settle for an 11th place finish.

In Supersport race two, Josh once again got away well in his trademark style, and it looked as though it would be a tussle with Aitchison much the same as before. However, the Honda man “pushed too hard on the first right hander with not enough heat and too much throttle and I was out of there.” “Funny though (referring to his series stopping crash last year in WA), this time around the first thing I wanted to do was get up and walk away just to make sure I was okay. I’m fine and the bike wasn’t too bad either so its all good.”

Adam fared slightly better second time around, wrapping up in eight position with team mate O’Halloran next door in ninth. “To be honest, Eastern Creek has never been a strong event for me. We were having some problems with 600 set up that we haven’t been able to get exactly right but to be honest, I think most of it has been me this weekend. I need to go away and stop throwing things around and get my head together for round three,” Krusty said philosophically. “For such an ordinary weekend, I actually still came out alright in the overall points.”

Team Manager Paul Free agreed. “Overall we had a successful weekend even though there were a few glitches. Josh still leads both classes, with Adam second in Supersport and Jason in fourth. Adam also gained some important Superbike championship points. From here, we will just keep working over the next few weeks to make sure we have the bikes working to an optimum level for all of our riders for the next round.”

Rocket Racing’s Judd Greedy will also be keeping an eye on the results after watching Eastern Creek from the pits as he continues to recuperate from a pre season crash which left him with a fractured vertebrae. “Getting better all the time”, Judd said. “I just have to follow doctor’s orders now but I’m hoping to be back very soon.”

QUALIFYING:

SAT, APR 30, 2005

• 1 Daniel STAUFFER, Yamaha R1 1m 31.274 ** new record **
  2 Joshua BROOKES, Honda CBR1000RR
  3 Jamie STAUFFER, Kawasaki ZX-10R
  4 Adam FERGUSSON, Honda CBR1000RR
  5 Shannon JOHNSON, Yamaha
  6 Scott CHARLTON, Suzuki GSX-R1000
  7 BUGDEN 8 HOLLAND 9 HENDERSON 10 GILES

BEFORE RACE:

• D STAUFFER (YAMAHA): "Eastern Creek was pretty good to me last year with a couple of wins so I’m hoping I can repeat the performance.”
• R BAIRD (YAMAHA, SUPERSPORT): "Phillip Island wasn’t the best for me but we were improving all weekend. We had a little hiccup in the first race that put us behind but we were getting stronger as the weekend went on and my third place in the last race showed that we’re heading in the right direction. I like Eastern Creek and I know Kev and the team have been working hard to improve the R6 against the other bikes that have had a year’s development but I reckon it will be a different story at the Creek"
• HONDA: Joe Rocket Honda Ready to Blast Off at Eastern Creek
• Round two of the Australian Superbike Championships commences tomorrow at Eastern Creek, NSW and Honda Australia’s factory riders are aiming to do no less than hold on to their primary positions. Since the first round held at Phillip Island four weeks ago, the Team have been busy with a fruitful testing session at Winton, as well as being involved in the launch of the new Honda RACESAFE Medical Team.
• Bringelly based Josh Brookes, who currently leads both the Superbike and Supersport classes is relaxed about the coming round at his home town. Brookes skillfully launched this season’s 600cc class with a perfect score of 76 points after taking pole position and subsequently obliterating the competition in each of the three races. He also claimed the win in the Superbike class on points after some close competition from team mate Adam Fergusson and Suzuki’s Shawn Giles, taking him to this weekend’s round as outright leader in both championships.
• “I always go well at Eastern Creek and my mechanic Garry House and Manager, Paul Free have gotten both CBR’s even a bit more dialed in so I’m anticipating a good result, all things going to plan,” Josh said.
• Adam Fergusson sits just 10 points behind his team mate in the 600cc points tally after an equally impressive second place ride last month. A technical problem in the inaugural Superbike race of the season set him back slightly in the run for first blood, however Fergusson is no stranger to accumulating the points needed over the course of a season. “I always enjoy racing with Josh in Supersport and our lap times are very comparable so if I can get away well, I’m sure I can get the better of him,” Krusty said.
• “The big class is probably a little more of an unknown. There are some very competitive guys in the top 10 so it is a harder game, physically and mentally. I am fully intending to try and hold on to my championship status however.”
• Rocket Racing’s young Supersport talent Jason O’Halloran also started off the season in spectacular fashion, and comes to the Creek in third position on 54 points. “My aim is to always be up in the top three and so far, so good,” the 17 year old said. “I have a fair amount of experience at this track as well since I live in Wollongong so I’m feeling pretty good.”
• Unfortunately Jason’s junior team partner, Judd Greedy has been sidelined with a fractured vertebra in his lower back sustained during pre season testing, and isn’t due back until mid season at the earliest. However, punters will see a ‘temporary pilot’ in the seat of his #99 bike. Jeff Ware, Editor of Australia’s Rapid Magazine will be taking on the challenge on the CBR1000RR for one round only. “Well its been five years since I did any serious racing, so it should be interesting!,” Jeff joked. “But I am really looking forward to having a go and am grateful to Honda for setting up the ride for me.

Advertising Enquiry