The Swann Insurance Australasian Superbike Championship heads from Mallala in South Australia and travels almost 2000km to Queensland Raceway for this weekend’s round three, which will mark the halfway point in this year’s championship.

The battle for the 2014 Swann Insurance Australasian Superbike Championship is heating up very nicely with Team Motul Honda’s Wayne Maxwell holding onto the championship lead by six points over his stablemate Jamie Stauffer, with the quiet assassin, Sean Condon (BikeBiz Racing/Ipone/Swann Insurance/Kawasaki Australia) back in third place, 38 eight points behind Maxwell.

After Maxwell’s pure display of dominance at Mallala last month, can the 2013 ASBK champ roll into the Sunshine State and do it again? Or can Stauffer deliver a knockout punch and get one over him?

With Queensland Raceway being made up of fast straights, we may just see a flock of green machines up the pointy end of the field using the top-end speed as a slight advantage. The likes of Condon and the reigning ASC champion, Matt Walters (Kawasaki Connection/Rover Coaches/Kawasaki Australia), Dustin Goldsmith (Goldy’s Trailer & Towbars) or even local boy Ben Henry (Cube Racing Kawasaki/Australian Outdoor Living/Kawasaki) could provide an upset to the front running lads.

However if the testing times are anything to go by, Next Gen Motorsports’ Glenn Allerton could be the man to spoil the party all round! Allerton, who sits in fifth place in the standings, posted a unofficial 1m09.2 to Stauffer’s 1m09.5. With a bit to go with getting his knee back to 100 percent, Allerton is feeling good and is looking forward to the challenge.

The Yamaha army will be out in force. Hometown hero Robbie Bugden who won at ‘QR’ last year in the ASBK will be out to put on a show, while his two teammates Cru Halliday and Rick Olson will also put up a fight on what is the YRT with YMI home track.

Other men to cast an eye on will be Team Honda Racings Troy Herfoss who scored three fifth place finishes last time out, younger teammate, Josh Hook, who really needs a bit of a good result this weekend to shoot himself up the championship order.

In the Supersport class, expect nothing but fireworks between the good Queensland mates of championship leader and back to back round winner of Callum Spriggs (Allsite Concrete Cuting/Hydro Construction/YRD/XXX Rated) and Aiden Wagner (Wagner Soil Testing/YRD/XXX Rated Suspension).

With the NSW Blues winning the State of Origin against Queensland, can the two Queenslanders give their home state something to howl about or will New South Welshman Aaron Morris (Maxima Yamaha/YRD/Bell/Alpinestars/Watson Demolition) be able to come out on top?

After a testing round for South Australian rider Daniel Falzon on his Caterpillar Yamaha R6 at round two, he will be one on a mission!

Other classes that will throw up some intense racing across the board will be the Formula Oz class, which sees two Victorians Chris Trounson (Gas Honda/Unichip Australia) and Ben Nicolson (Next Gen Motorsports) topping the leader board.

In the Kawasaki Insurances FX 300 Ninja Cup class it will yet again be elbow to elbow racing, so don’t you dare miss any of that close racing whatever you do! Kyle Buckley (BC Performance A1 Kawasaki) make it another clean sweep? Just like all the other classes, the Pro-Twins and Naked bike class will sure throw action a plenty!

All the action will be streamed this Sunday on CycleOnline.com.au. Also keep your eyes peeled on the CycleOnline.com.au social media channels where there will be snap shots going up throughout the weekend.

Image: Russell Colvin.

Circuit location

38 Champions Way, Willowbank, QLD

Circuit facts

Length: 3.12 km
Turns: 6
Superbike lap record: Daniel Stauffer 1m09.944 on BMW S RR 25/08/2013
FX600 (Supersport) lap record: Mike Jones 1m11.489 on Yamaha YZF-R6 22/07/2012

Event entry

Friday: Free
Children (under 14): Free
General admission (Saturday or Sunday): $30
General admission (two-day): $40

Schedule

Friday: Practice in the morning and qualifying in the afternoon
Saturday: Warm-up until 10:00am then racing up until approx 4:30pm
Sunday: Warm-up up until 9:45am then racing up until approx 4:30pm

Entry lists

Australasian Superbike Championship:
1. Matt Walters
2. Chris Trounson
3. Rick Olson
16. Josh Hook
17. Troy Herfoss
18. Ben Henry
19. Brad Conder
20. Mitch Paynter
23. Chris Seaton
24. Robbie Bugden
25. Michael McLinden
26. Sean Condon
27. Jamie Stauffer
28. Glenn Allerton
46. Mike Jones
47. Wayne Maxwell
51. Dustin Goldsmith
52. Paul Byrne
54. Adam Christie
60. Ben Burke
65. Cru Halliday
67. Glynn Thomas
68. Glenn Scott
69. Steve Maher

Australasian Supersport Championship:
3. Callum Spriggs
4. Justin DiGiandomenico
5. Aiden Wagner
9. Jordan Carlsson
10. William Davidson
14. Ashley Manuel
16. Jay Presepio
20. Ben Blyth
22. Pat Medcalf
25. Daniel Falzon
29. Patrick Li
30. Dylan Mavin
32. David Roughley
44. Matt Davies
51. Brayden Elliot
53. Mason Coote
60. James Greensill
64. Aaron Morris
66. Aaiden Coote
68. Mitch Levy
81. Cambridge Olivier
84. Thomas Bryden
86. Chris McMillan
89. Anthony Villella
96. Luke Mitchell

2014 ASC calendar

Rd1 – 13-15 March – Wakefield Park, NSW
Rd2 – 16-18 May – Mallala Motorsport Park, SA
Rd3 – 27-29 June – Queensland Raceway, QLD
Rd4 – 1-3 August – Winton Raceway, VIC
Rd5 – 12-14 September – Wakefield Park, NSW
Rd6 – 21-23 November – Sydney Motorsport Park, NSW