Image: Russell Colvin.

Team Honda Racing’s Josh Hook will start out of pole position for tomorrow’s YMF-Loan Australian FX-Superbike Championship after clocking the fastest lap in qualifying on a damp Winton Motor Raceway circuit today.

Hook scored his pole position on his 10th out of 11 laps with a 1m33.613, which was 0.087s faster than Motul-supported teammate Wayne Maxwell, who only did five laps in total.

“It’s been so long since I have ridden a motorcycle around Winton I just wanted to feel my way around here,” said Hook. “Also after coming off the bike at Suzuka last weekend, the two bikes are completely different; for me it was just to ride around and get used to the Australian Superbike.

“Starting from pole position is a bonus as I will have a clear track for tomorrow so I can try and put in a fast lap time for the Sunday races.”

Maxwell summed up qualifying as “pretty boring and basic”. The championship leader said: “It’s not so important for tomorrow, just as long as you’re in the top three rows – it will be enough to get a good enough lap time for Sunday. I’m happy enough to be starting in P2 for tomorrow.”

A solid third position went to LMR’s Linden Magee who posted a 1m33.866 on his BMW HP4. “It was pretty inconsistent weather out there,” explained the Queenslander. “You didn’t know if it was going to rain or stay dry. I made a call to go wets just before the qualifying session.”

Magee however did run off at turn one just before the session got red flagged. If it does rain tomorrow or even Sunday, Magee has admitted that himself and the team do have a good wet set up for their bike.

“I didn’t have any ‘crazy’ moments everything felt pretty smooth, so I’m looking forward to tomorrow,” he added.

Rounding out the front row will be Chris Seaton aboard the Trinder Racing Aprilia RSV4 in his best performance of the season to date.

Glenn Allerton (Dynotech Pirelli BMW) was fifth fastest, Sean Condon (BikeBiz Racing/Swann Insurance/Ipone/Kawasaki) and Chris Trounson (Gas Honda Racing) were sixth and seventh respectively, while Troy Herfoss (Team Honda Racing), YRT with YMI’s Robbie Bugden and Ben Henry (Cube Racing Kawasaki/Australian Outdoor Living/Kawasaki) rounded out the top 10.

It will be a tough day tomorrow Team Honda’s Jamie Stauffer, who will start from position 13th with his freshly broken ankle, just ahead of YRT with YMI’s Rick Olson. Olson’s teammate Cru Halliday will start from position 17th.

“I just had no confidence today, which for me is embarrassing and it puts me in a bad position for qualifying for the Sunday races,” said Halliday. “But hey everyone has their bad days. I guess it was my turn and I just need to believe in myself tomorrow and see how it turns out.”

Image: Russell Colvin.

In the Supersport class it was Victorian-based Western Australian Mason Coote scoring his first pole as he guided his Dynoverks Racing/MSC Safe Co/Yamaha R6 to pole position with a lap time of 1m35.644.

“I’m stoked,” beamed the 21-year old. “It was tough conditions out there today that’s for sure! I just went from the start, and here we are.”

Joining Coote on the front row will be Aiden Wagner (Wagner Soil Testing/YRD/SW Racing/ Mupo Suspension), who was just 0.379s off the pace. William Davidson (Thomas Brothers Toyota/Valvoline) was third, with young Michael Blair rounding out the front row on his Finson Motorsport R6.

Mason’s brother Aaiden rounded out the top five, while championship leader, Aaron Morris (Maxima Yamaha/YRD/Bell/Alpinestars/Watson Demolition) ended up in sixth spot.

Stay tuned to CycleOnline.com.au for a full wrap up of all the other classes.

2014 YMF-Loan Australian FX-Superbike Championship
Round four – Winton, VIC

Superbike qualifying results:
1. Josh HOOK 1m33.613
2. Wayne MAXWELL 1m33.700
3. Linden MAGEE 1m33.866
4. Chris SEATON 1m34.203
5. Glenn ALLERTON 1m34.429
6. Sean CONDON 1m34.810
7. Chris TROUNSON 1m34.930
8. Troy HERFOSS 1m35.354
9. Robert BUGDEN 1m35.405
10. Ben HENRY 1m36.282

Supersport qualifying results:
1. Mason COOTE 1m35.644
2. Aiden WAGNER 1m36.023
3. William DAVIDSON 1m36.282
4. Michael BLAIR 1m38.443
5. Aaiden COOTE 1m38.751
6. Aaron MORRIS 1m39.329
7. Luke MITCHELL 1m40.024
8. Cambridge OLIVIER 1m40.030
9. Justin DI GIANDOMENICO 1m40.073
10. Callum SPRIGGS 1m40.559

Click here for detailed results