News 24 Nov 2014

Desire still strong for Stauffer after ASC runner-up

Multiple-time national champion eager to secure 2015 seat.

Image: Alex Gobert.

Image: Alex Gobert.

Team Honda Racing’s Jamie Stauffer will race-on in 2015 if the opportunity is presented, determined to recapture the national Superbike crown he last won in 2007.

Stauffer was the class of the Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) with title wins in 2006 and 2007 as part of the then-dominant Yamaha Racing Team, but has since been unable to take out the country’s premier title.

With the prestige placed upon the Australasian Superbike Championship (ASC) in 2014, a resurgent Stauffer fell just seven points short of the Swann Series championship to teammate Wayne Maxwell at yesterday’s Sydney Motorsport Park finale.

Now, the 35-year-old will cast his focus toward 2015 if he can secure a seat at the factory Honda team for a fifth consecutive season – an option that appears far from certain during the mid-stages of the annual silly season.

“I finished second this year and as happy as I was for Honda to get first, second and third, I was still disappointed that I didn’t win,” Stauffer told CycleOnline.com.au. “It was a tough year and I probably felt better this year than I have in the past few.

“My pelvis didn’t give me any dramas. I did have a broken ankle after Suzuka, but it was nothing really. I enjoyed the year and had a lot of fun, so I would definitely like to keep riding – we’ll wait and see what comes up.”

It’s understood that Honda’s priority is to re-sign Maxwell and Troy Herfoss, with Stauffer a third option if additional funding can be sourced in time for next season. Fourth Honda regular Josh Hook continues to be linked to a fulltime transfer to Asian-based competition.

“I believe I’m still good enough to win and have some good, hard racing,” Stauffer added. “As long as we are in contention and I feel like I’m riding the way I should be, then I’m satisfied. The way racing is at the moment without a lot of money going around, it’s difficult for teams to get riders and pay them.”

With experience on his side, Stauffer was at the centre of paddock speculation in Sydney, but at this point has downplayed any potential Yamaha return upon arrival of the all-new YZF-R1 next year.

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