News 21 Feb 2015

Drama at Phillip Island as ASBK opener postponed

Stauffer and Condon injured in opening Superbike race.

Image: Keith Muir.

Image: Keith Muir.

The 2015 Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) kicked off in dramatic fashion on Saturday, with an action-packed opening Superbike race at Phillip Island.

With a red flag shown on the second lap of the first start and another shown on the opening lap of the restart, the first race for the program has been pushed back to 8:20am on Sunday morning.

Team Honda Racing’s Jamie Stauffer started the race from pole position, but had surrendered that lead heading into the opening corner to teammate Troy Herfoss.

Kawasaki-mounted Sean Condon settled into third spot ahead of Josh Hook and reigning Supersport champion Daniel Falzon.

On the opening lap, both Herfoss and Stauffer took turns in the lead, as the pair came side-by-side a number of times throughout.

The action was at peak levels early as Condon was injured in an unfortunate incident – out with a dislocated shoulder and a finger injury – while Stauffer was run wide off the track by Herfoss at the opening turn of the second lap.

With Stauffer rejoining in sixth spot, it left Herfoss, Hook, Falzon, Mike Jones and Sloan Frost in the top five spots.

However the red flag was raised after Paul Simonson crashed at turn two and while riders initially resumed positions on the grid, they were soon forced to return to the pits.

When the race resumed it was set for eight laps and with Condon out of action it was a Team Honda Racing trifecta up front.

Herfoss showed the way from Stauffer and Hook, and soon after Stauffer moved into the lead before he too went down and caused another red flag to be shown. He was treated and taken to hospital where it has been confirmed he has sustained a broken pelvis.

The incidents mean that Sunday will feature both ASBK Superbike races for the opening round.

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