Features 11 Feb 2016

Rated: ASBK test pace-setters

Ranking domestic rider pre-season performances.

CycleOnline.com.au assesses selected contenders at the Phillip Island Australian Superbike test held earlier this week, ahead of round one of the ASBK on 26-28 February alongside the WorldSBK opener.

Image: Russell Colvin.

Image: Russell Colvin.

Rider: Mike Jones
Team: DesmoSport Ducati
Rating: 90/100
Rundown: In his first official outing as a DesmoSport Ducati factory rider, current ASBK champion Jones was impressive across the two days. He will be a wildcard at the WorldSBK opener, however his lap time against his top domestic competition saw him top the charts at 1m33.233s. The times weren’t typically quick (Wayne Maxwell did a 1m32.449s in race three at MotoGP last October), but still, Jones has quickly adapted to the Panigale in these early stages.

Rider: Jamie Stauffer
Team: Crankt Protein Honda Racing
Rating: 85/100
Rundown: Fastest on day one and second overall, Stauffer was fast from the outset at the Phillip Island test. He will take a lot of confidence into the race weekend from that result, especially since he did win a race last time out on MotoGP weekend. A heavy crash on day two did put a damper on the test, however he was consistently quick on board the refined CBR1000RR SP.

Rider: Troy Herfoss
Team: Crankt Protein Honda Racing
Rating: 75/100
Rundown: New Australasian Superbike Champion Herfoss worked methodically across the two days at Phillip Island, which will come as a major benefactor during the race weekend later this month. Once the event comes – which should be the opening round of a full ASBK assault for Honda – then we expect him to be right there challenging for wins across the pair of championship races.

Image: Russell Colvin.

Image: Russell Colvin.

Rider: Daniel Falzon
Team: JD Racing Yamaha
Rating: 70/100
Rundown: Set for a second term in the premier Superbike ranks, two-time Australian Supersport Champion Falzon is enjoying the challenge of competing against the country’s top talent and factory teams. His 1m34.093s lap time was within a second of the top time, so he should be on par with the factory riders for the most part – especially as the series winds on into the circuits he gained valuable time on last season.

Rider: Robbie Bugden
Team: SA Kawasaki BCperformance
Rating: 70/100
Rundown: A full year on the sidelines hasn’t done much to slow down experienced Queenslander Robbie Bugden, developing the new Ninja ZX-10R with support from Kawasaki Motors Australia. Bugden was also within a second of the leading pace, which bodes well for a strong showing at the WorldSBK round and a good year ahead. Seat time will be a critical part of his progress during the early parts of the year.

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