Image: Keith Muir.

Race one of the Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) presented by Motul Pirelli premier class at Winton saw Yamaha Racing Team’s Wayne Maxwell charge to a hard-earned victory.

Maxwell edged his way to the win by 0.550s from Robbie Bugden (Kawasaki BCperformance) and Cru Halliday (IPONE/YMF/YMI Yamaha), another tenth in arrears.

Crankt Protein Honda Racing’s Troy Herfoss set the pace and fended off multiple attacks from Maxwell until he finally made a move stick on lap 12 into turn seven.

Pirelli-equipped Maxwell stayed in front from there, keeping fast-finishing Dunlop duo Bugden and Halliday at bay in the closing laps – both of them moving by Herfoss on the penultimate lap and that’s how they would finish.

Behind them in fifth was Daniel Falzon (Caterpillar JD Racing Yamaha), who still leads the points, while sixth was Bridgestone-shod Josh Hook (Racer’s Edge Performance/McMartin Racing Ducati).

Josh Waters (Team Suzuki Ecstar), Bryan Staring (Crankt Protein Honda Racing), Michael Blair (Gosford Classic Car Museum/IPONE/YMI/Yamaha) and Corey Turner (Yamaha) filled the top 10. DesmoSport Ducati’s Callum Spriggs retired from the race with a broken exhaust on his Panigale.

The second race is due to take-off from 2:40pm local time. Follow the Livestream or Racefeed on CycleOnline.com.au for the latest.