News 19 Jan 2018

YRT's Redding tips competitive WorldSBK showing

Expects Maxwell and Falzon to be 'around the top 10' at Phillip Island.

Image: Russell Colvin.

A top 10 result in their Motul Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) debut could be within reach for Yamaha Racing Team (YRT) duo Wayne Maxwell and Daniel Falzon, according to team manager John Redding.

The Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) regulars will contest both series in the Yamaha Financial Services-backed opener at Phillip Island on 23-25 February and Redding is tipping the pair could impress on the world stage.

It’s expected that the YRT teammates will ride a similar specification YZF-R1M to their domestic race bikes in the pair of world championship races, however it’s a challenge the team is eagerly anticipating with just over one month until the lights go out at round one.

“Looking at the times and splits of previous WorldSBK rounds at Phillip Island and put them against what we do at the ASBK rounds and I expect us to be competitive and around the top 10 mark, which is a good result given the ASBK-spec bike our guys will be racing,” Redding stated.

“The riders and the team will also benefit from the additional track time they get, not only the amount of racing but the length of the races and the addition testing involved. It also gives our team and sponsors additional exposure as this is also a YMF-sponsored event. I’m confident that the riders and team will do themselves proud and we can get our 2018 season off to a flying start.”

Maxwell and Falzon make up two-thirds of the one-off entries for Phillip Island’s WorldSBK opener, to be joined by Honda’s Troy Herfoss in the premier class while Tom Toparis will enter his Cube Racing machine in World Supersport.

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