Demolition Plus GAS Honda Racing's Wayne Maxwell was fastest on Fridat at The 6 Hour. Image: Keith Muir.

The defending champion Demolition Plus GAS Honda Racing team of Wayne Maxwell and Josh Brookes have topped the opening day of practice at the Bel-Ray 6 Hour at Phillip Island in Victoria.

Current ASBK number two Maxwell rode to the fastest time of the day with a 1:34.894, the lone rider to break the 1:35 barrier during the three hour-long practice sessions.

“It’s awesome to start the weekend on top and Josh is getting used to the bike as well,” Maxwell explained. “We’ll continue working hard tomorrow and it’s fun to ride with a good friend like Josh. Things are definitely on track for us so far.”

British Superbike runner-up Brookes was also on pace today, setting his best lap in the 1:35 range – their combined Suzuka 8 Hours experience putting them in good shape for Sunday’s race.

“I’m just trying to get used to Wayne’s settings because he’s already proven to be fast on the bike, so I’m just trying to get used to his bik ethe way he rides it,” Brookes commented.

“I’m getting a bit better each time I go out, so maybe tomorrow we will try some more of my settings to even us up a bit. I remember riding the Aussie spec bikes before, so it’s quite familiar for me to get back on without too much of a hassle.”

The team also had new Australian Superstock 1000 C and D Champion Cru Halliday do a number of laps during the day, however he’s only a reserve for the race and will unlikely get to compete on Sunday at this point.

Despite only a limited number of laps on an unfamiliar bike in his Superbike debut, Halliday posted a best lap in the low 1:39s.

Demolition Plus GAS Honda Racing lead all three sessions during today’s proceedings while carrying out a number of strategy throughout the sessions.

Second on the time sheets was the new-look Team Honda Racing entry of Jamie Stauffer and Glenn Allerton, posting a best lap of 1:35.250 in the final session of the day.

Stauffer was immediately quick aboard the factory Honda CBR1000RR, however he did suffer a crash in Southern Loop during the opening session of the day.

In third was the Team Suzuki entry of Shawn Giles and Josh Waters with a 1:35.708, directly followed by the Racers Edge Suzuki pairing of Scott Charlton and Cameron Donald at 1:35.781.

Rounding out the top five was another GSX-R1000 in the form of Gibson Motorcycles’ Trent Gibson and BSB regular Dave Johnson, their best recorded at 1:38.255.

Top Superstock 1000 was the Ankermann Motorsports Honda of Kris McLaren and Nick Waters in sixth outright, while top Supersport entrant was Team Suzuki’s reigning Australian Supersport Champion Troy Herfoss and Brodie Waters in seventh overall.

The InsureMyRide.com.au entry of former Endurance World Champion Warwick Nowland and Glenn Scott were top Superstock 600 riders in 11th outright.

In the Production ranks it was The 6 Hour BMW team of Murray Clark, John Corbett and Chris Penton who were quickest, 12th outright.

To place your tips on the weekend’s race results, visit the official MotoOnline.com.au 6 Hour Tipping Competition in our Forum.

The 6 Hour Australian Endurance Championship
Friday Practice Results
1. Demolition Plus GAS Honda 1:34.894
2. Team Honda Racing 1:35.250
3. Team Suzuki 1:35.708
4. Racers Edge 1:35.781
5. Gibson Motorcycles 1:38.255
6. Ankermann Motorsports Honda 1:38.528
7. Team Suzuki (Supersport) 1:38.530
8. Team Weld West 1:38.556
9. Triumph Austalia 1:40.285
10. Pioneer Tanks 1:40.470

Click here for detailed results