Victorian Chas Hern has been a standout amongst the Superbikes on his Prostock-spec Suzuki in 2012. Image: Andrew Gosling.

Australian Prostock Championship leader Chas Hern believes that the category’s inclusion within the Superbike ranks is a positive for up and coming riders.

The privateer, who campaigns a Suzuki GSX-R1000 with support from Pope Building Services and High Octane Motorcycles, is content to play a supporting act amongst the premier class as he continues the work his way up the ladder of Australian road racing.

Hern’s coming off his first round win of the season at Queensland Raceway earlier this month, extending his series lead to 13 points over arch-rival Linden Magee, and uses the likes of Josh Waters and Wayne Maxwell to gauge his progress each weekend.

“With the Superbike guys it gives us something to aim at,” Hern said. “It’s also good because you might be out there and unsure on a line, but the Superbike guys come past and they’ve got a bit more experience than most Prostock guys, so we’re able to have a look at their lines.

“Rather than watch it on TV, we get to see it first hand, so it sort of helps us step it up and go through the ranks.”

During the Queensland Raceway round, Hern was ninth to finish the first race on combined times amongst the Superbikes and a promising eighth at the conclusion of race two.

The Superstock/Prostock series is believed to be becoming one category for 2013, with sources indicating that a scaled back Superbike rule set will be implemented and the classes combined for next season.