Features 22 May 2013

Cycle Central: 20

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Australian Superbike action unofficially resumed yesterday at Queensland Raceway with a one-day test held by the series’ top teams and a select number of leading privateers.

While the full report it can be found by clicking here exclusive to CycleOnline.com.au, there was plenty more to speak about from behind the scenes after contacting the majority of riders and/or teams today.

Glenn Allerton’s outstanding early season form is going to be difficult to stop. The combo of he, the Next Gen team, BMW’s HP4 and the Pirelli tyres have proven to be the best in the country and right now there doesn’t look to be anything stopping his streak.

What’s important to note about this team is that it’s not just a matter of sticking a set of Pirellis on the HP4 and away Allerton goes. They do a lot of races including Formula Xtreme and state rounds, plus the usual ASBK tests. With that kind of track time, the dynamic of Next Gen and Allerton is the reason they are at the top of the sport.

Like Symmons Plains, Glenn Allerton, Wayne Maxwell and Robbie Bugden set the pace during QLD Raceway testing. Image: Andrew Gosling/TBG Sport.

Like Symmons Plains, Glenn Allerton, Wayne Maxwell and Robbie Bugden set the pace during QLD Raceway testing. Image: Andrew Gosling/TBG Sport.

Allerton’s time yesterday was right on the pace of Jamie Stauffer’s pole-winning lap at last year’s finale, which is an incredible feat considering it was under testing circumstances and in very different conditions.

And teammate Linden Magee now has a HP4 himself, lapping very close to the pace of pretty much everyone except Allerton despite reportedly riding with a stock engine. He’s quickly making progress since winning last year’s Prostock title.

Team Suzuki and Honda are scratching their heads right now, without much time to make major progress. Wayne Maxwell and Robbie Bugden are close to the pace set by Josh Waters last year on the GSX-R, which is positive, but they need to move forward in a bid to halt Allerton.

And then there’s Team Honda Racing. Stauffer is renowned to be the man at Queensland Raceway, but struggled to get on the pace yesterday and eventually wound up almost a full second in arrears of Allerton. Since his World Superbike wildcard at the beginning of the year, things just haven’t seemed to be clicking.

But he’s not a two-time champion for no reason and you can bet that come race time, the number 27 will feature right up front as usual at Queensland Raceway.

Team owner Paul Free was well impressed with rookie Josh Hook’s performance yesterday, around three-tenths off the pace of Stauffer, and steadily making progress on his Fireblade.

Dunlop has its new tyres on hand at the test, introduced following Tasmania in a bid to challenge Allerton and Pirelli – stay tuned for more on that this week.

Jamie Stauffer will be an interesting factor come race time next month. Image: Andrew Gosling/TBG Sport.

Jamie Stauffer will be an interesting factor come race time next month. Image: Andrew Gosling/TBG Sport.

One rider who’s been turning heads all year is privateer standout Chas Hern on his CM Racing Team Suzuki, and he continued that form yesterday even though he’s had a tough month or so. It’s fresh talent in the class such as Hern, Magee and Hook who are really adding depth to the field.

Also adding to that depth inside the top 10 are Beau Beaton (Racer’s Edge Performance Suzuki), Ben Henry (Cube Racing Suzuki) and newcomer Glenn Scott (InsureMyRide Racing). The trio gained important track time yesterday and all three run ultra professional outfits – exactly what the sport needs to excel.

There is a lot of excitement building at this stage in the game as Queensland Raceway approaches and we’ll be here to capture all the developments as they take place over the next few weeks.

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