With the Queensland Raceway round of the Australian Superbike Championship finally upon us, we look back at one of the more memorable highlights from the series’ first visit to the track last year.

With the meeting having been typically dominated by the favoured factory machines, the form guide was thrown out when privateer entrant Scott Charlton and his Racers Edge Performance team broke through for a spectacular maiden race victory to open round five.

The spectacular achievement was orchestrated by the experienced Charlton, who rolled the dice at the last second and ended up winning big.

The rain had stopped as the Superbikes rolled out from pit lane ahead of race one, but a damp track meant the field all opted for their regular wet setup.

The cagey Charlton was paying particular attention to the race line on his first tour of the circuit and felt he could find an advantage as the track continued to dry.

“On the sighting lap it looked like there was a drying line,” Charlton reflected. “I had originally wanted to run the number one bike with a wet set‐up after the rain shower but we simply didn’t have time to swap it over.”

Scott Charlton started from pit lane before carving up the field in the opening Queensland Raceway race last June. Image: Andrew Gosling/TBG Sport.

Charlton was able to capitalise, however, as his preferred machine sat in wait in pit lane, shod with slicks and a tried and tested dry setup. He pitted immediately, and took his place at the exit of pit lane to start the race.

With conditions still treacherous in the early stages, Charlton set about lapping as safely and consistently as possible and as the race continued he could see the riders ahead of him begin to struggle on wet rubber.

“After a few laps I could see everyone struggling with the wet tyres and I just thought ‘you beauty’ and started going forward,” he continued.

“In the end it was just like a ride day as I knew no one could match my pace and I just rode to the flag with no pressure at all. In all honesty on the last lap I was planning where I could do a stand up wheelie to celebrate!”

Order was restored in the second race, with Team Honda’s Jamie Stauffer taking the win.

Read CycleOnline’s full racing wrap from round five in 2012 here, or read more from our exclusive post-race chat to Charlton here.