On the back of Robbie Bugden’s stellar Superbike race win at Queensland Raceway on Sunday, we thought it fitting to revisit the veteran rider’s first win in the premier class for today’s Rewind feature.

It came on a wet weekend at Winton in 2005, when Bugden piloted the privateer Northstar Yamaha R1 to an unexpected yet popular victory in the second and final race of the day.

Bugden started off the front row in race one, but had his work cut out for him amongst a field of factory stars. He would ride competitively but ultimately finish sixth when the race was red-flagged as rain began to fall.

The second race saw inclement rain fall prior to the start and riders faced with the difficult decision of tyre choice. Bugden’s Northstar Yamaha team only had access to slicks and wets, not intermediates as some teams did. He opted for the slick, against the trend, and after an opening lap red-flag, would find much of the field follow his lead in a restarted race.

Bugden took off in pursuit of factory Yamaha’s Shannon Johnson, and had taken the lead by the end of the opening lap.

Robbie Bugden with his eyes on the prize at Winton.

He moved clear of the field for a brief stint before Adam ‘Krusty’ Fergusson ranged in and began applying the pressure. The battle that followed is often heralded as one of the most entertaining stoushes in Superbike history, with Bugden prevailing by just 0.080 seconds.

The moments following the wave of the chequered flag are also fondly recalled. When the riders pulled alongside one another to display the ‘thumbs up’, they both found themselves running out of track and ran ahead onto the wet grass at turn one, crashing, but fortunately unhurt.

“I knew we had all the right ingredients, and it was just a matter of time,” said Bugden following the win.

“This afternoon, it all came together, but it was the longest 17 laps of my life. I just pushed and pushed, and managed to come home I’m over the moon.”

“I’d ride a factory donkey at this stage of if I could! I’ve now won the privateers’ cup a few times and I’m now after a new challenge.”

The Queenslander’s hopes were met the following season as he would sign on with Phil Tainton’s highly-regarded Team Suzuki outfit.

2013 represents a return to the factory fold for Bugden, and he’s determined to make the most of the opportunity with the reigning Australian Superbike Championship winners.