Team Suzuki’s Robbie Bugden was absent from Sydney Motorsport Park testing. Image: Andrew Gosling/TBG Sport.

Queensland Raceway round winner Robbie Bugden refuses to let the disappointment of missing Thursday’s Australian Superbike test at Sydney Motorsport Park dampen his 2013 title spirits.

Team Suzuki fielded a single bike at the ASBK series’ first official appearance at the venue since 2009 yesterday, with Wayne Maxwell topping the time sheets in a promising performance aboard the lone factory GSX-R1000.

Despite his breakthrough win last Sunday in Queensland, Bugden was a surprise absentee at the test – believed to be due to budget restraints currently experienced in Suzuki’s racing division.

“It’s pretty clear that I wanted to be there, but I guess we’re in a situation this year where there are probably a few guys who should be on the grid, that aren’t,” Bugden explained to CycleOnline.com.au.

“It’s one of those things where it is a shame to miss it, but in saying that I kind of had a fair idea what the situation would be like when I agreed to ride for Suzuki this year.

“It’s definitely not ideal, but we can’t change it. We’ll just have to utilise the time we get on the Friday on the race weekend. Obviously Wayne went really good down there at the test, so it’s encouraging.

“It was a little bit hard sitting here yesterday getting updates like I was yesterday, but that’s just the way it is.”

Bugden joined Team Suzuki just days before Tasmania’s first point-scoring round of the series in April, finishing third at Symmons Plains before winning round three last weekend.

Team Suzuki manager Phil Tainton was unable to officially confirm the reason of Bugden’s absence when asked by CycleOnline.com.au on Thursday afternoon.