Glenn Allerton, newly-crowned champion Wayne Maxwell and Robbie Bugden completed the Phillip Island podium. Image: Andrew Gosling/TBG Sport.

Words: Russell Colvin.

The curtain has been drawn on this year’s QBE Australian Superbike Championship with the last race of the Superbikes and Phillip Island’s seventh round being taken out by Next Gen Motorsports BMW’s Glenn Allerton.

Race two was held on a patchy wet-drying circuit that saw Chas Hern (CM Racing/Pope Building Services/Helmet House Perth/Bendix) grab the hole shot and lead for the first opening laps before being overtaken by Phil Lovett (Cessnock KTM/Lovetts Earth Moving Kawasaki).

Allerton, who kick-started the season off with the round win in Tasmania and polished it off with the Phillip Island victory also ended up leapfrogging Team Volvo Group Suzuki’s Robbie Bugden to finish runner-up in the championship.

“It’s pretty good to finish the year on a high with a win,” said Allerton. “That first race we went pretty close to grabbing the win. I think it’s a pretty fitting way for myself and Wayne to finish side-by-side like that in race one.

“Just goes to shows how close we were all year. They just got things right during the middle of the season and you got to do those things to win championships.

“But I’m really happy to win the round and finish on a high, the team deserve it, they put in a lot of effort. I’m just really happy to repay them with that.”

For, Bugden who has had a ripper of a season, a top three result in the championship was a positive way to cap off 2013.

“It was a bit of a tough round, we had a cracker race in that first race,” Bugden said. “But that second race was a bit of a gamble, it was terrible conditions. Overall in 2013 it’s been a great year.

“For team Suzuki I think we have been the only two riders who have been on the podium at every round, so it’s a credit to the team at Suzuki. I was a bit disappointed we couldn’t get a 1-2 for the team, but we’re happy enough.

“I just want to say a big thank you to Hayden who is in my corner and the whole Team Suzuki.”

Newly-crowned champion Wayne Maxwell finished his season off with second overall after storming to third in race two. Maxwell went out on slicks and was down the field, but when the track dried out he worked his way to third position.

“The conditions in race two were extremely tough with slicks on a wet track,” Maxwell said. “I have never ridden the GSX-R1000 in the wet, but the traction control A-B-C settings worked great in the rain. Full credit to the boys who gave me a bike that worked unreal.

“I took a bit too long to find my feet. Once I found my feet I was super strong but I just left my run too late. That’s racing. Well done to Glenn and Robbie they rode awesome today. Roll on 2014!”

Ben Henry (Australian Outdoor Living/Underground Designs/Leda Nutrition) was also a man up at the pointy end at the start, but faded back to fourth in a stunning ride.

Team Honda’s Jamie Stauffer and Josh Hook were fifth and sixth in race two, resulting a pair of top five finishes for the round and championship in positions four and five respectively.

Ninth overall for the round was enough to clinch rookie Glenn Scott (Team InsureMyRide Racing Honda) the privateer championship by a single point over Beaton.

2013 QBE Australian Superbike Championship
Round seven – Phillip Island, VIC

Superbike race two results:
1. Glenn Allerton 20m48.390
2. Robbie Bugden +3.284
3. Wayne Maxwell +3.786
4. Ben Henry +18.645
5. Jamie Stauffer +25.628
6. Josh Hook +25.675
7. Ben Burke +29.389
8. Beau Beaton +43.645
9. Linden Magee +47.130
10. Phill Lovett +52.820

Superbike round results:
1. Glenn Allerton 45
2. Wayne Maxwell 44
3. Robbie Bugden 38
4. Jamie Stauffer 33
5. Josh Hook 31
6. Ben Henry 30
7. Beau Beaton 28
8. Ben Burke 25
9. Glenn Scott 24
10. Phil Lovett 23

Superbike championship standings (after seven of seven rounds):
1. Wayne Maxwell 268
2. Glenn Allerton 234
3. Robbie Bugden 231
4. Jamie Stauffer 213
5. Josh Hook 198
6. Glenn Scott 156
7. Beau Beaton 155
8. Linden Magee 141
9. Phil Lovett 126
10. Ben Henry 119

Click here for detailed results