News 18 Nov 2013

Walters wins inaugural Australasian Superbike Championship

Kawasaki’s Matt Walters has won the 2013 Australasian Superbike Championship on board his Kawasaki Connection/Rover Coaches Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R at Sydney Motorsport Park on Saturday, 16 November.

Matt Walters and Chris Trounson went 1-2 in Sydney on Saturday. Image: Murray Sayle.

Matt Walters and Chris Trounson went 1-2 in Sydney on Saturday. Image: Murray Sayle.

Kawasaki’s Matt Walters has won the 2013 Australasian Superbike Championship on board his Kawasaki Connection/Rover Coaches Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R at Sydney Motorsport Park on Saturday, 16 November.

Walters, who also won the ASBK Prostock Championship this year, won three of the four races during the two-day event to be crowned champion ahead of final race winner Chris Trounson (Honda) and Phil Lovett (Kawasaki).

Two more ZX-10Rs filled the top five in Sean Condon and Glynn Thomas.

Walters set the fastest lap time in all four races as he went 1-1-1-2 to win the championship. When rain fell in the final race, Walters played it safe to ride the Ninja ZX-10R home in second place on slick tyres.

“It was an unreal weekend, great to have a smooth weekend where everything went perfectly,” Walters said. “It feels great to win another championship on the Ninja ZX-10R.

“I’d like to give a big thanks to Kawasaki Australia, Rover Coaches, Dunlop tyres, Alpinestar boots, RST Leathers, Bell Helmets and my mum and dad and all at Kawasaki Connection for all of their support.”

The 2013 Australasian Superbike Championship marks Walters’ third major road race title after claiming this year’s ASBK Prostock Championship and the 2010 ASBK Superstock 600 Championship.

Yamaha Racing’s Rick Olson claimed the FX-600 championship at the last round of the Australian FX-Superbike Championship, the round won by teammate Cru Halliday.

With Broc Parkes already taking the Superbike championship, Kevin Curtain winning the Formula Oz division, it was up to Olson and Halliday to sort out the victor in the FX-600 class in a clean-sweep from Yamaha.

Olson finished the day in second place to clinch the title after a tight battle with Halliday, with only a point separating the pair at the end of the round. Callum Spriggs was third overall for the weekend.

“It was good to get the championship done with a race to spare and just enjoy racing without any pressure,” Olson said. “Cru rode really well today and congratulations to him for the round win.

“A huge thanks to my Yamaha Racing with Ipone team for the effort and support throughout the year and it was a great way to finish with both of their riders on the podium for the round and the championship.”

Wet4U Racing Kawasaki rider Aaron Gobert featured in the lead battle during race three of the weekend alongside Olson and Halliday, however a jump-start penalty demoted him down the order at race’s end.

Trounson won the Formula Oz finale from Curtain, with Lovett taking home his second podium of the weekend in third.

The FX-450GP round was won by Rennie Scaysbrook, with the championship victor being Kenny Redding after concluding the year with second in Sydney. Sean Powell completed the podium. Phillip Burke won the Ultra-Lites on Saturday, the series won by Doug Wood.

Other winners for the weekend included Lachlan Kavney (FX-125GP), Simon Galloway (Pro-Twins) and Adrian Pierpoint (Nakedbikes) – all three winning their respective series. Jason Morris won the eFXC round, that title claimed by Daniel Ripperton.

2013 Australasian Superbike Championship
Sydney Motorsport Park, NSW

Overall results:
1. Matthew WALTERS 97
2. Chris TROUNSON 83
3. Phil LOVETT (63
4. Sean CONDON 56
5. Glynn THOMAS 55
6. Glenn CULLEN 51
7. Paul BYRNE 50
8. Chris SEATON 44
9. Albie WHEELER 40
10. Grant HAY 37

2013 Australian FX-Superbike Championship
Round six – Sydney Motorsport Park, NSW

FX-600 overall results:
1. Cru HALLIDAY 77.5
2. Rick OLSON 77
3. Callum SPRIGGS 71
4. Justin DI GIANDOMENICO 53
5. William DAVIDSON 47.5
6. Michael BLAIR 45.5
7. Mitch PAYNTER 44
8. Luke MITCHELL 38
9. Aaron GOBERT 38
10. Jordan CARLSSON 37

FX-600 championship standings (final):
1. Rick OLSON 421
2. Cru HALLIDAY 377.5
3. Callum SPRIGGS 317
4. Justin DI GIANDOMENICO 279
5. Aiden WAGNER 270
6. Michael BLAIR 223.5
7. Mitch PAYNTER 216
8. Nicky DILES 197.5
9. Jordan CARLSSON 190
10. William DAVIDSON 182.5

Click here for detailed results

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