As road racing’s Swann Insurance Australasian Superbike Championship heavyweights get set for the opening round of their hotly-contested clash, CycleOnline.com.au breaks down some of the major questions surrounding the series and riders.

What is the difference between the Australasian Superbike Championship (ASC) and the Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK)?

The ASC is promoted by Australian Road & Track Rider Promotions (ARTRP) under Australian Auto Sport Alliance (AASA) sanctioning. This is separate to the ASBK, which is promoted by International Entertainment Group (IEG) under Motorcycling Australia’s jurisdiction.

In years prior, the ASC series was titled the Australian FX-Superbike Championship, elements of which are retained in the ‘Saturday Series’ for 2014.

The confusion between the two series titles came close to being resolved at the end of 2013, as a merger between the Terry O’Neill and Yarrive Konsky-run championships was tabled, yet ultimately unsuccessful. Since then, the ASC has attracted to nation’s top teams.

Who are the ASC title favourites?

An imposing question to answer, and that’s not a bad thing by any means. For the first time in a number of years, the majority of the major players – factory and privateer riders alike – have opted for the same series.

With 2013 champion Broc Parkes making the move to MotoGP, there will be no ‘true’ number one plate holder, though you could argue that incoming Australian Superbike Champion (ASBK) Wayne Maxwell will unofficially carry that tag. And there’s little doubt he will be a contender. The switch back to Honda means a return to familiar machinery, and providing he is in peak shape following his Phillip Island getoff, he is a certain challenger for regular wins.

If consistency is considered a factor, then the Yamaha Racing Team will be up front in a series they’re very familiar with. Rick Olson and Kevin Curtain have the runs on the board, while Cru Halliday is capable of running with the best. Add Suzuki defector Robbie Bugden into the mix and you have four legitimate challengers in the factory fold.

The man who topped the recent Wakefield Park test, Glenn Allerton, is hard to go past on paper. Allerton’s Next Gen Motorsports squad has competed in the series on several occasions, and have trounced the competition. His confidence is high after two point-scoring finishes as a World Superbike wildcard last month, further his cementing his status as a favourite.

Team Honda Racing’s Jamie Stauffer was fast and typically consistent in the opening round of the Phillip Island Superbike Championship, results sure to boost him ahead of the outfit’s first showing within the invigorated ASC ranks. Stauffer’s 2013 campaign was curtailed by injury, and the veteran rider, who scored his Superbike titles when AUSCO ran the MA-sactioned series prior to 2010, will factor at the front.

Matt Walters (who himself will run a number one plate of his own after the one-off 2013 ASC event), Troy Herfoss, Mike Jones and Josh Hook will all be in the mix regularly, with any one of up 15 riders in with a realistic shot at top five finishes. Honestly, there are many, many riders we could mention.

Image: Alex Gobert.

How will the privateers fare?

With the heightened level of competition and expanded factory efforts, privateer riders will certainly have their work cut out for them in 2014. Yamaha has upped their presence to four R1s in the premier class, and Honda is returning fire with three Fireblades of their own. Inject the all-conquering BMW of Allerton into the mix and you have eight riders officially in the factory fight, unlikely to want to give up any of their places easily.

But that certainly doesn’t count out the privateers, the backbone of the sport of motorcycle racing Australia-wide. The fact that they don’t carry a factory tag is not likely to deter a crop of hungry up-and-comers, with the likes of Walters, Jones and Scott all showing previous podium form on 1000cc machines. Plus, don’t forget the in-form Kawasaki-mounted Sean Condon.

Experience and refined racecraft see a host of riders across multiple marques capable of challenging for top points. As we detail in a later answer, track knowledge and shorter race formats open up opportunities for privateers that could and will be exploited.

Can Yamaha fend off the incoming challenge?

One of the most hotly-debated questions. The factory team has enjoyed a fairly trouble-free run at the top of the FX-Superbike Championship tables, but the pressure will be on as the level of competition heightens in the newly-branded ASC.

YRT has the advantage of knowing the ins and outs of both the series and the regular tracks featured, where its main rivals fall down on track time at places like Wakefield and Winton.

The brand places a large focus on its success within the championship and has refined a team structure, headed by John Redding, over a number of successful seasons, with continuity at the forefront.

The line up is an interesting mix of experience and youth. Curtain and Bugden need little introduction, and Olson has strengthened as one of the series’ prominent riders in his long-term relationship with Yamaha. Halliday may be a rookie but that doesn’t discount him at all. It’s a formidable front, and further adds to the recipe for an exciting season.

Image: Steve Mcmarson.

Will circuits be difficult to re-learn for ASBK regulars?

Most riders will have some level of experience on circuits such as Wakefield Park and Winton, but Mallala may be a different story. The South Australian Circuit on the outskirts of Adelaide may throw up a curve ball for some, who will place plenty of value in the early practice sessions to either experience the tricky track for the first time or re-learn the ideal lines.

It was a regular inclusion on the national calendar prior to 2010, so it will really only be road racing newcomers that will be heading here for the first time.

What impact will multiple short races have?

For a rider, there are pros and cons to consider. There are more opportunities to score points, and recover from any potential mishaps in earlier or later races. This effect would indeed be amplified if a rival rider was to suffer a mishap whereas the other could record trouble-free finishes.

To score solid points a rider must race near the front, and paramount in this factor is qualifying form. In the same way a good qualifying result could really boost a rider, a poor result could leave them playing a game of catch-up. A rider’s ability to get away from the start line strongly will also factor significantly.

Shorter races will also exaggerate any mistakes that are made. A minor run off or a corner taken wide could cost valuable time, which will obviously be harder to make up with less laps available.

Tying together all considerations is one common theme: consistency. A rider that can qualify and race at the front on a regular basis, and take calculated risks with sold rewards when presented, will fit himself firmly in the race for the title.

What are the details of the ASC’s television package?

The ASC will continue its long-running programming on SBS Speedweek and Foxtel’s SPEED TV subscription channel. A total of 36 hours of coverage is planned, with each of the six rounds to receive three, one-hour shows.

Bolstering an already solid offering is the ASC’s well-received live streaming feature, which delivers coverage of each of Sunday’s races (plus on-demand replays and downloads). This online addition takes the coverage to an impressive 80 hours, a definite benchmark for road racing.