Image: Keith Muir.

Team Honda Racing’s Jamie Stauffer claimed the overall victory in today’s opening round of the 2014 Swann Insurance Australasian Superbike Championship.

The dual ASBK champion won with a consistent effort across three action-filled Superbike races, finishing third in race one, winning the second and runner-up in the final 11-lap affair.

It was a stunning performance for Stauffer aboard the exotic CBR1000RR SP, overcome a power deficit to fight his way to the opening round win in one of the most anticipated national events in history.

Second overall was another two-time ASBK title winner, Glenn Allerton (Next Gen Motorsports BMW), who won the opening race, but struggled for grip in the final two despite the outright power of his potent HP4.

Allerton barged his way to the victory in race one, before a pair of thirds resulted in the runner-up for the round. Stauffer’s result in the final race over Allerton secured him the overall.

Race two saw caution flags raised mid-race when rain drops fell, however despite Allerton – the current leader at the time – raising his hand to stop the race, officials deemed it safe to continue on.

Stauffer marched away in that one with a crucial 2.811s victory – the biggest margin witnessed in the category all day. He also claimed a new lap record in race three of 58.693s on lap nine of the 11.

Completing the podium was current ASBK champion Wayne Maxwell (Motul Honda), who became the third different winner in three races after he won the final outing. Maxwell was sixth in race one, second in race two and winner in the third.

BikeBiz Racing Kawasaki’s Sean Condon was again in fine form, finishing fourth overall after his highlight came in race one with a second place podium. He went 2-4-6 on the day.

Pole position holder and local hero Troy Herfoss (Team Honda Racing) was fifth after featuring up front for much of the day, scoring 5-5-4 results to the delight of the crowd in a stellar comeback performance.

Saturday AFX-SBK winner Glenn Scott was sixth overall today after another promising outing for InsureMyRide Racing with a 4-7-5 scorecard – making it four Hondas finishing inside the top six.

Leading Yamaha was current series number three Rick Olson (YRT with YMI) in seventh overall, charging amongst a heated battle all day just inside the top 10, but struggling to make any major impact aboard the underpowered YZF-R1.

Olson was a major improver on Sunday and remained consistent, his best result of sixth coming in race two. It was an inspired effort by the current Supersport champion.

Determined Kawasaki privateer Dustin Goldsmith also figured amongst the front on occasion during the three races, eventually scoring eighth for the round. He was eighth in the opening two races before climbing to seventh in the final.

Rookie Cru Halliday – himself a multiple national champion – wound up ninth after a hard-fought debut, claiming honours as second Yamaha with 9-11-9 for the round.in

Completing the top 10 was Trinder Aprilia runner Chris Seaton, edging out fellow Italian brand-mounted rider Beau Beaton (North Coast V-Twins / McMartin Racing Ducati).

12th was Kevin Curtain in another frustrating event, his best result of 11th coming in race one. He was 15th in the remaining races.

Queenslander Robbie Bugden ended up 17th overall on debut with Yamaha. He posted 14-17-17 results for today’s proceedings. Bugden ran inside the top 10 during race two, but ran off the track in what was the highest point of his day.

In Supersport it was Queenslander Callum Spriggs the victor, consistency the key as he rode to third in race one, first in race two and third in the final to clinch the round.

Pace-setter Aaron Morris was second overall with 1-9-1 results, recovering from a crash race two on the final turn to salvage the podium. Aiden Wagner made it a Yamaha podium sweep in third with 2-3-3 results.

Australian Supersport Champion Daniel Falzon (Caterpillar EPSA Yamaha) was fourth as he gained momentum throughout the round, battling hard in race one on his way to fifth before scoring a round-best second in race two and fourth in race three.

Positions fifth through seventh were filled by Matt Davies, Pat Medcalf and Aaron Gobert (Tapout Energy Wet4U Racing Kawasaki), while Dylan Mavin, Aiden Coote and Justin Di Giandomenico completed the top 10.

2014 Swann Insurance Australasian Superbike Championship
Round one – Wakefield Park, NSW

Superbike overall results:
1. Jamie STAUFFER 67
2. Glenn ALLERTON 65
3. Wayne MAXWELL 62
4. Sean CONDON 55
5. Troy HERFOSS 50
6. Glenn SCOTT 48
7. Rick OLSON 42
8. Dustin GOLDSMITH 40
9. Cru HALLIDAY 34
10. Chris SEATON 33

Supersport overall results:
1. Callum SPRIGGS 67
2. Aaron MORRIS 62
3. Aiden WAGNER 62
4. Daniel FALZON 56
5. Matt DAVIES 49
6. Patrick MEDCALF 46
7. Aaron GOBERT 41
8. Dylan MAVIN 40
9. Aaiden COOTE 34
10. Justin Di GIANDOMENICO 31

Click here for detailed results