Image: Alex Gobert.

Team Honda Racing principal Paul Free has pinpointed the CBR1000RR SP’s chassis as the vital component in the team’s quest to capture the 2014 Swann Insurance Australasian Superbike Championship.

Free’s riders Jamie Stauffer and Wayne Maxwell finished first and third in Sunday’s opening round at Wakefield Park, while fill-in guest rider Try Herfoss was a fine fifth upon return after sitting out 2013.

With the production-based SP down on horsepower in comparison with the powerful BMW and Kawasaki entries, refining the chassis and suspension settings will be paramount if the team’s to factor in the championship across the course of the ASC season.

“In this spec, what can you do?” Free explained. “You can’t do anything with it, so as far as an engine goes it’s fully developed – it’s stock. The only way we’re going to win races in this championship is in the chassis and that’s what we’re going to focus on.

“You could see out there today, the performance deficit between some of motorcycles is quite massive, even on this little circuit, so I am a little bit scared going to some of the longer ones. We just need to keep focused on working together as a team and getting the best out of the chassis.”

Honda – including InsureMyRide-backed support rider Glenn Scott – took both pole positions and won four of the six Superbike races at Wakefield in a stunning first national showing for the upgraded SP model, however Free believes the challenge will become increasingly harder on the more open-style circuits the series visits.

“The Honda’s got a beautiful chassis and it works good, that showed out there today,” he added. “It’s superior at the moment in an overall package.”

Goulburn local Herfoss played a starring role on Sunday in his guest THR appearance replacing injured regular Josh Hook. Free admits he’d draft him into the team immediately if budget allowed at this early point of the season.

“We all know Troy’s an outstanding motorcycle rider, whether on the dirt or the tar,” Free added. “He may have wanted a little more this weekend, but for me he did a perfect job putting himself on pole and finishing fifth overall.

“We have to remember he hasn’t raced for 18 months so it will take time to get completely comfortable again. It was always the plan to give him as much support as we could, but we’ll see how it unfolds.

“I don’t have the budget to run a fourth rider, which is completely budget-driven, because if I did I’d have him in a heartbeat. He fits in, the guys get along good, and that’s what it’s all about.

“I’m maxed out with the three riders I have, I if I can work something out and get more money onboard going forward, then I’d like to have him and Jason [Kain] working with us at every event.”