Image: Keith Muir.

Queenslander Robbie Bugden has outlined the importance of his quick turnaround of form aboard the YRT with YMI YZF-R1 at Mallala today, qualifying third for Saturday’s YMF-Loan FX-Superbike Championship round.

Bugden was left frustrated after a difficult debut at Wakefield Park’s Swann Insurance Australasian Superbike Championship opener in March, however a two-day test in South Australia has provided a massive boost of confidence prior to this weekend.

Today’s AFX-SBK qualifying will see Bugden on the front row for tomorrow’s races, which will in turn decide the starting line-up for Sunday’s all-important Swann Series round.

The fact he will have the opportunity to race at the front from the outset bodes well for Bugden’s weekend, with a clear track and mid-corner momentum a vital factor in producing strong lap times aboard the underpowered R1.

“It’s super-important to be on the front row today considering one lap during tomorrow’s three races will decide the grid for Sunday,” Bugden said. “That’s where our focus is, getting that lap, but how we plan on doing that is still undecided.

“To be on the front row for Saturday is good because it helps not being caught up in traffic, but as we know it’s going to be tight racing again. We need to make all the right moves and get ourselves on the front row for Sunday.

“Obviously we’re showing here the R1 is every bit as good as any other bike out here,” he continued. “It does have its strong points and we need to capitalise on them. When we’re in clear air it’s really good, but we will see how it all unfolds and how we go.”

Bugden was amongst the front-runners throughout Friday’s proceedings, featuring as the top Yamaha within the now three-rider operation following Kevin Curtain’s retirement.

“We had no choice but to turn it around – we had to,” Bugden admitted. “We had our fair share of issues at Wakefield, but as I’ve mentioned before the test we had here was a real turning point. I got to know the team a lot better, we tried a lot of different things and it’s working.

“We have momentum going and I think we can continue with that not just this weekend but throughout the rest of the series. As I said, this bike is every bit as good as anything else out here.”

Current Australian Superbike number three and five-time New Zealand champion Bugden currently sits 17th in the Swann Series standings following the first round at Wakefield Park.