Image: Russell Colvin.

Team Honda Racing’s Troy Herfoss claimed an emphatic first-career Superbike round win in today’s third round of the 2014 YMF-Loan Australian FX-Superbike Championship.

It was a breakthrough result for the 2010 Australian Supersport Champion, in what is his comeback season to the sport following a year off last year.

“It’s a good feeling to get this result and I feel like we have made a positive step forward this weekend so far,” Herfoss told CycleOnline.com.au.

“Friday felt like my best start to the weekend yet since I’ve been back and we were able to build from there today. Second on the grid for tomorrow is also really good so hopefully we can continue with the results on Sunday.”

In race one it was Glenn Allerton (Next Gen Motorsports BMW) who was able to streak away to lead the opening laps, before it it Wayne Maxwell (Team Motul Honda) who took charge on lap three. He led for two laps, before Allerton ultimately took over and led the remaining laps.

The ever-improving Herfoss was able to make a move up the inside of Allerton in the last turn on the final lap, however the mumbo of the BMW boosted the two-time national champion back past to the stripe for victory.

Herfoss was left frustrated in a well-deserved second, 0.101s behind Allerton. Maxwell meanwhile posted the quickest lap of the race, which would secure him pole position for Sunday’s Australasian Superbike Championship round.

Another two-time Australian Superbike Champion in Jamie Stauffer made it three Hondas in the top four, as Cru Halliday (YRT with YMI YZF-R1) rounded out the top five.

Race two was another exciting affair, minus Allerton who opted to sit out due to excessive wear and ongoing confusion caused by overheating on the control-specification Dunlop rear tyre.

Herfoss led a Honda 1-2-3 by leading all 10 laps, beating home Maxwell and Josh Hook, who starred with a ride from 13th on the grid after he ran off on lap one. Stauffer meanwhile ran up front in the early laps before pitting and re-entering for 18th.

Kawasaki duo Sean Condon (Bikebiz Ipone Swann Insurance Racing) and Mike Jones (Crazy Dogs Kawasaki/XXX Rated Suspension/A1 Racepaint) completed the top five.

A Kawasaki 1-2 thanks to Condon and Jones capped off a thrilling end of Saturday, as Condon threaded his was past Jones on the final turn for the race win.

Second through fifth places were filled by Herfoss, Maxwell and Hook, with Allerton dropped from fifth on track due to his penalty.

The overall tally for the round saw Herfoss the victor, seven points ahead of Maxwell, with Condon returning to the podium in third. Jones and Hook made up the top five.

Privateer Honda pilot Glenn Scott put forward a consistent effort for sixth overall, marginally edging out factory Yamaha duo Halliday and hometown hero Robbie Bugden. Ben Burke (BC Performance A1 Kawasaki) returned for ninth today, as Allerton rounded out the top 10.

The grid for tomorrow sees Maxwell start from the pole position, followed by the in-form Herfoss, Stauffer and Condon. Row two features Hook from Allerton, Halliday and Jones.

2014 YMF-Loan Australian Superbike Championship
Round three – Queensland Raceway, QLD

Superbike overall results:
1. Troy HERFOSS 67
2. Wayne MAXWELL 60
3. Sean CONDON 58
4. Mike JONES 51
5. Josh HOOK 44
6. Glenn SCOTT 42
7. Cru HALLIDAY 41
8. Robert BUGDEN 39
9. Ben BURKE 36
10. Glenn ALLERTON 29

Superbike championship standings:
1. Wayne MAXWELL 193
2. Glenn SCOTT 168
3. Mike JONES 145
4. Troy HERFOSS 145
5. Robert BUGDEN 137
6. Sean CONDON 130
7. Cru HALLIDAY 128
8. Jamie STAUFFER 104
9. Matthew WALTERS 94
10. Glenn ALLERTON 78

Click here for detailed results