Blair sweeps Supersport races to clinch the crown.
There was an undeniable buzz in the air at the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit this morning, as the final day of the MotoGP got underway, starting with the third and final race for the Australian Superbike and Supersport categories.
With thousands of spectators arriving early to snatch up the very best vantage points for racing today, the Superbike and Supersport riders had a huge crowd to cheer them on, as the Australian only classes took to the race track for the final time.
After an action packed second race from the Superbikes class yesterday, and with two different winners across two races already, it was anyone’s guess as to who would take the honours this morning.
When racing got underway it was Honda duo Troy Herfoss and Jamie Stauffer who got to the front of the pack early, however following tradition it wasn’t long before Yamaha’s Glenn Allerton and Kawasaki Australian Outdoor Living Cube Racing Team’s Mike Jones made their presence known.
After three laps, the running order saw Jones leading the way, while Allerton made his way in to second, relegating Herfoss and Stauffer to third and fourth positions respectively.
With so many position changes over the course of the race, spectators were treated to battles left right and centre. With the Superbike category heading in to the final lap Jones retained his race lead ahead of Wayne Maxwell, who had found his way in to second, and Team Honda Racing’s Herfoss.
Despite a late charge from Maxwell on the final lap, it was Jones who delivered crowds with their third Superbike race winner and the overall – a photo finish determining his victory from Maxwell and Herfoss.
“That was another fantastic close race,” said Jones. “I was happy with my start and then to get away and pull a small break on the other riders really set me up for the victory. Really close racing is what Aussie superbike racing is all about and I think we’ve shown that this weekend!”
When the Supersport category headed out on to the circuit, Yamaha rider Michael Blair looked to retain his undefeated status in the final Supersport race of the weekend. And when racing got underway, onlookers were treated to an eight lap battle for the win, with Suzuki-mounted Kane Burns moving in to the early race lead from Blair and Yamaha-mounted Mitch Levy.
After only a handful of laps, Burns and Blair had switched positions more times than you could count, leaving fans on the edge of their seats and ensuring the final Supersport race would go down to the wire.
And when the chequered flag flew it was Blair who took the clean sweep at the Island, celebrating across the finish line ahead of a hard-charging Burns in second and Yamaha rider Callum Spriggs in third.
2015 Phillip Island Championship
Round two – Phillip Island, VIC
Superbike overall results:
1. Mike Jones 61
2. Glenn Allerton 61
3. Jamie Stauffer 59
4. Wayne Maxwell 56
5. Troy Herfoss 49
6. Linden Magee 40
7. Ben Henry 40
8. Adam Christie 36
9. Trent Gibson 32
10. Daniel Falzon 32
Superbike championship standings:
1. Mike Jones 97
2. Troy Herfoss 94
3. Linden Magee 74
4. Glenn Allerton 61
5. Daniel Falzon 61
6. Jamie Stauffer 59
7. Wayne Maxwell 56
8. Ben Henry 54
9. Josh Hook 45
10. Philip Czaj 40
Supersport overall results:
1. Michael Blair 75
2. Callum Spriggs 54
3. Mitch Levy 54
4. Ryan Taylor 48
5. Mason Coote 46
6. Luke Mitchell 44
7. Kane Burns 40
8. Cam Russell 40
9. Ashley Daff 35
10. Gary Tidd 31
Supersport championship standings:
1. Michael Blair 125
2. Callum Spriggs 94
3. Ryan Taylor 81
4. Mitch Levy 71
5. Mason Coote 70
6. Luke Mitchell 68
7. Kane Burns 67
8. Cam Russell 54
9. Ashley Daff 35
10. Gary Tidd 31