Image: Russell Colvin.

Yamaha Racing Team’s Glenn Allerton overcame a charging five-rider freight-train to capture the second Yamaha Motor Finance Australasian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli race win at Phillip Island this morning.

Triple ASBK champion Allerton controlled the early stages of the 10-lap race before coming under immense pressure from DesmoSport Ducati’s Mike Jones and YRT teammate Wayne Maxwell.

Maxwell led the opening laps until Allerton hit the front in the mid-stages, before Jones went through to the lead on lap eight at turn four. Following that, it was Maxwell who took charge a lap later on the penultimate circulation.

With Jones leading into the final lap over Maxwell, Allerton barged past his teammate into second at turn one and then worked his way back past Jones at turn four. From there he was never headed.

After stringing a perfect run together between turns 10, 11 and 12, Allerton held on for a 0.354s victory – his second of the weekend – over Jones, with Maxwell less than a tenth behind him top complete the podium.

Another strong showing was had by Cru Halliday on the third of the factory YZF-R1Ms, fending off Troy Herfoss (Crankt Protein Honda Racing) for fourth – the top five separated by one second.

Leading privateer was rookie Michael Blair (Blairbuild Yamaha), getting the better of Daniel Falzon (JD Racing Yamaha, while Jamie Stauffer (Crankt Protein Honda Racing) faded in the closing laps to eighth, Ben Burke (SA Kawasaki BCperformance) ninth and Brayden Elliott (Tummut Motorcycle Accessories Suzuki) 10th.