CycleOnline.com.au highlights three standout performances from the weekend’s opening round of the 2016 Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) presented by Motul Pirelli at Phillip Island. Radar isn’t intended to be strictly about the winners, it’s about the unsung racers that we spot performing above expectations on any given race weekend.

Image: Russell Colvin.

Michael Blair (Blair Build Yamaha) – Superbike, fifth overall:
In his first appearance on a Superbike, Michael Blair showed consistency beyond his years at Phillip Island in what was a very tough pack at the front of the field. Scoring a trio of sixth-place finishes on the privateer YZF-R1, Blair was best of the newcomers across the weekend and a top five result is huge.

Image: Russell Colvin.

Ben Burke (SA Kawasaki BCperformance) – Superbike, sixth overall:
On board the all-new 2016 model ZX-10R, Ben Burke was a standout performer in sixth overall with an 8-9-5 scorecard. It was his showing in the third and final race of the weekend that really turned heads, featuring in the lead group and crossing the line only a few seconds from race victor Glenn Allerton. Well played!

Image: Russell Colvin.

Sam Clarke (Kawasaki) – Supersport, seventh overall:
The name Sam Clarke at the front of the Australian Supersport field across the weekend had people scrambling to find out more about his background. With a lengthy term off the bike, he was back with a vengeance at Phillip Island and took the race two win in mixed conditions. The Western Australian crashed in race three though, bumping him back to P7 overall.