Image: Keith Muir.

A late-season surge will see Crankt Protein Honda Racing’s Troy Herfoss in the frame for a shot at his first Australian Superbike Championship at Winton on 30 September-2 October, further boosted by a strong shakedown at the venue this week.

Herfoss dominated the Morgan Park round in August by taking Superpole and both race wins, benefiting from the latest Pirelli SCX rear tyre equipped with his refined CBR1000RR SP package in Queensland.

That improved feel has carried over from the technical Morgan Park circuit to a resurfaced Winton Motor Raceway test on Monday, increasing Herfoss’ chances of overcoming current leader Wayne Maxwell in the title-race at the end of this month.

“It was a fair bit different to last year because the track’s resurfaced, we have new tyres and there’s been a bit of development with the bike,” Herfoss explained in comparison to last year’s Australasian Superbike round. “Last year was a bit of a struggle at Winton and then we improved in Sydney, so the first feeling this year was a lot more grip with the Pirelli tyre.

“I’m able to carry a bit more corner speed, probably like the first year I was there, and that helps to reduce any top-speed deficit. You don’t realise how rough the track was until you ride it resurfaced – it’s unbelievably smooth now. You can now ride it like a normal track, go anywhere and have grip, so the bike feels really good and the team have been doing a great job.

“We didn’t change the bike from Morgan Park to there and within three sessions at a track day I went a lot faster than I’ve ever been. It’s all looking really good for the ASBK test, because that was the goal, to get out, do some laps and get my head around Winton again. That way at the test we can get straight down to business.”

Since round five Herfoss has completed a single day of testing at Phillip Island and Winton each, plus will attend the official two-day ASBK test at the Victorian venue on 21-22 September. He currently trails Maxwell by seven points in the standings.