The final round of the 2016 Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) presented by Motul Pirelli was a cracker last weekend, a spectacular result for Crankt Protein Honda Racing and Troy Herfoss, who never ceases to impress many with his skills across all kinds of two wheels.

Looking back through the history books, it’s almost difficult to think that Herfoss actually started road racing with Team Suzuki in 2009, going on to become the Supersport champion that following year. From there he spent a year on the Superbike and went off to Europe, which very nearly ended his career altogether.

A relatively successful first year in the German-based IDM series unfortunately ended prematurely as Herfoss and RAC Racing BMW parted ways before the final round, leaving him a little fed up with the whole European racing scene after he was let go. He went on to contest a number of British rounds, but ultimately came home for 2013 and didn’t race at all.

It was around that time that Hefoss realised racing in Australia is actually a pretty good position if you can cement yourself as one of the top guys in a leading team. He lined up a support deal with Team Honda Racing aboard a CBR1000RR for 2014 and was set to campaign the Australasian Superbike Championship in a privateer effort.

Image: Russell Colvin.

When Josh Hook was injured at Phillip Island’s WorldSBK support races, Herfoss was drafted into the factory team aboard a CBR1000RR SP for his comeback at Wakefield Park’s opening round and finished fifth overall. It was a performance that saw the team expand to four riders for the season, although Herfoss was still in a development-type role.

Over two and a half years later now, Herfoss has delivered the team the 2015 Australasian Superbike Championship, the 2015 Australian FX-Superbike Championship and last weekend, the 2016 Australian Superbike Championship. He’s reached his major goal locally, but unless a top opportunity comes up overseas, he’s staying put and earning a comfy living racing a Superbike.

What’s more remarkable about the success of Herfoss is that when he was promoted to one of the main seats at Honda for last year, it was off the back of Wayne Maxwell leaving to ride for Yamaha after winning dual FX-ASC championships himself in 2014. I’m sure Troy was going to be on the team regardless, but to edge out Maxwell/YRT in the past two seasons has been truly impressive.

And moving forward, Honda of course has the new CBR1000RR SP and SP2 to be released for 2017. I’m not sure when it’ll be released, because initial indications were that it wouldn’t be until mid-season, but it will be interesting to see what the team can do with it. On paper it is obviously far more competitive, but making the most of that package does take time.

The speculation doing the rounds last weekend was that Jamie Stauffer will depart his current racing role at Honda at the end of the season and potentially be replaced by Bryan Staring, who has confirmed he’s coming home next year. Is it true? Hard to say, but as we say, where there is fuel, there’s usually fire and we wouldn’t be surprised. More on Stauffer next week.

Image: Russell Colvin.

In the meantime, Yamaha has a full two seasons of development with the YZF-R1M now, so you’d expect they will be reaching their peak by 2017. Whether or not we will see the same three riders – Maxwell, Glenn Allerton and Cru Halliday – on it is uncertain, but you couldn’t see why not after they finished 2-3-4 in the points.

DesmoSport Ducati will be another to benefit from at least one season with Mike Jones on the 1299 Panigale S and I hope we see that pairing back together for next season. If they can iron out the kinks we’ve seen this year, he will win more races and be in the frame for another championship, there’s no doubt about that.

Next up is the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island and it will be another top weekend of domestic racing alongside the international categories, however we won’t see YRT line up this time around. They’re done for the year.

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