Image: Alex Gobert (Foremost Media).

Crankt Protein Honda Racing’s Bryan Staring was forced to revert to the team’s older CBR1000RR SP model at Sydney Motorsport Park’s private test today after his top-spec 2017 model SP2 race bike was damaged in Sunday’s fifth round of the Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK).

Staring explained it was easy to identify the benefits of the SP2 with minimal time between switching bikes, with the Western Australian referring to the SP model that he rode in the initial stages of 2017 as ‘angry and wild’.

“[The benefits] even easier to identify now than what it was previously because it’s only a couple of days since we rode the new one,” Staring explained to CycleOnline.com.au. “Which is unfortunate that I can’t continue on it today.

“The old bike reminds me of a typical Superbike that’s wild and bit angry and I keep saying I can’t believe how quickly it’s consuming a tyre, even though I’m mucking around on used tyres today. Having an angry superbike I think is something in the past now, the new one is just so gentle and the power is so easy to use, which is obviously through the electronics because it’s a fast engine.”

Staring was evidently disappointed to not be aboard the new model today where he was eager to make further improvements alongside teammate Troy Herfoss, however he didn’t discount the opportunity to lay down laps at the venue that will host the sixth round of ASBK. The pair have just one SP2 at their disposal each at this point of the season.

“That was just the second race with the new one last weekend,” he continued. “So we’re still learning about this bike and we’re still looking for more adjustment with the electronics as well. I think ultimately we’re still going to meet somewhere in the middle, but anyway, the old bike is still a really good motorbike and I’m still happy to be here doing laps. It’s a shame the way we finished up a couple of days ago.”

Following the heavy crash that saw him exit race two in Queensland just two days ago, it’s anticipated Staring’s SP2 model will be repaired in time for Sydney’s sixth round in just under two weeks’ time on 8-10 September.