Image: Keith Muir.

Former Australian Superbike champions Glenn Allerton and Bryan Staring have played down any talk of them racing to team orders in this weekend’s 2017 series finals at Phillip Island.

The 2010 champion Staring’s Crankt Protein Honda Racing teammate Troy Herfoss leads the series by six points and while assisting his team in winning the title will be of importance, a personal result will also be paramount.

With only Herfoss tipped to remain on an official Honda team next season regardless the departure of Paul Free’s Team Honda Racing program at this point, Staring is riding for his future and a breakthrough victory could go a long way in cementing his future. Still, he is mindful of the championship tally and would prefer a Honda victory.

“To see Troy and Honda win, that’s the best thing that could happen from my perspective,” Staring told CycleOnline.com.au. “Although to be honest, as far as the actual racing goes, I don’t think there’s anything much that I can do on the track to assist the situation. I don’t really want to be in the middle of it all either, so a result for me is exactly my intention.”

Triple title-winner Allerton, who claimed the number one plate in 2008, 2011 and 2014, is prepared to help Yamaha Racing Team teammate Wayne Maxwell – currently 15 points outside of the lead in third – if the opportunity is presented, however it’s not yet formally been discussed. He sees limitations in that type of strategy, eager to cap-off the year strongly himself.

“Obviously riding for Yamaha and with Wayne being in the position to potentially win the title, it’s always good to help the manufacturer,” Allerton commented when contacted. “If it comes down to it then it’s a possibility, but in my experience over the years it never really works out that way. You can come up with these game-plans, but when the lights go out it’s usually chaos.

“So, realistically, I’m going there with the view to do the best that I can. Ultimately, the best thing for me and Wayne to do is try get out front for Yamaha and ride away from everybody. I’m not thinking about getting in between Wayne and somebody else – my plan is to be as fast as I can to be able to win the race. We’ll just play it by ear when we get toward the end of the race.”

The sole Team Suzuki Ecstar Australia entry of Josh Waters, who sits second in the championship six points from Herfoss, will be on his own regardless as the lone factory-supported GSX-R1000R in the field. He’s previously swept the Hidden Valley and Sydney rounds this season and carries pivotal momentum into first practice tomorrow morning.