Image: Alex Gobert (Foremost Media).

Starting out of fifth position isn’t where Troy Herfoss wanted to slot his CBR1000RR SP2 on the YMF Australian Superbike grid for Sunday, however he remains confident he will be in the fight for victory at Phillip Island.

Herfoss qualified on provisional pole this morning with a 1m32.851s lap-time but was unable to improve this afternoon, bumping him down the order to P5 at the conclusion of Q2.

It will matter little tomorrow though, with the defending title-holder certain he has race-winning pace if conditions remain dry on race day Sunday. He enters with a six-point advantage over Suzuki’s Josh Waters and 14 markers ahead of YRT leader Wayne Maxwell.

“Saturday’s done now and we all know who’s got what on the qualifying tyre,” Herfoss told CycleOnline.com.au. “Fifth isn’t what we were hoping for, but I’m happy with my pace and the racing tomorrow’s going to be pretty close, pretty aggressive. We need to make sure we’re strong at the end, which I think we will be.

“We’re definitely good when the grip goes away and stronger at the start of the race than we have been, but the main bonus is that we’ve got the motor now to be in the race, so we can slip-stream and make passes on the straight. I think we’re in a good position and I’m definitely not thinking I’m out of it by any means.”

And with rain forecast to fall throughout tomorrow, Herfoss says he will be preparing for a pair of wet races on Sunday. Either way, he is adamant that he will be ready to fight to retain the number one plate.

“I’m going to bed tonight preparing for rain,” he admitted. “I think it will be raining at some stage and we were really fast at Wakefield in the wet, but it’s been that long since we’ve ridden in the wet. I’m happy either way because I’ve been fast at the Island in the wet and I think it’s a matter for preparing for all conditions – Phillip Island’s unpredictable. I’m in with a fighting chance no matter what the conditions are.”