Image: Russell Colvin.

Penrite Honda Racing’s Troy Herfoss has extended his points lead in the 2018 Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) at Hidden Valley in the Northern Territory, going 2-1 for the overall.

A thrilling opening YMI Superbike affair saw DesmoSport Ducati’s Troy Bayliss inch to his first victory since making a comeback to the sport in 2018, fending off a final lap attack from Herfoss to cross the finish just 0.204s ahead in a popular result.

The race was initially started and then red-flagged due to Jamie Stauffer (McMartin Racing Ducati) going down when Bayliss was at the front.

Once they got going again, Bayliss once again led from the outset and that’s where he would remain, controlling the race despite all kinds of late pressure from Herfoss and third-place finisher Bryan Staring (Kawasaki BCperformance).

That trio crossed the line within 0.690s of each-other at the end of 16 laps upon the restart. Fourth was Wayne Maxwell (Yamaha Racing Team) despite a tough start, directly followed by Glenn Allerton (Next Gen Motorsports BMW) in fifth.

It was another Yamaha in Daniel Falzon (Yamaha Racing Team) finishing sixth, as last year’s winner Josh Waters (Team Suzuki Ecstar), his teammate Mark Chiodo (Team Suzuki Ecstar), Arthur Sissis (Suzuki) and the returning Glenn Scott (Kawasaki) completed the top 10.

Race two of the YMI Superbike division was another Bayliss vs Herfoss affair, however this time around it was Herfoss who took victory and sealed the overall as a result.

Herfoss stalked Bayliss for the opening portion of the 18 laps, but a series of mishaps including two off-track excursions saw the latter ruled out of contention, eventually crossing the line in P7. But it appeared to be Herfoss’ race to lose, going on to win by 1.147s with a new lap record of 1m05.904s.

He crossed the line ahead of Staring and Maxwell, while fourth was another solid effort from Allerton, with Waters fifth. Positions six through 10 were taken by Falzon, Bayliss, Chiodo, Sissis and Alex Phillis (Suzuki).

Overall on the podium it was Herfoss who won, with Bayliss salvaging second position and Staring third. In the standings it remains Herfoss atop the points, now 29.5 points ahead of Maxwell, who in turn is 19 markers ahead of Bayliss.

Detailed results