Post-race updates from round four of the 2018 Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) presented by Motul Pirelli direct from Hidden Valley in the Northern Territory on race-day Sunday.

Image: Russell Colvin.

Supersport race one:
The opening 14-lap Kawasaki Supersport encounter of the round was dominated by Yamaha Racing Team’s pole-setter and current points-leader Cru Halliday. It was rookie Max Croker (Suzuki) who shot to the front when the lights went out, but Halliday quickly took control of proceedings and went on to win by 4.162s. He also set a new lap record of 1m08.243s in the process. While Halliday appeared to do it relatively easy at the front, Cube Racing’s Tom Toparis (Kawasaki) worked his way into second, but had his hands full with Croker for much of the race’s duration. He eventually asserted himself in P2 and that’s the way the podium ended, with Halliday topping Toparis and Croker. Kiwi Damon Rees (Honda) rode solid for fourth, as Zac Johnson (Yamaha) got the better of Giuseppe Scarcella (Kawasaki) for fifth in the closing laps. The top 10 – and field – was completed by Ty Lynch (Yamaha), Rhys Belling (Yamaha), Dallas Skeer (Suzuki) and Graeme Smith (Kawasaki). One notable casualty was Lachlan Epis (Kawasaki), going down early while running in position four.

1. Cru HALLIDAY
2. Tom TOPARIS
3. Max CROKER
4. Damon REES
5. Zac JOHNSON
6. Giuseppe SCARCELLA
7. Ty LYNCH
8. Rhys BELLING
9. Dallas SKEER
10. Graeme SMITH

Superbike race one:
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 Troy Herfoss (Penrite Honda Racing) 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.

1. Troy BAYLISS
2. Troy HERFOSS
3. Bryan STARING
4. Wayne MAXWELL
5. Glenn ALLERTON
6. Daniel FALZON
7. Josh WATERS
8. Mark CHIODO
9. Arthur SISSIS
10. Glenn SCOTT
11. Kyle BUCKLEY
12. Matt WALTERS
13. Mitch LEVY
14. Sloan FROST
15. Brad SWALLOW
16. Alex PHILLIS
17. Ben STRONACH
18. Mitch REES
19. Sam LAMBERT
20. Ted COLLINS

Supersport race two:
Race two of the Kawasaki Supersport class was once again all Halliday, going on to score another perfect double for the weekend and to extend his championship lead in the process. The 30-year-old stretched away to a three-second lead at the conclusion of 14 laps, however it was the battle behind him involving Mladin Racing’s rookie talent Croker and Toparis that stole much of the attention. In the end it was Croker who displayed his development by getting the better of Toparis by 0.245s, while Rees and Johnson again filled the top five. Local Mick Heffernan (Kawasaki) bounced back from an incident in race one to claim P6, with Nicholson, Skeer, Belling and Lynch the top 10. Epis once again went down in another disappointing race, while BCperformance’s Scarcella also crashed out. Overall for the round it was Halliday with the perfect 1-1 score, joined on the rostrum by Croker and Toparis.

1. Cru HALLIDAY
2. Max CROKER
3. Tom TOPARIS
4. Damon REES
5. Zac JOHNSON
6. Mick HEFFERAN
7. Scott NICHOLSON
8. Dallas SKEER
9. Rhys BELLING
10. Ty LYNCH
11. Graeme SMITH

Superbike race two:
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.

1. Troy HERFOSS
2. Bryan STARING
3. Wayne MAXWELL
4. Glenn ALLERTON
5. Josh WATERS
6. Daniel FALZON
7. Troy BAYLISS
8. Mark CHIODO
9. Arthur SISSIS
10. Alex PHILLIS
11. Kyle BUCKLEY
12. Sloan FROST
13. Glenn SCOTT
14. Brad SWALLOW
15. Ted COLLINS
16. Mitch LEVY
17. Sam LAMBERT
18. Mitch REES
19. Evan BYLES
20. Ben STRONACH