Image: Russell Colvin.

Current Australian Superbike champion Wayne Maxwell has made his intentions clear for the 2022 season, topping day one of the official ASBK pre-season test at Phillip Island onboard the McMartin Racing Ducati V4R.

In what was a wet start to the day’s proceedings, many competitors in the Alpinestars Superbike class opted to sit out the opening two sessions, Maxwell topping the first dry session of the day, practice three, with a 1m33.074s.

The 39-year-old quickly upped the pace in the fourth session, laying down a 1m32.326s on the second flying lap before improving to a 1m31.993s which was ultimately the quickest time of the day, .975s clear of BMW Alliance Racing’s Lachlan Epis who made an impressive start to the season in P2 with a 1m32.968s.

Completing the top three on day one was Bryan Staring, the Western Australian appearing to adapt positively to the new DesmoSport Ducati surrounds and the V4R to post a 1m33.026s.

Yamaha Racing Team’s Cru Halliday was fourth fastest, just ahead of Aiden Wagner (Addicted To Track Yamaha) in P5, as Mike Jones made his YRT return in sixth.

Josh Waters continued to adapt to the BMW M 1000 RR in seventh ahead of Next Gen Motorsports teammate Glenn Allerton in P8 who experienced a fall at the hayshed during session three.

Completing the top 10 were Markus Chiodo and Matthew Walters (Kawasaki Connection), as two-time Australian Superbike Champion Troy Herfoss (Penrite Honda Racing) finished P12 for the day as he continues to rebuild.

In the Michelin Supersport Class, Oli Bayliss set the pace with a 1m35.092s, the World Supersport bound teenager leading last year’s runner-up Tom Edwards (Bikebiz Yamaha) who completed the day with a 1m35.714s, as Honda mounted Senna Agius was third a further two tenths adrift courtesy of a 1m35.927s.

Liam Waters was quickest in the Dunlop Supersport 300 class, the 17-year-old Queenslander representing the newly formed Aksu Waters Racing Team to top the first day with a 1m50.688s, ahead of current OJC champion Cameron Swain who made his debut in the category with ProGP Racing, as Brodie Gawith completed the top three.

The quickest Moto3 on track was Harrison Voight, setting a 1m40.467s on the Voight Contracting KTM RC 250 as he continues to prepare for his season overseas in the Red Bull Rookies Cup and Junior Moto3 World Championship.

Leading the way in the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup (OJC) was Marcus Hamod, with Teerin Fleming in second as Ryan Larkin was P3. Today also marked the debut of the new ‘V3’ Yamaha YZF-R15 to be used in the OJC.

Detailed results