Image: Foremost Media.

A career-best sixth overall in the Mi-Bike Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) premier class highlights the steps forward made by Max Stauffer in 2023, the GTR MotoStars rider outlining improvements to the Motec electronics system used on his R1 as a key to making progress.

Stauffer’s immense improvement when compared to last year – his rookie season in the category – has been noted by many and is reflected in the pace he has shown throughout the opening rounds of the season, despite misfortune in the races at Phillip Island.

He has qualified on the second row twice this year, scoring an Australian Superbike best fifth place on the grid at Queensland Raceway and later converting that to two solid races on Sunday in the third round of the season.

“Just getting the Motec a lot better, Dad is working hard, I’m working hard and trying the best I can and so are he and the rest of the GTR MotoStars team,” Stauffer explained to CycleOnline.

“I think we are getting the bike better, and as we are getting closer I am able to see what I need to do to get better, and I’m changing a lot of the things I do – I’m doing a lot of things different to try and replicate what they are doing to try and get my further up the field.

“This race last year, I think I finished 50 seconds behind the leader, race one I finished nine seconds, so it has been a great step.”

Despite a tough start to the weekend by his own account, Stauffer was able to notch a 6-6 scorecard at Queensland Raceway as the series now moves to Hidden Valley, Darwin for round four between 16-18 June.

“I’m pretty excited, I’m not sure if it’s going to suit the R1 over any other bike or whatnot, but last year [at Hidden Valley] was probably one of the races where I finished closer to the leaders, “Stauffer added.

“I am hoping we can turn up there and feel comfortable, get a good set up on the bike, it’s probably similar to Eastern Creek and a track we’ve done well at. Hopefully, we can have a decent meeting.”