Image: Foremost Media.

Penrite Honda Racing’s Troy Herfoss prevailed in the fourth round of the 2023 Mi-Bike Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK), winning both races today at Hidden Valley as the title fight continues to come alive.

Herfoss scored an important victory in race two as championship leader Waters (McMartin Racing Ducati) made a costly mistake at turn one.

Race one winner Waters launched to the early lead but ran off the track at the start of lap two at turn one, rejoining outside of the top 10. The leading trio of Herfoss, Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team) and Glenn Allerton (GT Racing Team) then quickly broke away from the riders behind, with Max Stauffer (GTR MotoStars Yamaha) notably making a good start and running as high as fourth in the early stages.

By lap four Herfoss led Jones, and at the halfway point the pair had a two-second advantage ahead of Allerton, with Cru Halliday (Yamaha Racing Team) in fourth and 1.7s back from the BMW rider. Waters had made his way up to P9 by this point.

On lap 11 Jones took Herfoss into turn one, with the number 17 remaining within striking distance until Jones ran wide at turn six with three laps to go, the Fireblade rider retaking the lead.

From there, Herfoss was able to hold onto the lead and take win number three in season 2023, leading Jones by 0.169s across the line. Allerton held on to third, 5.123s from the lead as Halliday was fourth and Waters was able to reach P5 by race-end, setting a new lap record of a 1m05.178s in the process.

In sixth was Pearson, leading West and Sissis who dropped back in the closing stages. Stauffer – after being off the track at turn one – and Collins completed the top 10.

Completing a Sunday double at Hidden Valley, Herfoss was victorious again in race two to take the round four overall victory as the ASBK title fight continues to come alive.

Herfoss grabbed the early lead, with Jones and Waters in tow, making their way past the fast-starting Sissis. The leading battle between Herfoss, Jones and Waters came alive at the half way point with the reigning champion taking the Honda rider into turn five, Herfoss then responding a corner later to retake the lead.

With three laps to go Waters began dropping off the leading duo, the deficit increasing to a second to the leading two. Ultimately it was Herfoss who was able to withstand the charge of Jones, taking victory by 0.123s ahead of the Yamaha Racing Team rider. Waters finished third and 1.005s from the race win.

A solid ride from Staring saw him take the chequered flag in fourth, leading Pearson who completed the top five. Featuring in positions six to 10 were West, Sissis, Stauffer, Collins and Matt Walters (Aprilia).

Notably, Allerton crashed on the opening lap at turn five, able to remount and finish the race 12th. With 10 laps to go Halliday made contact with Sissis at the exit of turn one, the number 65 running off the track afterwards having fall to avoid hitting the barrier, unable to finish the race.

Herfoss took the round win with 70 points, with Waters and Jones completing the overall podium. In terms of the ASBK Championship standings, Waters leads on 220 points, with Herfoss second on 212 and Jones elevating to third on 161.

Detailed results