Follow the 2023 Mi-Bike Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) with direct SBK updates from the fourth round of the season at Hidden Valley through Racefeed.

Image: Foremost Media.

Superbike race one: 

A dominant performance from Josh Waters saw the McMartin Racing Ducati rider extend his 2023 Mi-Bike Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) lead with victory in race one at Hidden Valley. From pole, Waters launched to the early lead ahead of GT Racing’s Glenn Allerton who slotted into second. It didn’t take long for a lead group of four to form with the Waters, Allerton, Troy Herfoss (Penrite Honda Racing) and Mike Jones edging away from the field. On lap five Waters began to break clear on his own at the front, setting a new race lap record of a 1m05.307s to increase his advantage as Herfoss took Allerton the following lap into turn one for second. Soon after Jones made his way past the number 14 for third. At the halfway point of the race Waters’ lead was 1.8s, with Herfoss still ahead of Jones and Allerton – all three riders in contention for P2. Waters continued to manage his advantage in the laps that followed, while Herfoss had to take a wide line around a lapped rider at turn five with four laps to go, bunching the fight for second right up. It was at the corner a lap later that Allerton moved past Jones for third, and from that point the top four remained unchanged, with Waters taking a commanding victory, conserving to the chequered flag to finish 1.273s ahead of the Fireblade rider, with Allerton completing the podium and Jones fourth. MotoGo Yamaha rider Bryan Staring was fifth, ahead of Anthony West (Addicted to Track) and Arthur Sissis (Unitech Racing) – the South Australian’s wrist still not 100 percent after that testing crash at Queensland Raceway. Behind them was Cru Halliday, the Yamaha Racing Team rider not having a great opening lap but was able to work his way back to as high P5, before ultimately taking the chequered flag in P8. Max Stauffer (GTR MotoStars Yamaha) and Ted Collins (Livson Racing) completed the top 10. Waters holds a 24-point advantage in the ASBK standings ahead of Herfoss ahead of the final two races for round four tomorrow.

Superbike race two: 

Title contender Herfoss scored an important victory in race two as championship leader Waters 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 Jones, Herfoss and Allerton then quickly broke away from the riders behind, with Stauffer notably making a good start and running as high as fourth in the early stages. By lap four Herfoss was in the lead ahead of Jones and by half-race distane the pair had a two-second advantage ahead of Allerton, with Halliday in fourth and 1.7s back from the BMW rider in P3. 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.

Superbike race three:

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.