Image: Foremost Media.

Going under the lap record at The Bend, Josh Waters edged Mi-Bike Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) rival Troy Herfoss to lead Friday practice, while Olly Simpson set the pace in Supersport.

Waters best lap of a 1m50.454s came late in FP3, and is faster than the official best of a 1m50.520s set by Wayne Maxwell in 2021.

Herfoss (Penrite Honda Racing) led both FP1 and FP2, with his quickest time also coming this afternoon in the form of a 1m50.604s, while GTR Yamaha MotoStars racer Max Stauffer completed the top three thanks to a 1m51.105s.

Fourth fastest was Cru Halliday (Yamaha Racing Team), ahead of MotoGo Yamaha’s Bryan Staring who has made the switch to Motec electronics. He finished in front of defending champion Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team), who posted a 1m51.537s for P6.

Addicted To Track Yamaha racer Anthony West notched the seventh quickest time, with Arthur Sissis (Unitech Racing), Ted Collins (Livson Racing) and DesmoSport Ducati’s Broc Pearson featuring in positions eight to 10.

Image: Foremost Media.

Less than two-tenths from the lap record, Simpson was fastest in Supersport today courtesy of a 1m54.840s set in the second session.

The number 45 led European Moto2 Championship contender Harrison Voight (Yamaha) by just 0.026s, with Voight continually making steps forward throughout the day. He was fastest in FP3.

Championship leader Cameron Dunker posted a late 1m55.660s to elevate to third for the day, fractions ahead of BSB Supersport number three Tom Toparis (Yamaha).

Hayden Nelson topped the charts in FP1 and concluded practice fifth fastest with a 1m55.800s and the final rider within the 1m55s bracket, as South Australian Ty Lynch (Yamaha) was sixth.

Jonathan Nahlous (Yamaha) notched the seventh quickest time, ahead of Scott Nicholson (Yamaha) and international racers Harry Khouri and Jack Mahaffy in positions nine and 10, the latter not able to complete a timed lap in FP3.

In the R3 Cup, championship leader Cameron Swain topped the charts with a 2m09.097, posted in FP2, while FP3 pace-setter Brodie Gawith and Henry Snell were second and third respectively.

Supersport 300 saw Gawith set the benchmark, narrowly in front of Swain with a 2m09.756s while Snell completed the top three once again.

Archie Schmidt (Yamaha) led the way in the Oceania Junior Cup (OJC), the points leader posting a 2m32.210s. Bodie Paige and Queensland’s Hunter Corney completed the top three.

Detailed results