Australian Superbike front-runner Max Stauffer sustained broken ribs and a collapsed lung in his race two crash at Phillip Island on Sunday, outlining the extent of his injuries this evening.

Stauffer, 20, has been in spectacular form during the 2024 season and currently sits fifth in the premier class standings, despite his exit from the final encounter at round five.

It was a largely difficult weekend for the Penrite Racing SBK rider onboard his YZF-R1, qualifying ninth and then finishing seventh in race one, before rain in the afternoon’s second race saw him storm into podium contention. A crash out of Miller Corner on the final lap after passing Anthony West for P3 ended his day early.

“Round five is over – tough weekend from start to finish for me,” Stauffer recalled, still hospitalised in Victoria. “Never really got comfortable with the bike, qualifying in P9. The races were also tough, and I finished race one in seventh place.

“For race two the rain had set in and unfortunately [while] battling for third position on the last lap I had a high-side and have broken six ribs and a collapsed lung.

“I’m on the road to recovery and looking forward to getting with my Penrite Racing SBK team again. Thanks for everyone’s hard work – I’ll put it all together soon.”

Stauffer will now face a race against time to be at 100 percent fitness for the One Raceway’s – formerly Wakefield Park – penultimate round of the season in Goulburn, New South Wales, on October 4-6.