Image: Foremost Media.

Penrite Racing SBK’s Max Stauffer has been declared fit for One Raceway’s penultimate round of the 2024 Mi-bike Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) this weekend, the youthful talent overcoming a number of chest injuries sustained at Phillip Island last month.

Stauffer high-sided on the final lap of Phillip Island’s fifth round having just secured third position, the impact of the crash resulting in six broken ribs and a collapsed lung.

Despite less than a month to recover, the New South Welshman has been cleared to race in Goulburn this weekend, which will mark the return of the formerly known Wakefield Park to the ASBK calendar.

“From the moment I crashed, it was all about getting ready for Wakefield,” Stauffer told CycleOnline. “It’s a really close track to me, and a track I’ve had a lot of success at. So to be at the first race back, it’s pretty important to me.

“I’ve been back doing a fair bit of running and training, so overall, I think it’s not bad. Obviously, I feel pain in some spots, but I don’t think it’s anything to worry about or anything that’s going to hinder me – I just need to get on the bike, do some laps and start to feel comfortable again.”

The Yamaha-mounted rider has been in strong form this year, highlighted by second overall at Queensland Raceway while he’s currently ranked fifth in the championship standings.