Image: Russell Colvin.

An updated Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) kit ECU debuted at last month’s Suzuka 8 Hours will serve as another boost in Troy Herfoss’ hopes to bring the Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) back to Honda in 2018.

Herfoss has steam-rolled the past three rounds with victories at Wakefield Park, The Bend and Hidden Valley, but insists that he and his ER Motorsport-operated Penrite Honda Racing team won’t be backing off as the back-part of the year approaches.

Those performances have enabled him to stretch out a commanding 29.5-point advantage and a recent shakedown at the Queensland-based venue has Herfoss in a positive frame of mind ahead of Friday’s opening practice sessions, evaluating the latest kit ECU from Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) and continuing to refine settings upon his dominant CBR1000RR SP Fireblade.

“Everything is shaping up well, I feel good and the bike is another improvement with the latest HRC kit ECU update,” Herfoss said. “That made the bike that bit easier to ride and we just concentrated on doing laps at the test, really. The tyres last year were a bit of an issue, but this year we’ve covered all bases and are going into the race weekend with a clear direction. I just can’t wait to get out there!

“Last year things didn’t go to plan at this round, we had a lot of things thrown at us and then a mistake from me in the race. I really enjoy the track though, it’s probably one of the best rounds for me and going off of the test, it should be a good round for me this season. Hopefully we can put on a good show and I can keep being the aggressor in this championship – it’s too early to start thinking about the points, so we need to keep pushing ahead.”

Penrite Honda Racing team manager Shaun Clarke said the updated ECU from HRC was a definite step forward for their CBR1000RR SP Fireblade in ASBK trim, placing the team in good steed ahead of round five at the technical 2.1-kilometre circuit in Warwick.

“We have the new HRC kit ECU that was just released at the Suzuka 8 Hours, which is a lot more tuneable and it is a step forward for us,” Clarke commented. “It’s just been a matter of working with it, getting the right direction that we need and it has been quite a good advancement for our bike. The current form is a result of the hard work that everybody’s put in and our strategy toward the championship. We’ve taken measured approach and it’s all coming together, so we’re ready to keep pushing forward from here.”