Event: Round one ASBK Australian Superbike Championship, World SBK support
Date: 26th – 28th February
Venue: Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Phillip Island
Weather: Mostly fine, windy.

Qualification: sixth

Race Results: Overall Results:
Race one: fifth First: W Maxwell Honda CBR 1000RR
Race two: fourth Second: B Staring Honda CBR 1000RR
Third: J Stauffer Ducati 1198R
Fourth: Shannon Johnson KTM RC8R
Fifth: S Charlton Suzuki GSXR

Rider Report:

I can happily say I’m glad to have the season finally started. After spending many, many hours over the past months with everyone involved with the entire ESG KTM Superbike team planning, building, and preparing for our official debut it’s great to finally start racing. It’s also a huge relief for me as I have had a big roll with the team, a new challenge for me both on and off the circuit this year.

The weekend was a very positive event, although it felt like it started out a bit slow. Friday in free practice was the first time I got the chance to ride the RC8R in full Superbike spec, engine, chassis, and electronics. To be honest at first the bike felt not one bit familiar. As the sessions went by we made change after change. Friday night we sat down and went through all the gathered data from the two sessions and made some changes. I was a bit frustrated and this was showing in my times.

Saturday morning qualifying highlighted this the most, I made a number of rider errors that made me lose my feeling with the bike. At the end of the session I sat down for a long time with all the team and we looked at data, my notes, and lap times. We collectively put our thoughts together and made a plan on where and how to improve, the bike and myself. Its moments like this that make me know we have a great team. The second session in contrast was night and day better! Not only did I have a much better feel with the bike, we made the bike look after the tyre better and of course we went much faster. Improving our qualifying position also. I slept much better Saturday night.

Race one Sunday I figured we had done all we could and it was simply about putting a complete race together. I made a decent start and went with the lead group, after a 1/3 distance I got caught up in a battle that slowed me and allowed the front group to get away. However we set faster lap times than we did in qualifying so again we improved our RC8R Superbike. Still 10 seconds from the win over a 12 lap race I feel was too much. Now we just needed some small tweaks.

Race two was delayed a couple of hours due to oil spill in another class. When we finally started the circuit temp had dropped a lot. Again I made a solid start and went with the lead group, this time I stayed with them longer than the first race, however as the front group broke up I got caught up in the riders going backwards as I was still going forward. Still finding my feel with the new RC8R Superbike I was riding a little reserved and was too cautious making passes. I have a much better understanding of the bike now and the passes I’m renowned for are ready to surprise at the next round. Finishing fourth was another improvement, this time only five seconds from the win. That time gap was a big leap forward.

To be sitting fourth in the championship on debut is a great starting point, lots to improve, lots to learn, and lots of potential. I can’t wait.