Yamaha Preview Queensland Superbikes
It will be business as usual for Australia’s leading road race operation as it
attempts to put together a maximum points weekend at Queensland Raceway this
weekend, the site of rounds 6 & 7 of the YMF Loan Australian Superbike
Championship.
The second double-header event for 2007 will see extra staff
join the Yamaha Racing Team in order to maintain its Superbike and Supersport
riders’ strong series campaigns. Currently leading both classes aboard the
YZF-R1 and YZF-R6 machines respectively, riders will use data gained from an
encouraging test session three weeks ago to ensure they hit the ground running
on Thursday morning.
The double header format provides twice as much racing,
but riders will need to qualify well as the results of Friday’s merged sessions
are not progressive – they will start in the grid positions they qualified in
for all 4 races.Jamie Stauffer and brother Dan head up Yamaha’s charge on
the R1, while Jason O’Halloran and Jeremy Crowe are joined by Jamie again on the
R6.
The Yamaha Racing Team will take time out of their busy schedule on
Sunday for a very special meet and greet session with some children from the
local Starlight Foundation. The team received a fantastic response in 2006
and looks forward to brightening the day of some little faces again this
weekend.
Yamaha Racing Team Superbike.
With a 50 point lead and 101 points
on offer this weekend, reigning Australian Superbike titleholder and Yamaha
pilot Jamie Stauffer is determined to do everything in his power to take two
from two round wins and seal the deal ahead of the season’s final outing. And
while it’s theoretically possible he could wrap up his second consecutive title
at Queensland Raceway, he knows there will be strong opposition from a number of
riders that have been on the improve over the last few rounds.
Stauffer will
concentrate on letting his on-track performance do the talking at this weekend’s
event and feels as though the team is fully-prepared following its pre-round
test.“We are pretty confident about racing at Queensland Raceway and feel as
though we’re on top of things with both bikes,” said Stauffer. “The surface
seems to have become even bumpier in parts since last year and it was good to
find these new limits at the test a few weeks ago. With the double-header
format the plan will be to go for pole in order to set ourselves in the best
possible positition across the four races. It will be a tough ask
physically, as I’m racing in both classes, but I’m confident that I’m up to
it.”
Jamie’s closest opposition in 2007 has been brother Dan, who is second
in the standings on 185 points.The last double-header round, contested at
the rural Victorian circuit of Winton, proved a fruitful venture for Stauffer
who wrangled a race win away from his brother. And while he is out to lay
down another strong challenge, he is also wary of two rival riders closing in on
the championship table.
“This round will be about qualifying well, and making
sure we’re in a good position to run with the leaders rather than mounting a
chase all race,” said Stauffer.“The track seems to get more and more
tyre-hungry each year, and if you push hard early you will notice a definite
lack of grip towards the end of the race. It should be a great weekend, the
test proved that the R1 has what it takes to mix it at the front.”
Yamaha
Racing Team Supersport.
The title of Australian Supersport Champion looks set
to go down to the wire in 2007, with Yamaha Racing Team young gun Jason
O’Halloran offering the most opposition to Jamie Stauffer’s reclaiming of series
champ status.To date, O’Halloran has had a slight edge over Stauffer,
reflected in his championship pointscore – he leads by 13 points.
At this
weekend’s Queensland Raceway double-header event, he knows it will be a tough
ask to fend off Stauffer across all 4 races, but he feels as though he is very
well physically prepared for the task.
“Queensland Raceway will be a make or
break weekend, it’s quite close at the top and with 100 points up for grabs in
the races it really can go anyone’s way,” said O’Halloran. “I had a good run
here last year, which included a race win, so I’m pretty confident heading into
the event. The team has the R6 running perfectly, and I can’t wait to get
underway.”
While the battle for the win is sure to be on between teammates
O’Halloran and Stauffer, there’s no discounting Jeremy Crowe, who is keen to
challenge for the podium following a lean round in Tasmania.
“There’s a lot
of riders on top of their game at the moment and it’s a very competitive field,”
said Crowe. “In saying that I know I am able to run with the front guys and if I
can qualify well I feel as though it could be a very valuable weekend. I’m
only a few points behind third in the championship so I’ll definitely be pushing
to finish ahead of Josh (Waters) to get the place back.” .
Championship Standings.
Superbike
1. Jamie
STAUFFER, 235
2. Daniel STAUFFER, 185
3. Craig COXHELL, 175
4. Glenn
ALLERTON, 169
5. Wayne MAXWELL, 140
6. Shawn GILES, 132
7. Shannon
JOHNSON, 126
8. Scott CHARLTON, 118
9. Russell HOLLAND, 117
10. Robert
BUGDEN, 100
Supersport
1. Jason O'HALLORAN, 224
2. Jamie STAUFFER,
211
3. Joshua WATERS, 176
4. Jeremy CROWE, 169
5. Russell HOLLAND,
168
6. Gareth JONES, 109
7. Wayne MAXWELL, 104
8. Bryan STARING,
97
9. Christopher SEATON, 94
10. Mick KELLY, 93
