Team Honda’s Jamie Stauffer is eyeing his maiden race win with the manufacturer following a convincing QBE Superpole victory at Queensland Raceway today.
The two-time Australian Superbike Champion left nothing in reserve with an ultra-committed lap of the bumpy 3.12km circuit, his 1:09.223s lap the best by a margin of close to four-tenths of a second in a closely-contested session.
It has been Stauffer’s day from start to finish, with the NSW-based rider topping both of the initial 30-minute qualifying sessions before confirming his pace with pole position.
Round 5 of the QBE Australian Superbike Championship is shaping up to be a thriller, and Stauffer will be leading the charge to stop current points leader, Procon Maxima BMW’s Glenn Allerton, who secured the second grid position with a 1:09.596 effort.
Ben Attard’s strong form on the Aprilia RSV4, with the best of the local riders taking a hard-fought third place in Superpole for the i-Style Natural Aprilia Team.
Team Suzuki’s Josh Waters was fourth-fastest, making it four different manufacturers on the front row for tomorrow’s 17-lap races. Team Suzuki’s Robbie Bugden, Team Honda’s Wayne Maxwell, Demolition Plus GAS Honda’s Craig Coxhell and Team Suzuki’s Troy Herfoss will occupy the second row of the grid.
Carr Bros Motorsport’s Mitchell Carr secured his second consecutive QBE Supersport pole position, winning this afternoon’s four-rider Motul Superpole shootout.
The Triumph talent is riding high after recording debut race and round wins at the previous round in Darwin and is hoping to hold out a hungry pack tomorrow.
P1, Jamie Stauffer, Team Honda, 1:09.223
“It was a good day, we’ve been fastest all day, we can hopefully make the bike a bit better and hopefully we can race for the lead tomorrow.”
P2, Glenn Allerton, Procon Maxima BMW, 1:09.596
“So far qualifying has been really strong for us, obviously I want to be in P1 but P2 is a good starting position and I’ve proved this year that I am strong in the races. We made one last change before Superpole and the bike felt really good. It was a cracking Superpole lap and I’m really happy with how the bike feels, tomorrow I feel like the Procon Maxima BMW is going to be one really strong package for 17 laps.”
P3, Ben Attard, The i-Style Natural Aprilia Team, 1:09.596
“Today was a great day, we went out in the top 3, I made a few little mistakes in Superpole and it cost me. I thought we could have done a low nine but I messed up two corners. We’ve got a good bike, it’s quick and I can’t wait to fight tomorrow.”
Qualifying video introduced by someone who sits under the hole in the ozone layer
QBE Superbike Superpole, Round 5, Queensland Raceway
1. Jamie STAUFFER (NSW) / Team Honda Racing / Oleon Oils / Motologic, Honda CBR RR, 1:09.223
2. Glenn ALLERTON (VIC) / Procon Maxima BMW / Procon / Maxima Oils, BMW S RR, 1:09.596
3. Ben ATTARD (QLD) / The i-Style Natural Aprilia Team / Archers / MOTUL, Aprilia RSV4, 1:09.675
4. Joshua WATERS (VIC) / Team Suzuki, Suzuki GSX-R, 1:09.851
5. Robert BUGDEN (QLD) / Team Mack Trucks Suzuki, Suzuki GSX-R, 1:10.068
6. Wayne MAXWELL (VIC) / Team Honda Racing / Oleon Oils / Motologic, Honda CBR RR, 1:10.156
7. Craig COXHELL (VIC) / Demolition Plus GAS Honda, Honda CBR RR, 1:10.422
8. Troy HERFOSS (NSW) / Team Suzuki, Suzuki GSX-R, 1:10.459
QBE Superbike Qualifying
1. Jamie STAUFFER (NSW) / Team Honda Racing / Oleon Oils / Motologic, Honda CBR RR, 1:09.238
2. Glenn ALLERTON (VIC) / Procon Maxima BMW / Procon / Maxima Oils, BMW S RR, 1:09.488
3. Ben ATTARD (QLD) / The i-Style Natural Aprilia Team / Archers / MOTUL, Aprilia RSV4, 1:09.550
4. Joshua WATERS (VIC) / Team Suzuki, Suzuki GSX-R, 1:09.620
5. Robert BUGDEN (QLD) / Team Mack Trucks Suzuki, Suzuki GSX-R, 1:09.719
6. Wayne MAXWELL (VIC) / Team Honda Racing / Oleon Oils / Motologic, Honda CBR RR, 1:09.725
7. Troy HERFOSS (NSW) / Team Suzuki, Suzuki GSX-R, 1:10.069
8. Craig COXHELL (VIC) / Demolition Plus GAS Honda, Honda CBR RR, 1:10.282
9. Daniel STAUFFER (QLD) / DGS Ducati / Lovett's Earthmoving / Prolab Engineering, Ducati 1198 R, 1:10.336
10. Cole ODENDAAL (NSW) / NSW Compensation Lawyers / GAS Honda Racing, Honda CBR RR, 1:10.748
QBE Supersport Superpole, Round 5, Queensland Raceway
1. Mitchell CARR (NSW) / Carr Bros Morotrsport / Triumph Australia, Triumph Daytona, 1:13.509
2. Kevin CURTAIN (VIC) / Yamaha Racing Team, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:13.530
3. Brendan CLARKE (QLD) / Champion's Ride Days / Honda Australia / Palfinger, Honda CBR RR, 1:14.250
4. Rick OLSON (VIC) / Yamaha Racing Team, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:14.270
QBE Supersport Qualifying
1. Kevin CURTAIN (VIC) / Yamaha Racing Team, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:12.839
2. Mitchell CARR (NSW) / Carr Bros Morotrsport / Triumph Australia, Triumph Daytona, 1:13.078
3. Rick OLSON (VIC) / Yamaha Racing Team, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:13.322
4. Brendan CLARKE (QLD) / Champion's Ride Days / Honda Australia / Palfinger, Honda CBR RR, 1:13.366
5. Aaron GOBERT (NSW) / Yamaha / Graves / Hot Bodies, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:13.509
6. Brodie WATERS (VIC) / Team Suzuki, Suzuki GSX-R, 1:13.543
7. Chris QUINN (NSW) / Coopers Pale Ale / The Channon Store, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:13.757
8. Nicholas WATERS (VIC) / Arai Helmets, Suzuki GSX-R, 1:13.801
9. Andy LAWSON Jnr (QLD) / Avweld Pty Ltd / Trucks Australia, Yamaha YZF-R6, 1:14.371
10. Christan CASELLA (VIC) / Aark Racing / Triumph Australia / Alpinestars / Ktec, Triumph Daytona, 1:14.403
