TWOTHREE PR/GLENN ALLERTON:

A determined Glenn Allerton will front for the grid at this weekend’s seventh round of the 2009 Australian Superbike Championship, hopeful of retaining the title he won last year in what will be a close fight in the season finale.

The defending champion enters the round with a two point advantage in the title chase over rookie Josh Waters, while Allerton’s Oleon Motologic Racing teammate Wayne Maxwell is also within striking distance nine points behind in third.

Allerton took over the series lead at round two of the season and has managed to hold on ever since, winning five of the 12 championship events contested so far this year, but it will be Sunday’s pair of 12-lap races that will decide the championship.

A recent two day test at the picturesque 4.445-kilometre circuit has boosted Allerton’s hopes of holding onto the number one plate for another year after improving the set-up of his Honda Fireblade CBR1000RR, now looking to prove he has what it takes on race day.

The penultimate round of the series as a support category at Phillip Island’s MotoGP World Championship round saw Allerton place third overall behind his two main opponents, suffering the effects of a high-speed crash during practice in the early stages of the weekend.

With six weeks to recuperate in between rounds, the 28-year-old goes into this weekend rejuvenated and ready to fight every inch of the way in a bid to fend for his series point lead.

The Superbike contenders will hit the track on Friday morning, before the first point of the weekend is awarded during Saturday’s Superpole session and then the all-important championship races will kick-off during Sunday’s proceedings.

Glenn Allerton – Superbike #1:
I’m looking forward to the weekend and I’m happy with the test that we did last week as a shakedown before the final round. We found a good setting with the front-end of the bike, which is a big boost of confidence for me. I feel that I’m fit enough to outrace everyone on the track and I’m mentally strong enough to get the job done. It’s going to be a tough race, but hopefully I can be fast when I need to be, but stay consistent throughout the weekend. My goal is to get pole position and win both races, so if I can do that then the championship will be ours again. I don’t think I’ve wanted the number one plate as bad as I do right now – it was hard to win the first time, but this year seems tougher again. I enjoy the challenge though, and I’m really excited about the races on the weekend. Hopefully we get some dry weather. I’d also really like to thank the Motologic team for all of their support throughout the last two years and for their ongoing support into next year.