TWOTHREE PR/WAYNE MAXWELL:

A huge highside crash from Oleon Motologic Racing’s Wayne Maxwell put an end to his 2009 Australian Superbike Championship title hopes at Phillip Island today, forcing the 27-year-old to settle for third in the series after failing to score points in the season finale.

After qualifying fastest yesterday, Maxwell lead the field away in the opening 12-lap outing of Sunday’s proceedings before crashing between turns 11 and 12 on the first lap. Morning rain had created a stream of water across the circuit in what were otherwise dry conditions, causing Maxwell to lose grip and be catapulted from his Honda CBR1000RR in what he explained as the biggest accident of his career.

The incident, which was captured on film by the Network Ten cameras, ruled Maxwell out of the remainder of the event with a suspected fractured right foot and left leg from the high-speed impact, and further medical examinations next week will determine the extent of the injury.

Maxwell took to the grid after the sighting lap of race two in order to attempt to assist teammate Glenn Allerton in winning the title, but the pain was too severe and he returned into pit lane following the warm-up lap, rounding out his season with a top three result in the championship.

Suzuki’s Josh Waters won the series after scoring a double-victory at the 4.445-kilometre circuit.

It’s been a miraculous second half of the season for Maxwell, taking his first round victory at Mallala’s fifth round in South Australia before going on to win the ASBK Open and penultimate ASBK round at Phillip Island to take thee wins in succession. That form closed the point gap from over 30 points down to eight heading into today’s finale, marking a successful season overall in his return to the Superbike class after a season contesting Supersport in 2008.

Maxwell’s future for the 2010 season is yet to be decided, currently in discussions with Motologic Racing as well as teams overseas.

Wayne Maxwell – Superbike #47:
The dream definitely turned into a nightmare today. I knew that Josh and his team made massive improvements over the weekend and they also used a different tyre to what I had picked so that would have come down to it in the end too. But you know, it wasn’t meant to be this year for me and we’ll have to settle for third. It was a stupid mistake that caught me out, definitely the biggest crash of my life, but that’s life and we’ll regroup – hopefully come back bigger and stronger next year. I tried to make the grid in the second race but it was difficult to change down gears and I could feel my leg clunking on each shift, but at the end of the day I didn’t really need to go out because I had third secured in the championship. I’ve been talking to a few teams overseas and the poor result this weekend won’t affect that, so we’ll see what happens for 2010. I’d really like to thank all the guys who made the year what it was including Monza Imports with Alpinestars, AGV, Dunlop and GT Bicycles, plus all of my personal sponsors who have been unbelievable: Longlife Roofing Guttering, Mldenim, ASF Printing and G&B Paternoster Industrial Plumbing. Without those guys I probably wouldn’t be where I am today. I also have to thank Paul Free and the team from Motologic, he gave me the chance to ride for him in 2007 and we’ve really grown together over that time.