Johnson will be looking to return to the podium at Queensland for KTM.

A handful of Viking Group Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) riders will look to re-assert themselves as field front runners when the series visits Queensland Raceway, the host of the season’s third round, on 5-6 June.

ASBK’s inaugural Top End trip during April resulted in frustration for series debutants the KTM Superbike Team, and experienced pilot Shannon Johnson has focused all his efforts on a strong weekend in the Sunshine State.

The Victorian rode the new KTM RC8R to a podium placing at Phillip Island but changeable conditions at Hidden Valley saw him fall well short of his own expectations. Johnson was optimistic about progress made on the new bike, both in the workshop and on track last week.

“We spent much of our time on track last week kick-starting the development program on the new MoTec system the bike is running, its a significant change from what we used at the first two rounds,” explained Johnson.

“The team has been hard at work and completed close to 140 dyno runs with the KTM, but nothing beats getting out onto the track and getting that all-important feedback. It was a little tedious as we could only make small changes, take the bike for a run and then come back in.

“In terms of lap times we weren’t there to set the world on fire but have made good ground in terms of how the bike produces its power. As a team we’re really looking forward to getting out on track on Thursday and Friday and converting what we have learnt into practice pace.”

Johnson sits eighth in the race for Superbike class honours, on 43 points.

Can Dan Stauffer and Aprilia finally make their mark at their home round?

Another rider quietly confident of scaling the standings next weekend is The Natural Aprilia Racing Team’s Dan Stauffer. His Gold Coast-based team has been hard at work since a disappointing showing at the previous round and came away from the second day of testing with a much better understanding of the new factory Aprilia RSV4.

“All the effort off-track and time spent learning more about the RSV4 translated to some really quick lap times at Queensland Raceway,” said Stauffer. “We left Darwin with lots to do and seeing the bike up there where it should be has been a real shot in the arm.

“We wrapped things up as one of the fastest teams on track last Tuesday, and more importantly, the bike is feeling good both in delivery of power and handling. The bike is back on the dyno for the next week before we head to Ipswich, any gains which can be made from here will be a bonus.”

Scoring points in just one of 2010’s four races to date, Stauffer can make measurable inroads on his current placing of 20th at next weekend’s event.

The Viking Group Australian Superbike Championship standings are headed by Demolition Plus GAS Honda’s Wayne Maxwell on 73.5 points, followed by Team Suzuki’s Josh Waters on 65.5. Gold Coast-based rider Bryan Staring of the Cougar Bourbon Honda Racing team rounds out the top three, just half a point shy of Waters’ score.

Next weekend’s event will feature a packed schedule of racing from a number of exciting classes.

Visit asbk.com.au for the schedule and ticketing details.