Ducati Motologic’s Jamie Stauffer has claimed pole position for this weekend’s Australian Superbike support races at the Iveco Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix.
The former dual ASBK champion posted an impressive 1:45.353 on his second lap before crashing out of the session, his time proving quick enough to start from the number one position in what have been treacherous conditions during Friday’s events.
Stauffer stormed to pole by 0.862 ahead of Team Suzuki’s Josh Waters in his comeback ride after sitting out the last two ASBK rounds through injury, while Glenn Allerton (Valvoline Superbike Team) and Shannon Johnson (Demolition Plus GAS Honda Racing) will round out the front row.
Johnson put in an impressive performance onboard Wayne Maxwell’s regular mount, while CJC Racing BMW privateer Craig Coxhell will head row two.
Joining Coxhell on the second row will be Daniel Stauffer, who has shown up this weekend on a Shock Treatment/Jones XL Honda after his usual TBR Aprilia team opted out of the most recent round of the ASBK.
ASBK series leader Bryan Staring was seventh despite a crash in this morning’s practice session, with Des Darby eighth on an AARK Electrics Yamaha YZF-R1.
Stauffer and Staring weren’t the only crashers this morning, with Suzuki teammates Waters and Shawn Giles also notable fallers – Giles believed to have suffered a broken collarbone in his high-side fall.
In Supersport, Team Suzuki’s Troy Herfoss took a narrow pole with a 1:48.462, just 0.030 ahead of Yamaha development rider Mike Jones, while Brodie Waters (Sunstate Racing Suzuki) was third just 0.183 off pole. The front row for this afternoon’s race will be rounded out by new national Superstock 600 champion Matthew Walters.
This afternoon’s Australian support action has been cancelled after a lengthy delay due to streaming water between turns 11 and 12.
A revised schedule has been released, with Supersport scheduled for just one race tomorrow afternoon, while Superbike will have one race tomorrow afternoon and two races on Sunday’s GP race day.
The 125cc GP bikes are now out on track, with MotoGP scheduled for 3:50pm.
Click here for detailed results
Revised at 3:45pm