Maxwell had the support of Australia behind him in his Moto2 practice debut at Phillip Island today. Image: Keith Muir.

Australia’s Wayne Maxwell has enjoyed a positive first day in the Moto2 World Championship, completing today’s opening Moto2 practice session at this weekend’s Iveco Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island in Victoria.

Despite constant rainfall that delayed the day’s proceedings, Victorian-based Maxwell finished the first hour-long session of the weekend in 19th position and confident that he has what it takes to work his way up the leader board from there.

“To roll out of pit lane and be part of the grand prix paddock alongside the world class riders was a great feeling,” 27-year-old Maxwell said. “I feel comfortable on the bike already, so to mix it up with them over the weekend would be even better.”

Maxwell stunned in the opening minutes of the session by immediately featuring at the top of the time charts in wet conditions on debut in his one-off GP appearance, however his inexperience and lack of time on the Matteoni Racing grand prix race bike showed as the circuit dried in the closing minutes.

“It was a tough day with the weather, but it was the same for everyone,” Maxwell reflected. “It started out wet and then we had a bit of time in the dry so that will help us in any condition on Sunday.”

With time on both a wet and dry circuit now under his belt, Maxwell will be hoping for consistent conditions tomorrow morning when the spectacular Moto2 brigade enters practice two, before qualifying for Sunday’s race is contested in the afternoon.

“We plan on making some changes in the practice session in the morning to help refine the set-up of the bike, and then come qualifying I’ll go for it and try to put it up the front somewhere.”

Maxwell’s fastest lap was a 1:38.355 around the scenic Phillip Island Circuit, just 2.060 seconds off the leading pace of Italian former MotoGP pilot Alex de Angelis. In a sign of Maxwell’s performance, newly crowned world champion Toni Elias was just ahead of Maxwell in 15th position with a 1:38.207.

Maxwell’s Moto2 endeavour is proudly supported by Honda Australia, Milspec, Construct Concrete Services, ASF Printing, Longlife Roofing and Caprice.