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Reigning Australian Superbike Champion Glenn Allerton put in a stunning ride on a wet and treacherous track at Queensland Raceway this afternoon to claim overall victory at the third round of the Woodstock Bourbon Australian Superbike Championship.

The Team Motologic Honda rider was forced to use his spare bike with dry-weather slick racing tyres when his racebike failed to start in pitlane, the 28-year-old rider the only rider in the field not using heavily-treaded wet-weather racing tyres.

Allerton’s charge from the back of the field to fifth place on a track surface that felt like an ice rink to the New South Welshman earned him the round win after he’d earlier won today’s opening 16-lap race under a blue, sunny sky.

When a sudden and unexpected rain squall swept across the Ipswich circuit late in the afternoon, race officials delayed the second race start to allow teams and riders to assess the track conditions, with all riders opting to use wet-weather tyres – including Allerton.

However, a flat battery and a subsequently misfiring engine on his Honda CBR1000RR Superbike left the 28-year-old with no option but to swap to his spare racebike as the rest of the field headed out of pitlane.

“It wasn’t too bad on the first lap as everyone was trying to find how grippy the track was,” said Allerton. “But when I tried to stick with them I nearly crashed, and ran off the track.

“As the laps wound down a few dry patches began to appear and I could up the pace. But by then it was too late to catch the leaders.”

The Honda rider’s charge through the field on the drying rack surface saw him pass three competitors in the final lap-and-a-half to finish in fifth place, and in doing so claim the day’s overall win from 22-year-old Josh Waters. Waters recorded two second placings on his Team Joe Rocket Suzuki GSX-R1000 to finish runner-up on the day to Allerton.

While Allerton was battling his way forward in the final race, his Honda teammate Wayne Maxwell rode to a 0.299sec victory from Waters. However, Maxwell’s eighth place in the opening heat due to gear selection problems dropped him out of overall round contention.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a go, but Wayne was just too good for me in that final race today,” said Waters. “I’m getting a little sick of coming second.”

Allerton had stamped his authority on the innovative double-header Queensland round with victory in both of Saturday’s 16-lap Superbike races, each time over the Suzuki of Waters.

Allerton’s tally of three race wins from four starts, plus his fighting fifth place in today’s final outing, earned him 91 points across the two-day double-header round. Waters’ four second placings and bonus championship point for Saturday’s pole position brought him 81 points.

After entering the round tied on points with Waters the defending champion has now opened a 10-point lead over his arch rival in the seven-round series (134 to 124), with Maxwell third and a further 14 points adrift of Waters.