INTERNATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT GROUP:
Oleon Motologic’s Wayne Maxwell has taken victory in race two of the Woodstock Bourbon Australian Superbike Championship after leading for much of the race.
Said Maxwell post race: “I came here with one intention this weekend: to win, and that’s what I’ve done from first qualifying through race one and today. “
Not only did the Oleon Motologic rider take the victory, but also the Australian Superbike lap record with a blistering 1:32.316- a time that would have placed him ahead of Chris Vermuelen and Gabor Talmacsi on the MotoGP grid. “I think those MotoGP guys will need to get a move on!” he said only half joking.
Significantly, race two is the first of the points scoring races for the weekend and with Maxwell winning from Joe Rocket Suzuki’s Josh Waters followed in third place by Oleon Motologic’s Glenn Allerton, the championship has been thrown wide open with one more points race to come this weekend.
While Maxwell can afford to bask in the glory of a race win, lap record and points rich victory, he’s all too aware that there’s more to do; “The job’s not over, we’ve got one race to go and Josh is right on my hammer”.
In second place was fast finishing Josh Waters from Joe Rocket Suzuki who found himself in the lead into turn one, only to be passed into MG corner on the same lap. “When the tyres stated to go off, Wayne and I were able to gap the field. That said, the team will make some changes- especially in the rear, then I’ll go as hard as I can tomorrow and hope that will be enough.”
In third place was series leader and 2008 champion Glenn Allerton from Oleon Motologic who gambled on a firmer rear end setup that ultimately caused him grief “I ran into grip issues at the end- with an overheated tyre. I wanted the harder setup, and with it came extra grip and heat. I felt I could run with the leaders but I was slow in the last turn and that really harmed my lap times. I feel like I’m in a building process and just need to take another step up the ladder”.
Tomorrow at Phllip Island will see two more races in the Woodstock Bourbon Australian Championship, with race four the nominal points race for the championship.