The Australian Superbike Championship returns to the Supercars support bill in Darwin this weekend, bringing an epic title fight to the wider attention of the national eye.
The ASBK championship will pass the halfway mark at Hidden Valley as they make their return to the Supercars calendar, bringing its high adrenaline action that sees McMartin Racing’s Josh Waters leading the title fight.
What was a reasonably comfortable championship lead for the Ducati rider prior to Round 3 in Queensland was half-eaten into by Penrite Honda’s Troy Herfoss who collected two victories in Ipswich, closing the gap at the top to 18 points after Waters took two P4’s.
Herfoss cut Waters’ championship lead in half after a sweep of wins at the Quensland Raceway. Image: ASBK
Herfoss ended a five-race winning streak from Waters in the ASBK, whilst Yamaha’s Mike Jones scored two-second places, with the defending champion now fifth in the championship, 56 points in arrears of Waters.
Although Herfoss is a two-time winner at Hidden Valley, It’s also a track that carries some bad memories for him after a frightenting crash there in 2021, with the race being declared after the former champion was taken to hospital.
It was also a good outing from fellow Yamaha racer Cru Halliday, who moved into third place with a pair of third place finishes.
Waters will enter Darwin with some wind in sails however, having just gotten back from Japan where he tested for S-Pulse Dream Racing on a Suzuki in readiness for his return to the Suzuka 8 Hours event on August 4-6.
The Alpinestars Australian Superbikes Championship grid will contest round 4 at Hidden Valley as a Supercars Support category. Image: ASBK
On returning to Darwin’s Hidden Valley as a seven-time winner there, the Mildura born rider told Troy Guenther from cycleonline.com.au that it’s a well liked track across the board in ASBK’s.
“I always enjoy it but it’s a circuit that a lot of my competitors also really enjoy, I think everyone lining up there on the grid likes it,” Waters said.
“I’m sure everyone that is going there this weekend is positive in their mind and thinks that they are going to do well.
“I’ll just try my hardest and try to ride the bike the best I can. I know the team will do what they can to help.”
A maximum of 76 championship points will be on the line across three races this weekend, with two practice on the Friday, Qualifying and Race 1 on the Saturday followed by two races on the Sunday.
Yamaha racer Cru Halliday (#65) sits third in the championship after a strong point scoring round at QR. Image: ASBK
Australian Superbikes Darwin schedule (AEST)
Friday
Free Practice 1 – 0845 – 0915
Free Practice 2 – 1210 – 1240
Saturday
Qualifying 1 – 0825 – 0845
Qualifying 2 – 0850 – 0905
Race 1 – 1240 – 1320 (16 laps)
Sunday
Race 2 – 0830 – 0910 (16 laps)
Race 3 – 1310 – 1350 (16 laps)
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