Yamaha Racing Team PR:

Yamaha’s factory Superbike riders are ready to battle for race wins when the Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) resumes at Queensland Raceway this weekend.

The opportunity to dial in the revolutionary 2009 R1 racebikes at the pre-round test proved valuable, with the circuit’s surface changing significantly since last season.

The weekend will play an integral role in shaping the championship and could provide a solid boost to the title aspirations of Jamie and Dan Stauffer.

Following the cancellation of Symmons Plains, the round will be run as a double-header, providing twice as many point-scoring opportunities for racers who best come to grips with the bumpy, technical 3.15km layout.

The Yamaha Racing Team will look to keep its command of the Supersport and Superstock 1000 classes in check, with Bryan Staring and Pat Medcalf enjoying respective points leads.

Yamaha Racing Team Superbike

The Yamaha Racing Team’s Jamie Stauffer is looking forward to a return to the racetrack this weekend the ASBK heads to its only double-header round of the season at Queensland Raceway.

A two-time Superbike class champion, Stauffer made a steady start to his campaign at Phillip Island, unearthing the incredible potential of the all-new 2009 R1.

The cancellation of the Tasmanian round places extra emphasis on this weekend’s results, and the New South Welshman believes that the team’s two-day test has helped to further develop base settings for his bike.

“The opportunity to test for two straight days was very helpful, we’ve established new settings and were able to try a few new things to get the R1 working a little better,” said Stauffer.

“We’re making steady steps in the right direction and are really looking forward to the weekend at Queensland Raceway, a track we know well and have had some great results at in the past few seasons.”

Jamie is also the defending Supersport class champion, and will alternate between his 1000cc R1 and 600cc R6 across the various practice and qualifying sessions.

“We’ve come across the double-header format before, and for me it means eight 16-lap races instead of four. It’s a challenge I really enjoy and can’t wait to tackle.”

Jamie sits in seventh on the championship standings on 28 points.

Brother and teammate Dan Stauffer will look to improve on equal fourth place on the championship ladder at Queensland Raceway.

The event will be the home round for the Gold Coast-based rider, who scored a solid second-place finish in the first race of the year at Phillip Island.

He was in his element at the 3.15km circuit last season, winning the first round of the double-header meeting.

Round 3a and 3b of the ASBK kicks off tomorrow, with the Superbike class to contest three 25-minute practice sessions before Friday’s merged qualifiers.

Saturday and Sunday will feature two races each, with a unique Superpole qualifying format set to determine the grid for Sunday’s racing.

The top eight riders from Friday’s qualifying session will contest a single flying lap each creating a new spectacle for crowds.

Australian Superbike Championship Points after round 2 of 7

1. Joshua WATERS (VIC) 43
2. Glenn ALLERTON (NSW) 42
3. Wayne MAXWELL (VIC) 39
4. Shawn GILES (VIC) 33
5. Daniel STAUFFER (QLD) 33
6. Craig COXHELL (VIC) 31
7. Jamie STAUFFER (NSW) 28
8. Robert BUGDEN (VIC) 24
9. Brayden CARR (NSW) 23
10. Zac DAVIES (NSW) 21

Yamaha Racing Team Supersport

Yamaha factory young guns Bryan Staring and Pat Medcalf are looking to extend their respective class leads as the ASBK heads to Queensland Raceway in Ipswich this weekend.

Up to 100 points will be on offer as competitors contest a double-header format for the first time this season, featuring 2 races on Saturday and 2 races on Sunday.

Supersport leader Staring is eager to go racing following an extended break between rounds.

“It’s been a long time off the bike and it was really good to get back out there at the test and come away with positive results,” said Staring.

“I’m going into the weekend with plenty of confidence, I’ve got a points lead to maintain so I’ll keep my head down and let the results do the talking.

“The time off has allowed me to focus on my race fitness. I train regularly with Dan Stauffer (YRT Superbike) plus a few other class competitors and as a result I’m always pushing myself to find that little bit extra which will help on the track this weekend.”

The R6-mounted rider leads the class on 45 points.

Medcalf is aiming to build on a perfect Superstock 1000 class debut at the technical 3.15km circuit.

Two race wins from two starts saw him bag an impressive 50 points before the remainder of the day’s scheduled events were cancelled.

An extra point for pole position sees him sitting 11 points clear of second place.

Australian Supersport Championship Points after round 2 of 7

1.  Bryan STARING (QLD) 45
2. Judd GREEDY (QLD) 45
3. Ben ATTARD (NSW) 35
4. Jamie STAUFFER (NSW) 33
5. Troy HERFOSS (VIC) 32
6. Scott CHARLTON (VIC) 30
7. Christan CASELLA (VIC) 29
8. Cameron KEEVERS (WA) 28
9. Dustin GOLDSMITH (NSW) 24
10. Jake HORNE (QLD) 21

Superstock 1000 Championship Points after round 1 of 5

1. Pat MEDCALF (NSW), 51
2. Beau BEATON (NSW), 40
3. Jordan BURGESS (NSW), 36
4. Jamie AITKEN (NSW), 32
5. Des DARBY (QLD), 31
6. Chris KNOX (NSW), 31
7. Tom ROCHE (NSW), 30
8. Matthew GRIFFIN (VIC), 25
9. Mark HIGGINS (VIC), 22
10. Daniel MOULTON (VIC), 22