FALZON FASTEST FINISHER
NORMAL service will resume in the Australian Superbikes when this country’s fastest riders race for championship points at Hidden Valley today.
Championship leader Daniel Falzon’s yellow and black Yamaha will start from pole in the 17-lap race after Suzuki rival Josh Waters almost stole the show in qualifying.
South Australian Falzon’s 1 minute 06.190 second run in the morning session looked good enough to secure the coveted inside position on the grid until Victorian Waters produced a scorching 1:06.139 time with a minute left on the clock.
Falzon had left it late to enter the track for the last session but warmed to the task when Waters threatened, producing a flying 1:06.055 to take back the pole sitting role.
“I didn’t really expect anyone to beat me, but I probably shouldn’t have been so complacent with the Australian Championship on the line and anyone capable of winning pole,’’ he told the Sunday Territorian.
“Last lap – and it was all I had time for – I had nothing to lose and decided I was absolutely going to hammer it.
“I did that and the bike was sliding everywhere, but I kept things under control and managed to get a phenomenal lap time that gave us pole.’’
Falzon expects no easy pass- age tomorrow, with only nine hundredths of a second separating the top eight qualifiers.
“This is one of the best championships I’ve been in- volved with and easily the most competitive.
“I guarantee there will be close racing in every category so I urge the fans to get down here and have a look.’’
The first two rows on the grid represent a virtual who’swho of Australian Superbikes, with Falzon, Waters and Wayne Maxwell filling the top three in front of defending national champion Troy Herfoss, his Honda teammate Bryan Staring and Kawasaki’s Robbie Bugden.
Today’s two points races are set for 11.40am and 2.55pm where 24 Superbikes will be on the starting grid.