Max Stauffer tops fast Saturday morning FP4 session at QLD Raceway

ASBK 2024
Round Three – QLD Raceway
Australian Superbike FP4

Bryan Staring topped proceedings at Queensland Raceway on Friday with a 1m07.508. The West Australian put in a 1m07.887 in FP4 on Saturday morning before having a tip-off at turn six that briefly interrupted the progress of the MotoGo Yamaha man.

Mike Jones reeled off a 1m07.685 on his tenth lap of FP4, then immediately followed that up with a 1m07.697, a 1m07.841, a 1m07.661, 1m07.755, 1m07.825, 1m07.774, and a 1m07.766 before finishing off that incredible nine-lap run with a 1m07.673. That is some seriously stellar long-run pace that nobody else looks remotely likely to match on what we have seen so far this weekend.

Young Max Stauffer took top outright honours on Saturday morning, though, with a 1m07.461 on his 18th lap of the session. I believe that is the fastest-ever ASBK lap around here on a race weekend. He also did a 1m07.643 a couple of laps later but only recorded two laps in the 7s.

Max Stauffer set the fastest ever ASBK lap of Queensland Raceway this morning - Image RbMotoLens — Max Stauffer set the fastest ever ASBK lap of Queensland Raceway this morning – Image RbMotoLens

By his usual standard, Cru Halliday had been a little off the pace on Friday, but he dipped into the 7s in FP4 on Saturday morning. A 1m07.951 early on before improving to 1m07.799 on his 12th lap; the YRT man then improved on the next lap to 1m07.726, which he then followed up with a 1m07.867, a 1m08.127 and a 1m07.929.

Josh Waters was fourth this morning but, as always, is likely playing his cards close to his chest. The McMartin Ducati rider dipped into the 7s four times during that session.

Glenn Allerton also dipped into the 7s, as did Troy Herfoss on his final lap of the session.

Arthur Sissis looking to be getting comfortable on the new Stop & Seal Yamaha, just outside the 7s, but ahead of Broc Pearson and Anthony West.

Bryan Staring holds the race-lap record here with a 1m07.861 he set in 2022 on the DesmoSport Ducati. The qualifying lap record is held by Troy Herfoss, a 1m07.655, set here on a Honda in 2023.

Superbikes are back on track later this afternoon for Qualifying from 1420. The opening 16-lap bout is slated for 1100 on Sunday morning, while the second and final bout of the round will get underway at 1455.

Superbike FP4

Pos	Rider	Bike	Time	Speed
1	M Stauffer	Yam	1m07.461	278
2	M Jones	Yam	1m07.661	276
3	C Halliday	Yam	1m07.726	273
4	J Waters	Duc	1m07.737	278
5	G Allerton	BMW	1m07.810	276
6	B Staring	Yam	1m07.887	275
7	T Herfoss	Duc	1m07.889	278
8	A Sissis	Yam	1m08.033	276
9	B Pearson	Duc	1m08.058	278
10	A West	Yam	1m08.254	276
11	C Dunker	Yam	1m08.418	273
12	J Lytras	Yam	1m09.146	267
13	T Lynch	Yam	1m09.548	269
14	E Leeson	Yam	1m10.983	264
15	P Hardwick	Kaw	1m11.287	265
16	R Yanko	Duc	1m11.353	267
17	M Edwards	Yam	1m11.867	260
18	P Linkenbagh	Yam	1m12.571	256
19	J Soderland	Yam	1m12.748	262
20	M Kemp	Yam	1m13.155	262

ASBK Superbike Championship Points

Pos	Rider	Bike	Points
1	Josh WATERS	Ducati	109.5
2	Cru HALLIDAY	Yamaha	84
3	Harrison VOIGHT	Ducati	82
4	Broc PEARSON	Ducati	71.5
5	Mike JONES	Yamaha	61.5
6	Cameron DUNKER	Yamaha	61.5
7	Max STAUFFER	Yamaha	60
8	Anthony WEST	Yamaha	58.5
9	Bryan STARING	Yamaha	58
10	Troy HERFOSS	Ducati	47
11	Glenn ALLERTON	BMW	41
12	Arthur SISSIS	Yamaha	38.5
13	Paris HARDWICK	Kawasaki	37
14	John LYTRAS	Yamaha	34
15	Josh SODERLAND	Yamaha	29.5
16	Declan CARBERRY	BMW	25.5
17	Ryan YANKO	Ducati	20
18	Ty LYNCH	Yamaha	14
19	Matt WALTERS	Aprilia	13
20	Tim LARGE	Yamaha	10.5
21	Michael KEMP	Yamaha	9
22	Adam SENIOR	Yamaha	4.5
23	Michael EDWARDS	Yamaha	3