As the championship reached its boiling point and the points battles intensified, Phillip Island became a hub of roaring engines and fierce competition on the 7th and 8th of September for Round 5 of the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, presented by Motul. With class titles hanging in the balance, SA’s racers were right in the thick of the action, pushing the limits in a weekend of relentless racing!
Our riders certainly put on a show, delivering electrifying performances with top-10 finishes, hard-fought podiums, and personal bests throughout the adrenaline-charged weekend. Their grit and determination were undeniable, and we couldn’t be prouder of their accomplishments. With two days packed with thrilling moments, let’s dive into just some of the performances that had us on the edge of our seats.
AMA Warehouse Superbike
Arthur Sissis looked set for a strong weekend after securing 7th in Qualifying 1 and improving to 4th in Qualifying 2. He delivered a consistent, hard-charging performance in Race 1, landing a podium finish in 3rd after a thrilling late race pass on NSW’s Cru Halliday. Unfortunately, Race 2 came to a premature end when Sissis was caught out on the tricky Turn 4 during the opening lap, ending his weekend early.
Marking his 100th ASBK start on the weekend’s grid, Ty Lynch got off to a strong start in Race 1, climbing five positions before losing two spots in the mid-pack shuffle. Unfortunately, his race took a downturn with a crash that ended his efforts early. In Race 2, Lynch bounced back with a fierce charge, moving into 3rd by the first lap. But Turn 4 proved tricky once again, as another crash derailed his chances. Despite his grit and determination, Lynch’s weekend came to a close when he had to return to the pits, capping off a tough round.
Michelin Supersport 600
Olly Simpson continued his relentless pursuit of a 2024 ASBK overall podium finish with a stellar performance in Round 5. After qualifying 3rd, just 0.243 seconds off pole, he turned up the heat in the second Supersport qualifying session, taking his first-ever P1 and setting a new qualifying record, beating the previous benchmark by 0.071 seconds. In Race 1, Simpson secured a solid 3rd place, but it was in Race 2 where he truly turned up the heat. Battling tricky conditions and intense pressure from NSW’s Jake Farnsworth, Simpson clinched victory in a breathtaking photo finish by just 0.016 seconds. This win earned him the overall victory in the Supersport 600 class for Round 5 and kept him second in the 2024 Supersport championship standings, now only 20 points behind the leader.
Race & Road Supersport 300
South Australian riders were heavily involved in the Supersport 300 top 10 battles throughout the weekend. Ryder Gilbert led the charge, finishing 8th in Race 1, marking his personal best round, with Jordan Simpson closely behind and Tara Morrison rounding out the top 10 to kick off her weekend.
In Race 2, as the competition intensified, Jordan Simpson and Ryder Gilbert maintained their positions in the top 6, with just 0.488 seconds separating them from the competition.
The weekend’s final Race 3 saw Jordan Simpson round out a brilliant performance, holding off rivals to secure 2nd place, just 0.295 seconds behind NSW’s Will Nassif. This ensured the Simpson family had a podium-filled weekend. Ryder Gilbert capped off his personal best weekend with a 10th-place finish in Race 3, placing him 7th overall for the round. ‘Tornado’ Tara Morrison concluded Round 5 at Phillip Island in 9th overall, following a 14th-place finish in Race 2 and an impressive 6th place in Race 3, bringing her ever closer to taking out another ASBK podium finish.
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To review all the results from our South Australians at the 2024 ASBK Phillip Island Round 5 – Click HERE.
As South Australia’s riders continue their 2024 ASBK journey, they frequently share updates and behind-the-scenes stories on their social media. Be sure to check out their profiles and follow along for all the action!
Unitech Racing Team –https://www.facebook.com/ArthurSissis61RacingTeam
Arthur Sissis – https://www.facebook.com/arthursissis61
Michael Kemp – https://www.facebook.com/michaelkempracing
Ty Lynch – https://www.facebook.com/TyraLynchRacing
Olly Simpson – https://www.facebook.com/ollysimpsonracing
Cooper Rowntree – https://www.facebook.com/CooperRowntree57
Cameron Rende – https://www.instagram.com/cameronrende80/
Ryder Gilbert – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089634796268
Tara Morrison – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087208255688
Hudson Air – https://www.instagram.com/hudsonair71/
Georgia Stephens – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082959693425
As the 2024 ASBK Championship approaches its final rounds, our SA Team is ready to deliver a memorable end to the season with some impressive results. The next exciting challenge awaits at One Raceway in NSW from October 4th to 6th, and our riders are gearing up for it.
Follow all the ASBK action on the below links –
WEBSITE; https://www.asbk.com.au/
SOCIALS; https://www.facebook.com/asbksuperbikes
RESULTS; https://www.computime.com.au/Default