St. George Summer season Nights Spherical 5 Pirelli Limitless Report

2022-2023 St George Summer season Night time Collection
Sydney Motorsport Park – Spherical 5

Phrases Nick Edards, Photos by Half Mild Photographic

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St George Summer season Collection Season 2022/2023 concluded with Spherical 5 at Sydney Motorsport Park on Saturday February eleventh and we’re going to take a barely totally different strategy with the race stories for Spherical 5 and the season wrap.

This primary report will cowl Pirelli Limitless after which we’ll observe up with a report overlaying the IPONE Limitless, Bridgestone 600 and AGV Twin Cup lessons later within the week.

Pirelli Limitless is for these racers who would have anticipated to run sub 1m40 laps at the beginning of the collection and whereas the Summer season Collection is a membership race, the format and collection has attracted nationwide and worldwide riders.

As such the Pirelli Limitless class has been cut up into two sub-categories which might be out on observe on the identical time. The nationwide/worldwide racers have been tagged because the ‘Tremendous Quick Dudes’.

Josh Brookes (#25, BMW M 1000 RR), Max Stauffer (#27, Yamaha YZF-R1) and Lachlan Epis (#83, BMW M 1000 RR) had all competed within the earlier 4 rounds and had been again for Spherical 5.

At earlier rounds we’d additionally seen appearances from riders of the calibre of 2022 ASBK champion Mike Jones (Yamaha), Josh Waters (Ducati), Cru Halliday (Yamaha), Glenn Allerton (BMW) and Oli Bayliss (Ducati V2).

Whereas solely Halliday was again for Spherical 5, Troy Herfoss (#17, Honda CBR1000RR-R SP) was an addition to the Tremendous Quick Dudes ranks for the night, as was Mark Chiodo (#4, Honda CBR1000RR-R SP) who’s contesting each ASBK Superbike and British Superstock this season.

Bryan Staring (#67, Yamaha YZF-R1) was on the MotoGo R1, a journey that Ant West held in 2022. Staring was prone to not having an ASBK journey for 2023 after his contract with Desmosport Ducati wasn’t renewed on the finish of 2022 however it’s nice to see {that a} rider with a lot to supply will nonetheless be within the combine.

It was hoped that Matt Walters (#12, Aprilia RSV4) may make his first look on the Aprilia having switched to the Italian model after a long-standing affiliation with Kawasaki, nonetheless the RSV4 wasn’t fairly race-ready so Matt was in attendance however solely as a spectator.

Format of the night was as per the earlier 4 rounds with a ten-minute qualifying session after which a schedule of three nine-minute-plus-one-lap races all through the night.

Spherical 5 was topic to a few prolonged interruptions for observe inspections and clean-up after some engines determined to eat themselves and depart oil on the observe.

We’ll speak concerning the influence of that extra within the full report, however within the Pirelli Limitless Class all three races had been run, though Race One was lower quick due to one of many oil-on-track incidents.

The second and third had been shortened to seven-minutes-plus-one-lap which made them six-lap sprints.

Usually on-track motion stops at 2230 however an extension allowed the ultimate race to finish regardless that the chequered-flag waved a while after the unique curfew time.

Whereas the official ASBK Take a look at noticed riders run on the brand new sections of the observe that had been resurfaced, this was the primary motorbike race assembly because the works. The final opinion appears to be that whereas it’s not as easy because it may very well be, it’s an enchancment over the earlier floor and it ought to enhance additional as soon as extra rubber is laid down, because it’s nonetheless slightly ‘inexperienced’ in locations.

Coming into Spherical 5, in Tremendous Quick Dudes, Josh Brookes held a commanding lead within the collection from Max Stauffer with Lachlan Epis in third. It could take a serious upset to vary these positions however racing is racing, so you may by no means ensure of something.

Within the clubbies cohort, which we’ll name the ‘Simply Quick Dudes’, Paris Hardwick (#72, Kawasaki ZX-10R) held the collection lead by 32-points from Josh Soderland (#28, Ducati Panigale V4R) with Tim Griffith (Kawasaki ZX-10RR) in third – simply six factors additional again.

With 25-points on supply to the winner in every race and three races to run, these had been margins that might conceivably be bridged.

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Pirelli Limitless Qualifying

Qualifying was shortened when the bike of Jacob Hatch, getting ready for his transfer to the UK to race in BSB with a Haslam-run group, began blowing giant volumes of smoke coming onto the again straight. That necessitated a crimson flag and a observe inspection to make sure not one of the black stuff was on the racing floor.

Luckily, the observe was discovered to be clear however most riders had been solely in a position to get in two, three or 4 qualifying laps earlier than the crimson flag got here out.

Lachlan Epis confirmed that he’s actually getting the grasp of this qualifying factor and laid down a 1m30.494s to take pole by slightly over one-tenth of a second from Cru Halliday whereas Brookes took out third with a 1m31.214s. Herfoss and Stauffer weren’t fairly in a position to match the top-three tempo with Herfoss’s fourth-place time a 1m32.464s, and Stauffer half-a-second additional adrift.

Jacob Hatch was better of the Simply Quick Dudes, earlier than his bike purchased the session to a untimely finish, with a 1m34.135s. Griffith, Leanne Nelson (#52, Kawasaki ZX-10R), Hardwick taking second by fourth. Fifth in class was Jack Passfield (#42 Yamaha R6), attempting his luck within the premier class on a 600 with a 1m35.442s. Spectacular.

PIRELLI Limitless – Qualifying Outcomes

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Pirelli Limitless Race One

Epis took speedy benefit of his pole place when the opening race received underway to steer the early phases, Herfoss moved himself into second, with clear line of sight to Epis. Halliday was sticking proper on Herfoss’s tail and Brookes wasn’t ready to make an impression on the three forward of him.

Behind Brookes, Timothy Griffith (flying the flag for the clubbies) was forward of Staring and Chiodo. That latter pair had been having their very own little battle which ended on lap three when Staring needed to pull out with an oil leak that caught fireplace, however luckily extinguished itself with out inflicting main harm.

That wasn’t the final blow up of the race nonetheless, because it was red-flagged after 5 laps when Leanne Nelson’s ZX-10R deposited some oil alongside the principle straight and thru to Flip 3.

Her bike additionally suffered a minor fireplace however once more, no main harm was sustained and he or she’d return to the observe for the later races. Luck meant that no riders got here unstuck on the oil.

Previous to the crimson flag, each Herfoss and Halliday had been in a position to cross Epis to take first and second with five-hundredths of a second separating them on the end line. Epis lower than half a second behind Halliday.

Greatest lap of the race went to Halliday, a 1m30.030s which exhibits simply how exhausting he was urgent. Brookes took fourth, two-seconds adrift from Epis.  Dude Griffith held on to fifth to steer Chiodo dwelling.

Unhealthy luck award goes to Max Stauffer who clipped the again of Chiodo into T1 after the Honda man hit a false impartial on lap one.

The influence was sufficient to push Stauffer to the again of the sphere, and having to take care of the painful penalties of a bitten tongue for the remainder of the night.

Hatch, Hardwick, Soderland and Nelson adopted Chiodo dwelling to take the minor locations within the Simply Quick Dudes sub-category.

PIRELLI Limitless – Race One Outcomes

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Pirelli Limitless Race Two

Having maybe been caught out by the early finish to Race One, Josh Brookes wasn’t hanging round in Race Two and took off into the lead.

Herfoss wasn’t letting him go and stayed with the BSB man for the length, however Brookes was in a position to maintain on to the lead and crossed the road lower than four-hundredths of a second forward of Herfoss.

Epis didn’t give a lot away, bringing dwelling the BMW lower than a second off Herfoss’s tail with Stauffer – principally recovered from his race one conflict – dwelling in fourth, three-seconds adrift.

Stauffer’s efficiency was notably spectacular provided that he needed to begin behind the grid due to the progressive gird format which implies a rider’s lead to Race One determines grid place in Race Two.

Halliday took out greatest lap of the race with a 1m30.470s however was solely in a position to safe fifth place, after a short tour onto the grass on the second-last lap, simply forward of Chiodo.

Jacob Hatch was the person on level for the Simply Quick Dudes bringing the R1 dwelling seventh total, forward of Tremendous Quick Dude Staring, and first in class.

Hardwick, Soderland, Dominic De Leon (#63, Kawasaki ZX-10R) and Adrian Pelegrin (#5, Kawasaki ZX-10R) held on second by fifth in class. Tim Griffith dented his possibilities of closing on Soderland’s collection level rating by crashing out early within the race at Flip 6.

PIRELLI Limitless – Race Two Outcomes

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Pirelli Limitless Race Three

Within the remaining encounter Brookes and Herfoss began the place they left off in Race Two, working nostril to tail and swapping the lead for all the six laps.

Once more, it was Brookes who held on for the win by simply five-hundredths of a second from Herfoss. Cru Halliday in shut firm, ending lower than half-a-second again from the winner.

Halliday once more took quickest lap honours with a 1m30.390s. Epis was inside three-tenths of Halliday on the end and Stauffer crossed fifth slightly greater than a second and half behind Brookes.

Within the Simply Quick Dudes class, Josh Soderland purchased the V4 R dwelling seventh total and first in class with Hardwick crossing the road second at school with precisely the identical time on the clock. Hatch, Griffith and Pelegrin took third by fifth.

PIRELLI Limitless – Race Three Outcomes

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Pirelli Limitless – Tremendous Quick Dudes Factors

Regardless of solely ending fourth within the oil-shortened Race One, Josh Brookes’ wins in Races Two and Three had been sufficient for him to safe the assembly win.

He completed the night time with a two-point margin forward of Troy Herfoss who had made an instantaneous impression in his first outing at St George Summer season Collection with one win and two second locations.

Halliday simply edged out Epis for third place on the rostrum. Stauffer’s misfortune in race one had made the remainder of the night an uphill battle and left him in fifth spot within the assembly factors haul with Chiodo and Staring taking out sixth and seventh.

Brookes held on to the commanding lead he had coming into Spherical 5 to take out the collection.

Regardless of his Race One mishap, Max Stauffer was in a position to maintain his palms on second place outright forward of Lachlan Epis in third.

These had been the one three Tremendous Quick Dudes to compete in each race of the Pirelli Limitless class. Cru Halliday missed out on Rounds One and Two however secured sufficient factors to take out fourth spot with Broc Pearson, solely showing in Rounds Three and 4, scoring fifth within the championship.

Josh Brookes – #25, Livson Racing BMW M 1000 RR

“I’m very happy to have gained the collection however that isn’t precisely the explanation I wished to enter these occasions. At first I assumed I’d simply strive possibly one or two rounds to benefit from the environment of the night time races, revisit St.  George membership occasions because it’s the place my profession had begun, get some laps in at my outdated SMP stomping floor and break up the lengthy interval of not driving all through the BSB off season. Nevertheless, after the thrills and pleasure of the shut racing and the highest format that these occasions observe, I used to be rapidly hooked and longing for every occasion that adopted. I feel everybody concerned with the working of the collection must be happy with what they’ve created, and I’d wish to thank the crew at Livson Racing for the preparation of the bike that I rode.”

Troy Herfoss – #17, Penrite Honda Racing CBR1000RR-R SP

“I’m stoked to suit one other Night time race into our testing program for one more yr. What higher approach to get some depth in earlier than the ASBK season than to tear into Sydney Motorsports Park at 4:30 within the arvo, jam a qualy session and three races in earlier than 10:30 pm, it’s an excellent recipe so thanks to the membership for selling such a enjoyable occasion.”

Cru Halliday – #65, Yamaha Race Crew R1

“It was one other nice occasion. I had quite a lot of tempo, only one too many errors. Being on the older mannequin bike, which is slightly slower than our present 2023 race bike, I needed to choose up my nook pace, which isn’t a nasty factor understanding at the back of my thoughts if I switch that pace into the brand new present bike we must always see quicker occasions come. The gang was greater than it’s ever been and I stay up for racing within the collection once more.”

Max Stauffer – #27 GTR Motostars Yamaha R1

“General it was a reasonably robust night time for me. I got here along with one other rider in a racing incident at Flip 1 within the first race, and needed to begin from the again of the grid in Race Two. Race Three was good although, I used to be in a position to run with the entrance guys and cross a number of of them. To have the ability to battle with a few of Australia’s greatest was cool. I learnt heaps from the St George Summer season Collection and might’t thank the entire membership sufficient for all the pieces they put into the game. Can’t anticipate subsequent yr’s Summer season Collection. Gonna be a cracker!”

Lachlan Epis – #83, ESS Response RE BMW M 1000 RR

“It was good to finish our pre-season testing with St George on the remaining spherical of the Summer season Night time Collection. We’ve labored by quite a lot of gremlins all through the collection so it was good to have the ability to have a full assault on SMSP for the ultimate occasion. It was additionally our first time driving the Dunlops in anger and I feel the outcomes communicate for themselves on the competitiveness we had been in a position to produce on Saturday night time. It was good to place it on pole once more and combat tooth and nail each race with the massive boys. I haven’t received quite a lot of expertise as but racing on the entrance, so I received slightly bit beat up on the finish of the races by the extra skilled heads. All in all although, it was good to gather a collection trophy on the finish of the weekend and I really feel ready for the yr forward. I stay up for Summer season Night time Collection 4 on the finish of the yr.”

PIRELLI Limitless Tremendous Quick Dudes Spherical General

PIRELLI Limitless Tremendous Quick Dudes Last Standings

Pirelli Limitless Factors

Jacob Hatch took out the assembly with one win, one second and one third place netting him sixty-three factors in complete, giving him a three-point edge over Josh Soderland in second. Paris Hardwick was simply a few factors again from Soderland. De Leon and Pelegrin took fourth and fifth.

Paris Hardwick took out the collection with a brilliantly constant efficiency throughout the 5 Rounds.

Joshua Soderland, all the time fast and getting faster on a regular basis was second with Timothy Griffith, hampered by dropping critical factors at Rounds One and 5 was nonetheless ok to carry on to 3rd. Nicholas Marsh and Adrian Pelegrin rounded out the highest 5.

That wraps up the Pirelli Limitless Class of St George Summer season Collection 22/23 and what a collection it was. A membership occasion with worldwide and nationwide class riders is one thing particular and we received to see some most assault racing throughout the 5 rounds.

The collection has develop into a fixture that the native, and never so native, racing group has embraced and we are able to anticipate that the St George Night time Collection 2023/24, kicking off in the midst of December, will proceed to construct on the legacy of the primary three collection. Congratulations to St George Motorbike and all their volunteers for making the occasion what it’s.

IPONE Limitless, Bridgestone 600 and AGV Twin Cup race report back to observe.

PIRELLI Limitless Spherical General

PIRELLI Limitless Last Standings

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