Allerton dominates Australian Superbike opener making history for BMW in Australia
Procon Maxima BMW rider Glenn Allerton yesterday dominated a drama-charged day at Phillip Island, winning both races of the opening round of the Viking Group Australian Superbike Championships in spectacular style.
Allerton made BMW history in Australia as Sunday's race was the first time any BMW has won an Australian Superbike race.
Procon Maxima BMW team owner, Wayne Hepburn, was thrilled with Allerton's performance.
"From our first conversation with BMW it has felt right, the support and encouragement Hepburn Motorsport has received played a huge part in the teams' first round success.
"It's wrong that a standard road bike can compete at this level but that's how good the BMW S 1000 RR is.
"The BMW S 1000 RR combined with Allerton's skills was indeed a recipe for success."
The field was forced to gamble after the race 1 out lap, with a damp circuit sending some riders scrambling for spare bikes with wet tyres fitted.
The BMW S 1000 RR-mounted Allerton elected to remain on slicks, and despite being swamped in the opening laps, soon found pace as a dry line around the 4.45km circuit emerged.
The 30-year-old picked off place after place, and by the fifth lap found himself in the lead after blazing past polesitter Wayne Maxwell who was struggling on deteriorating wet rubber.
Allerton greeted the chequered flag with a lead of over 20 seconds, with second-place going to another European machine, the Aprilia RSV-4 ridden by Ben Attard.
Proving the victory was no fluke, the NSW-based rider backed up the performance by winning race 2 in dry conditions, again by a solid margin.
Two wins from two starts, on debut with a new team and race bike, has Allerton excited about his championship chances in 2011.
"This is the best start to a season I've ever had," said an ecstatic Allerton. "The weekend really could not have gone better for us given we are a new team and racing a new bike.
"We made a good choice this morning on the slicks but in the second race showed that the pace was genuine.
"Given the limited time we've had to work on the bike, the team at Hepburn Motorsport have done an awesome job and I cannot fault them at all. Thanks also has to go to all at BMW."
Allerton is looking forward to continuing the form at his favourite track on the calendar next weekend.
"I love Symmons Plains, it's my favourite track in Australia and I feel like we can be strong again there."
"It was evident from the outset that we would have success on Sunday. The team's commitment and professionalism towards preparing the bike, as well as Glenn's determination to win, was the proof," said Tony Sesto, National Manager for BMW Motorrad.
"Yesterday was an outstanding result for BMW considering the S 1000 RR is still a very new bike in the Superbike segment. All of us at BMW Australia are ecstatic," said Sesto.
Allerton leaves Phillip Island with a 13-point advantage over second-placed rider Troy Herfoss, who was impressive in his first ever Superbike outing with Team Suzuki.
Teams and riders will now set their sights on next week's second round to be held at Symmons Plains Raceway in Tasmania.
Superbike - Round and Championship points
1. Glenn ALLERTON (VIC), 50
2. Troy HERFOSS (VIC), 37
3. Ben ATTARD (QLD), 36
4. Craig COXHELL (VIC), 33
5. Jamie STAUFFER (NSW), 32
6. Beau BEATON (NSW), 29
7. Robert BUGDEN (QLD), 28
8. Ben HENRY (QLD), 25
9. Cole ODENDAAL (NSW), 23
10. Wayne MAXWELL (VIC), 19
