Australian Superbikes, Eastern Creek March 14, 2004

TEAM HONDA rider Josh Brookes and Nikon Yamaha rider Dan Stauffer went handlebar to handlebar at the opening round of the Australian Superbike Championship at Sydney's Eastern Creek Raceway today, Brookes emerging the overall victor by a single point.

The 20-year-old finished second and third behind Stauffer in the first two nine-lap races, but took a close fought win in race three to claim the day's overall honours. A disappointed Stauffer could managed just sixth place in the final race after the early loss of the right footpeg of his Yamaha YZF-R1.

Team Suzuki rider Shawn Giles claimed third overall on his Suzuki GSX-R1000, a better than expected result for the three time Australian Superbike champion who was nursing injuries received in a qualifying crash that resulted in his bike exploding in a fireball.

"That was a great way to start the championship," said Brookes. "The new bike is unbelievably good straight out of the crate. I can't wait until we get to develop it some more." Brookes claimed a new lap record for the 3.93 kilometre Sydney circuit in race one, Stauffer recorded the fastest lap in race two then Giles did likewise in race three as the trio battled at speeds of 280kph. "The new bikes from Honda, Yamaha and Kawasaki are surprisingly fast straight out of the crate," said Giles. "We've got a 178 horsepower out of our Suzuki, so they've got to be close to that already. It looks like it's going to be an interesting season."

Team Honda rider Adam Fergusson claimed fourth overall, five points ahead of Team Kawasaki Australia rider Robbie Baird's ZX-10R.

It was as stunning debut for both the new Honda, CBR1000RR and the Yamaha YSF-R1, with both bikes lowering the lap record at the Sydney circuit despite still being in near-production form.