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| Topic: Bugden Over The Moon With Winton Superbike Success | |||||
| Robert Bugden Report – Northstar Shines brightly as Privateer Robert brings Yamaha First Race Victory in 2005 From North Star Yamaha/Team Anchor Racing Round 5 of the YMF Loans Australian Superbike Championship at Winton in Victoria provided Robert with his first ever podium and he did it in style by claiming the number one spot. After a monumental battle to keep reigning Superbike Champion Adam “Krusty” Fergusson behind him in the YMF Loans Australian Superbike race two, Robert achieved a career best of 5th and 1st to put everyone on notice that there is more to come from this young emerging talent. Practice One – The inclement weather and rain saw a very slow start to Round 5 of the ARRC at Winton with a number of riders opting to stay in the warmth of the pit garage and not venture out for a run. Not so for Robert, Robert decided to pop on his water wings and go for a swim. At the helm of his R1 he managed to post fourth fastest time of 1,38,76. Robert said “ Being a Queenslander we don’t see much rain let alone get the the chance to ride in it so I thought I would seize the opportunity and try to establish some wet settings for the bike. On the whole it was not a bad session” Practice Two- Setting sail for practice two the rain had eased but Robert experienced problems with his visor misting and was unable to improve on his lap time he set in Practice One. Anthony Gobert showed his undeniable wet weather talent by being fastest with a 1,35,292. Qualifying One – With the rain clearing and the sun coming out to play, Saturday offered the chance of some dry qualifying. Having tested at Winton 3 weeks prior Robert felt comfortable with the bikes set up and gently eased his way into the first session of the day. Waiting until the back end of the session to post a best time of 1.23.232 giving him provisional pole in front of Adam Fergusson (Joe Rocket Honda) and Jamie Stauffer (Yamaha Racing Team) Robert said “ We got in about 60 laps a few weeks ago and the bike was feeling good and I was always confident I would be on the pace this weekend” Qualifying Two – Having set the pace in the first qualifying session Robert was keen to bring his time down again but after a series of attempts to put down a better time. Robert had to settle with fourth fastest for the session and postion 3 on the grid after both Adam Fergusson (Joe Rocket Honda) and Shannon Johnson (Yamaha Racing Team) put in blinders in the dying minutes of qualifying to knock him off pole and back to third. Robert said “ I am happy I’m on the front row but would have liked to have claimed pole position. The good thing is I ran both sessions on my race tyres so I know I will be able to run fast during the race. Race One – After putting in the hard yards in qualifying Robert had clutch problems off the line and slipped back to 6th and then back one more postion giving away any advantage he had created in qualifying. Left with a lot of work to do Robert began to work his way past Glenn Allerton (Team Suzuki) and Josh Brookes (Joe Rocket Honda) and pull himself back up to fourth. Then with the rain beginning to fall Robert decided not to push his luck and was passed by Josh Brookes (Joe Rocket Honda). Expecting to see the race stopped Robert slowed to then be passed by Anthony Gobert (Red Wing Honda). Realising there was no red flag Robert chased Anthony Gobert down and out breaked him into the last turn on the track to reclaim 5th but also see the red flag appear on the 13th Lap. Robert said “ Not a bad result but I thought the race would have been stopped earlier it was getting pretty slippery. When the “Go Show” went by me, I thought if they stop the race in the next lap and count back I’m going to be sixth. So I better get my fifth spot back so I was lucky to pop it up the inside of Anthony and get in front to see the red flag being waved on the entry to the start/finish straight” Race Two – With an afternoon shower 45 mins before the start of race two everyone was faced with the issue of tyre selection. Go for a wet and go hard early on a drying track, or go for a slick and just try and stay upright and then bring it home. You could cut the tension in the Northstar garage with a knife with only slicks and wets, no intermediates and only one bike running, the tyre selection was critical if Robert was to have a good race. With the potential of more showers looming Robert was confident they would hold out and took a devil may care approach and selected slicks, unlike most of the other guys on track who opted for a range of road, intermediates and wets. Robert figured over 17 laps if the line dried, he would be able to claw back any positions he lost in the early part of the race. When the race began sure enough Robert began to fall back in with the pack just choosing to stick to his race strategy of stay upright and wait and see. This was only to last for not even one lap after a rider was highsided on the entry to the main straight. The race was stopped and a complete re-start was ordered. Robert returned to pit lane to see teams opting to change their tyres and get rid of the wets. Robert said nothing whilst in the pits and just focused on the job in hand. Lining up on the grid to restart Robert had the look of someone who meant business and so he did. Getting off the start second behind Shannon Johnson (Yamaha Racing Team) it took Robert less than one lap to dispense of Shannon and show the rest of the grid a clean pair of heels. Running out front on his own for the first 5 laps before Adam “Krusty” Fergusson (Joe Rocket Honda), eventually caught Robert but could not pass Roberts wide as a bus R1. For the next 12 laps some of the closest racing of the season took place as both these quality riders gave an exhibition of race craft and control to pull out a 12 second gap on Josh Brookes (Joe Rocket Honda) in third. With Robert eventually winning this thriller by .080 of a second. After such a quality display both Robert and Krusty forgot how to stop their bikes and both took a detour into the wet grass and parked themselves on the grass. Robert said “That’s got to have been the longest race I have ever been in. I knew I was on the pace this weekend and my set up was good. I’m over the moon to have secured my first YMF Loans Australian Superbike Championship win and am looking forward to getting back on the bike at my home track Queensland Raceway. I could not have had a better result, my first win and Mum, Dad, Cath and Alex here to see me do it made it even better” Robert would like to thank: North Star Yamaha, Anchor Steel Fixing, Racers Den, Linehouse Graphics, Jeay’s Aussie Auto – Sandgate, KBC Helmets, Ixon, Alpinestars, ODM Management |
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