Troy Herfoss - 2010 Samurai Award Winner

The 2010 RK Chains Samurai Award presented by Rapid Bikes Magazine & Knee Down Magazine was awarded recently at the Viking Australian Superbike Championship Night Of Champions dinner at the Crown Casino Palladium Ball Room, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Troy Herfoss - 2010 Samurai Award Winner

The RK Chains Samurai Award has a long and prestigious history in Australian National Championship road racing.

Criteria for the award includes Most Improved, Outstanding Effort and Rising Talent.

Responsibility for the 2010 RK Chains Samurai award was handed to Rapid Bikes Magazine & Knee Down Magazine who put together a panel of racing industry experts to help with the decision after carefully following the past two ASBK seasons. The experts then submitted a silent vote including first and second preference.

With only two full seasons of road racing under his belt, Team Suzuki GSX-R600 rider Troy Herfoss won this year's ASBK Supersport Championship - an outstanding result.

Jeff Ware, Publisher, Rapid Bikes Magazine & Knee Down Magazine, "I'd personally like to congratulate Troy on his past two seasons. He has shown immense talent but more importantly, determination and maturity beyond many of his peers. After creating his own success in the AMA Supermotard Series Troy has replicated those efforts in Australia. He is now following his dreams in road racing by becoming a superbike rider and is well on his way to the front of world championship level road racing. All of us here at Rapid Bikes & Knee Down wish Troy the best in his rookie superbike year in 2011.

"A Special mention must also go to 2010 Viking Australian Superbike Champion Bryan Staring and Supersport runner up, Christian Cassella. The votes were very close for all three riders to take out the award this year".

Thanks to Link International for ongoing support of road racing in Australia.

RK Chains Samurai Award Roll of Honour
2010 Troy Herfoss
2009/2010 Not Awarded
2008 Pat Medcalf
2007 Jason O'Halloran
2006 Jamie Stauffer
2005 Mark Aitchison
2004 Adam Fergusson
2003 Kevin Curtain
2002 Shannon Johnson
2001 Josh Brookes
2000 Craig Coxhell
1999 Broc Parkes
1998 Anthony West
1997 Martin Craggill
1996 Mark Willis
1995 Rip Crocker
1994 Anthony Gobert
1993 Troy Corser
1992 Michael O'Connor
1991 Mat Mladin
1990 Daryl Beattie
1989 Rene Bongers
1988 Mick Doohan
1987 Grant Hodson

Wayne Maxwell Ready To Take On Suzuka 8HR

Ready to take on one of the world's toughest road races, Australia's Wayne Maxwell has re-joined the Honda DREAM RT Sakurai Honda team in Japan, as free practice gets underway today ahead of this weekend's 33rd running of the Suzuka 8 Hour.

As Honda chases its 23rd win at the famed Suzuka event, Maxwell is preparing for his first attempt at the gruelling eight-hour challenge; relishing the opportunity to put himself to the ultimate racing test.

"Being selected to race the Suzuka 8 Hour is a great honour as a lot of Australian riders have had great success at this event over the years. This is a great opportunity for me to not only show others what I can do, but also to try and prove to myself whether I am as good as I think I am," Maxwell said.

With a chance to join the likes of Mick Doohan, Wayne Gardner and Daryl Beattie on the Suzuka victory honour roll, Maxwell will re-partner with team mate Chojun Kameya to pilot the Sakurai Honda CBR1000RR.

"Kameya-san has been great; he finished third in the race last year and he has a lot of experience, as does the whole Sakurai team," Maxwell said.

After scoring a strong fifth place with the team in the Suzuka 300 earlier this year, Maxwell recently returned to Japan for the Suzuka 8 Hour official test session on 7-8 July and was given plenty of track time in readiness for the big event.

"Testing went well, so I am feeling confident for the race. Each day, we had three one-hour sessions and one 45-minute night session. I did a 2:09.58-minute lap which was only two tenths off my team mate, and I was second fastest in the night session," Maxwell said.
"It's a really technical circuit and it all links together which suits my style. It's a lot different to the Australian circuits with the chicanes, so it's taking a bit to sort out, but overall I'm doing ok."

Weather is always a major factor in the Suzuka 8 Hour, and with Sunday's forecast for 32oC and afternoon showers, the extreme heat and humidity promises another punishing test of endurance for man and machine.

"The long runs are tough, but doing it in the heat is even tougher. I am getting more used to it as I spend more time here. It's very humid; similar to Darwin earlier this year, except the stints on the bike are one hour long.

"I have been training hard with my trainer Anthony Klarica in preparation for the event and am feeling in good shape. Last week we simulated half of the race intraining by cycling in a heated room for one hour then a one-hour break then another hour on.

"The race is for eight hours and so many things can happen. Running in the Suzuka 300 earlier in the year was invaluable as I got to practise a pit stop and experience damp conditions on slicks."

While many teams will contest the event with three riders, Maxwell is comfortable that he and Kameya will not be disadvantaged having just two riders to share the load.

"I think it is easier if you only have two riders. It's hard enough to keep two riders happy with settings, let alone three.

"I think the greatest challenges of the race will be the heat and trying to be consistent through traffic. Then we just have to be ready for any other unknown stuff we will stumble across as the race unfolds.

"No doubt everyone wants to win, but I would be happy to race in the top five for the first half of the race, then assess where we are at and go from there. Hopefully things will go our way.

"Above all, it's a great opportunity just to be able to compete in an event like the Suzuka 8 Hour. I'd just like to thank Honda Australia for their support and belief."

Mick Doohan inducted into Sport Australia Hall of Fame

Australian motorcycling legend Michael Doohan was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame at the 25th anniversary induction and awards dinner held at the Crown Palladium Ballroom in Melbourne last night.

Membership of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame is regarded as the highest honour for Sportspeople in Australia, and Doohan joins an illustrious list of approximately 500 Australian Sportsmen and Sportswomen - including only six other motorcycle racers - who share the honour of being a Member. 

Road Racing competitors Kel Carruthers and Wayne Gardner also share membership of the Hall, while Speedway riders Arthur 'Bluey' Wilkinson, Jack Young and Lionel Van Praag are also Members.

Doohan was one of eight people inducted as a Member last night, alongside Kevin Sheedy (AFL), Peter Montgomery (Water Polo), Liz Ellis (Netball), Luc Longley (Basketball), George Gregan (Rugby Union), Simon Fairweather (Archery) and Shane Warne (Cricket).

Doohan won the 500cc Motorcycle Grand Prix World Championship for five consecutive years from 1994-1998, and he was presented with a medal and certificate at last night's ceremony by another great Australian motor racing competitor, Sir Jack Brabham.

In other awards presented on the night, Pole Vaulter Steve Hooker captured his second consecutive 'Don' Award for his performance in winning the World Championship earlier this year, while Kieren Perkins' swim in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics was honoured as the memorable Hall of Fame 'Moment'.

The night was a resounding success with close to 1000 people attending the black tie dinner, and concluded with Australia's first modern Olympian, Edwin Flack, and Tennis great Ken Rosewall, both being honoured with the prestigious status of Hall of Fame 'Legend' - a title now shared by only 30 Australians.