Broc Pearson has recorded two gritty podiums in challenging conditions on his Desmosport Ducati Panigale V4 R at the sixth round of the Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) held at Phillip Island over the weekend of September 6-7. After qualifying fourth in perfect conditions, the opening race was wet and windy as predicted and Pearson soon swept to the lead in the opening corner courtesy of a fantastic launch. Despite the treacherous conditions Pearson led the majority of the race, ultimately taking second after a slippery drive to the line through turn twelve. The rain held off for the second race but the track was just as challenging, with Pearson grabbing another holeshot with patchy conditions offering little grip. The race developed into a close quarter six-way battle, with Pearson once again leading the majority of laps only to finish third by a heartbreaking 0.001 seconds. The two podiums yielded a well-deserved reward of third for the round, underlining the efforts of the Desmosport Ducati team to develop the Panigale V4 R around the MoTeC ECU and provide a competitive motorcycle in all conditions.

Next Gen Supersport rider Luca Durning qualified in an impressive tenth position outright and despite the tricky race conditions still brought his Ducati Panigale V2 home in the points.

Broc Pearson #11

Qualified: 4th (1:31.520)
Fastest Lap: 1:31.437 (FP2)
Results: 2-3, 3rd Overall

Championship Standing: 5th

Team Owner, Ben Henry: “This weekend Phillip Island brought us all the weather we did – and didn’t want! I’m really proud of the way the team is working, the conditions weren’t easy at all and the pressure was higher than usual with the two-day format. But morale is also very high and the results are coming; we’re pretty close now. It was very satisfying to be legitimately battling for race wins and show strong pace in every session. I’d say we led more laps than anyone this weekend, we just didn’t lead the last one that matters in both races. Big thanks to Broc and all the boys, they are all doing an awesome job and I’m really looking forward to the next round at One Raceway, I feel like we are going to be very competitive.”

Broc Pearson: “I felt like we missed out on a couple of good opportunities, but I’m super happy with my riding and the team is working really well. We were down on top speed a little bit in the first race which cost us the win, but conditions were crazy with 60kmh winds and rain. Even though it was so slippery the traction control was cutting in more an more at the end of the race, but I was too nervous to change the setting! We led every lap until the last hundred metres which sucks, but the next place back in third was thirty seconds behind so it was cool to have some pace. In the second race it was patchy, again I led a lot of laps and got my elbows out and had some fun. Third overall for the round, so we’ve made a good step in the right direction this weekend and now we head to One Raceway where last year we picked up a win so I can’t wait to get back on the bike in a few weeks time.”