Just when you thought the ASBK grid couldn’t get any wilder, Robbie Bolger rolls in with six bikes, a dream team and bucket loads of ambition
With the 2025 ASBK season only weeks away, Robbie Bolger has announced plans to expand his Stop & Seal team this year, headlined by the signing of ex-YRT Superbike rider Cru Halliday. The move puts three Superbikes in the Stop & Seal stable, with Halliday joining the resurgent Arthur Sissis and young gun Tom Toparis. It’s one of the most ambitious team projects put forward in recent memory, supplemented with three fully supported entries in the Supersport class.

Archie McDonald and Jack Mahaffy will return for 2025, with Queenslander Glenn Nelson expected to be announced as the third rider.
When asked to reflect on the 2024 season, Bolger was immediately drawn to Mahaffy’s performances to close the year out. “The dark horse for 2025 is Mahaffy,” he told AMCN. “If Archie wasn’t so mental, he could have won that championship last year. Nahlous was there to pick up the crumbs when our bikes were barrel rolling through the air.”

The team originally planned to run Toparis in the Superbike category but then decided to stick with Supersport and pursue several international wildcards. This left the Superbike vacant for a Sissis career lifeline, with the South Australian regularly in the top five and on the podium by season end. For Toparis, plans to race overseas were in tatters after a heavy crash at Morgan Park. He then switched to the Superbike at the end of the season.

“When we look at the data, Tommy is holding more lean angle and throttle, more than Arthur,” said Bolger. “Tommy has spent too long on a 600, and that’s partly our fault – but we did that with the view to race some World Supersport rounds last year. Truth be told, Tommy knows nothing about a Superbike because he hasn’t ridden one enough; now he’s sending himself to the moon – but he will rise to the top eventually. We’ll do things like overlay the data from Arthur and Cru during the year, and he will work it out. It’s a matter of changing that muscle memory. It’s not easy.”

With six bikes on the grid and a truckload of talent amongst them, it begs the question if there will be any team orders. “We don’t have any team orders… the only thing we ask is for our riders to tow each other through qualifying – that definitely works, it’s proven. But in the race, it’s completely up to them. we just don’t want to see them take each other out.”
As for the Supersport championship, Bolger believes it is McDonald’s to lose. “The only one that’s going to beat Archie is Archie. He is still a little bit young to fully understand everything. Mahaffy has become so calculated and fast, he’s impressed everybody. I love both of them and I also think Glenn will get there, but I feel the championship will come down to McDonald and Mahaffy.”

The team will continue with Michelin tyres this year for both classes but Bolger said they will use the MoTeC ECU instead of the Yamaha kit unit. “The YEC ECU is like your granny, it’s so out of date. The TV you bought in 2014, what’s it like in 2025? You’ve got to move to the latest technology. Craig Heystead looks after our electronics, he’s got a Supercar and Formula 1 background… our crew know what they’re doing to make a fast bike.

“At this stage it’s been Arthur and Cru on track for testing. Our bike has been fast with Arthur, he’s done an amazing job. I think he is also a dark horse for the championship.
“We have the most fun out of everybody. We’ve got some great people on board with Brent Stephens coming over with Cru, Alex Briggs as well and possibly Jeremy Burgess working as a consultant at some stage during the year.
“If I wasn’t passionate about this shit, I wouldn’t be doing it. Motorcycle racing at this level is probably the worst commercial decision anyone could make.
“It’s madness. The coverage isn’t good enough and MA don’t like people having an opinion. But I don’t mind calling anyone out if I don’t think something
is right.”

WATERS WOUNDED
With time running out until the 2025 ASBK opener, the big news is that Josh Waters is in serious doubt after breaking his collarbone during pre-season testing at Phillip Island. The pressure is now on – can Waters be fit in time?
Other news to come out of that test is that Harry Voight was absolutely flying – consistently lapping at record pace (unverified, of course). Also having a good day out was Oli Bayliss, reportedly looking comfortable on his new Supersport Triumph and lapping at a pace that should see him extremely competitive when the season begins.
Will Troy Herfoss be on the ASBK grid in 2025? Latest reports suggest yes, riding a Ducati V4 R that is essentially part of the Desmosport team, but with completely different backing and livery to Broc Pearson. The news should be made public very soon.
One rider being mentioned as a dark horse for 2025 is Glenn Allerton, gearing up on a Ducati V4 R for the fledgling Superbike Advocates team. Word is he is very quick already and will be one to watch.
Other rider movements in ASBK include Tom Bramich, who has shifted to Kelvin Reilly’s BC Performance outfit riding a Kawasaki Ninja 636. His new crew chief will be the recently retired Bryan Staring, himself a rider at BC Performance for four seasons.
Cam Dunker and JJ Nahlous will pair up at MotoGO Yamaha, and Supersport 300 champion Josh Newman will step up to Supersport with Addicted to Track.
Check in for a more detailed ASBK preview next issue.