BMW rider Glenn Allerton dominated a drama-charged day at Phillip Island, winning both races of the opening round of the Australian Superbike Championships on Sunday.

The field was forced to gamble after the race 1 look-out lap, with a damp circuit sending some riders scrambling for spare bikes with wet tyres fitted.

The BMW S 1000 RR-mounted Allerton (pictured above) elected to remain on slicks, and despite being swamped in the opening laps, soon found pace as a dry line around the 4.45km circuit emerged.

The 30-year-old picked off place after place, and by the fifth lap found himself in the lead after blazing past pole-sitter Wayne Maxwell who was struggling on deteriorating wet rubber.

Allerton greeted the chequered flag with a lead of over 20 seconds, with second-place going to another European machine, the Aprilia RSV-4 ridden by Ben Attard.

Proving the victory was no fluke, the NSW-based rider backed up the performance by winning race two in dry conditions, again by a solid margin.

Two wins from two starts, on debut with a new team and race bike, has Allerton excited about his championship chances in 2011.

“This is the best start to a season I’ve ever had,” said an ecstatic Allerton. “The weekend really could not have gone better for us given we are a new team and racing a new bike.”

Allerton leaves Phillip Island with a 13-point advantage over second-placed rider Troy Herfoss, who was impressive in his first ever Superbike outing with Team Suzuki.

Herfoss’ result was built on both speed and consistency. The GSX-R1000 rider settled for a strong fourth place in the opening race when unable to attack, but was on song in the second 12-lapper and raced to a comfortable podium position.

Three-time former New Zealand superbike champion Robbie Bugden, from Brisbane, took his Mack Truck Suzuki to eighth and sixth-place results, good enough to end the day seventh overall.

Teams and riders will now set their sights on next week’s second round to be held at Symmons Plains Raceway in Tasmania.

Superbike – Race 1

1. Glenn ALLERTON (VIC) / Procon Racing, BMW S 1000 RR

2. Ben ATTARD (QLD) / iStyle The Natural Aprilia Racing Team, Aprilia RSV4

3. Wayne MAXWELL (VIC) / Team Honda Racing, Honda CBR-RR

4. Troy HERFOSS (VIC) / Team Suzuki, Suzuki GSX-R

5. Craig COXHELL (VIC) / Demolition Plus Gas Honda, Honda CBR

6. Beau BEATON (NSW) / North Coast V-Twins, Ducati 1198 R

7. Jamie STAUFFER (NSW) / Team Honda Racing , Honda CBR-RR

8. Robert BUGDEN (QLD) / Team Mack Trucks Suzuki, Suzuki GSX-R

9. Ben HENRY (QLD) Suzuki GSX-R

10. John PHLELAN (VIC) Kawasaki ZX10R (Prostock)

Superbike – Race 2

1. Glenn ALLERTON (VIC) / Procon Racing, BMW S 1000 RR

2. Troy HERFOSS (VIC) / Team Suzuki, Suzuki GSX-R

3. Jamie STAUFFER (NSW) / Team Honda Racing , Honda CBR-RR

4. Craig COXHELL (VIC) / Demolition Plus Gas Honda, Honda CBR

5. Ben ATTARD (QLD) / iStyle The Natural Aprilia Racing Team, Aprilia RSV4

6. Robert BUGDEN (QLD) / Team Mack Trucks Suzuki, Suzuki GSX-R

7. Beau BEATON (NSW) / North Coast V-Twins, Ducati 1198 R

8. Ben HENRY (QLD) Suzuki GSX-R

9. Cole ODENDAAL (NSW) / NSW Compensation Lawyers / GAS Honda Racing, Honda CBR-RR

10. Cru HALLIDAY (NSW) Yamaha YZF-R1 (Prostock)

Superbike – Round and Championship points

1. Glenn ALLERTON (VIC), 50

2. Troy HERFOSS (VIC), 37

3. Ben ATTARD (QLD), 36

4. Craig COXHELL (VIC), 33

5. Jamie STAUFFER (NSW), 32

6. Beau BEATON (NSW), 29

7. Robert BUGDEN (QLD), 28

8. Ben HENRY (QLD), 25

9. Cole ODENDAAL (NSW), 23

10. Wayne MAXWELL (VIC), 19

Supersport – Race 2

1. Aaron GOBERT (NSW) / Gobert Motorsports, Yamaha YZF-R6

2. Kevin CURTAIN (VIC) / Yamaha Racing Team, Yamaha YZF-R6

3. Blake LEIGH-SMITH (QLD) Suzuki GSX-R

4. Mitchell CARR (NSW) / Carr Bros. Motorsport, Triumph Daytona

5. Christan CASELLA (VIC) Triumph Daytona

6. Chas HERN (VIC) Suzuki GSX-R

7. Nicholas WATERS (VIC) / Waters Racing, Suzuki GSX-R

8. Brodie WATERS (VIC) / Team Suzuki, Suzuki GSX-R

9. Glenn SCOTT (NSW) Kawasaki ZX6R

10. Hafizh Syahrin ABDULLAH (MAL) Yamaha YZF-R6

Supersport – Round and Championship points

1. Aaron GOBERT (NSW), 42

2. Kevin CURTAIN (VIC), 40

3. Brodie WATERS (VIC), 39

4. Mitchell CARR (NSW), 35

5. Blake LEIGH-SMITH (QLD), 32

6. Christan CASELLA (VIC), 31

7. Chas HERN (VIC), 24

8. Andy LAWSON (QLD), 20

9. Hafizh Syahrin ABDULLAH (MAL), 18

10. Ryan TAYLOR (VIC), 18

The rest of the Australian Championships series dates are:

* Round 2: 4-6 March 2011, Symmons Plains TAS

* Round 3: 14-17 April 2011, Hidden Valley NT

* Round 4: 29 April-1 May 2011, Barbegallo WA

* Round 5: 3-5 June 2011, Queensland Raceway QLD

* Round 6: 19-21 August 2011, Queensland Raceway QLD

* Round 7: 11-13 November 2011, Symmons Plains TAS

* Round 8: 18-20 November 2011, Phillip Island VIC