Josh Waters has opened his day one account at round five of the 2025 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK) with a maiden pole position at Queensland Raceway.

The reigning SW-Motech Superbike champion played qualifying to perfection on the McMartin Racing Ducati, laying down the gauntlet early with a searing lap of 1:07.267.

Despite a couple of valiant late attempts by championship rival Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team, 1:07.380) to dislodge him, and with Glenn Allerton (Superbike Advocates Racing Ducati, 1:07.498) also circling, Waters had done enough and will now start from top spot for the third time this season and the 17th in a stunning Superbike career. He also earned himself a bonus championship point for pole position.

Three 15-lap races will be held across the weekend: one on Saturday (11:45am) and two on Sunday at 8:55am and 1:55pm as the SW-Motech Superbikes join forces with the Supercars paddock for the first time since 2023.

ASBK QUEENSLAND RACEWAY RESULTS

“I’m just so happy to be on pole for the first time at Queensland Raceway,” said Waters. “I was fairly nervous in qualifying, but I managed to use the same set of tyres in both sessions so I’m in a good position to attack over the weekend.

“The races won’t be easy, but I’ll be pushing hard as always. Thanks to my team for again preparing a great bike.”

Once a bogey circuit for Waters, the hard-nosed veteran has now won his first race at Queensland Raceway in 2025, and the pole position continues his growing affinity with the 3.126km layout.

While Waters and Jones remain the Queensland Raceway reference points, Allerton was in fact the last race winner at the circuit in early May thanks to an astonishing last-to-first performance in the wet.

He’ll complete the front row, with Broc Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati, 1:07.656), Anthony West (Addicted to Track Yamaha, 1:07.896) and Jonathan Nahlous (Omega Racing Team Yamaha, 1:07.934) on row two.

Harrison Voight (McMartin Racing Ducati, 1:07.980), making his first appearance in the ASBK Championship in nearly 12 months, Cru Halliday (Stop and Seal Yamaha, 1:07.980), Cameron Dunker (MotoGO Yamaha, 1:08.097) and Max Stauffer (Yamaha Racing Team, 1:08.275) completed the top 10 in qualifying.

Tom Toparis (Stop and Seal Ducati) was the fastest of the four Superport Next Gen riders, although his teammate Archie McDonald (Yamaha) set the pace in practice before an electrical issue foiled his qualifying.

Waters currently leads the Superbike standings on 216pts from Jones (162pts), West (158pts), Pearson (129pts), Allerton (126pts) and Stauffer (120pts).