Superstars Josh Waters and Mike Jones have again risen to the occasion as the 2025 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK) concluded at The Bend (SA) on Sunday, November 9.

After absorbing intense pressure from rookie revelation Jonathan Nahlous, newly minted SW-Motech Superbike champion Waters was victorious in race one on his McMartin Racing Ducati before Jones (Yamaha Racing Team) won the turf war in the season-ending battle.

The pair finished the day equal on points, but Jones was awarded the overall after his higher placing in race two. Nahlous (Omega Racing Team Honda) was third overall after his 2-2 scorecard.

“The race two victory definitely put a smile on my face,” said Jones.

“It’s been a tough weekend, but a special thanks to the Yamaha Racing Team for all its efforts not only at The Bend but all year long.

“I’m excited to be back with Yamaha in 2026 as we chase another ASBK championship.”

Between them, Waters and Jones won 15 of the 17 Superbike races in 2025, with Waters finishing the Superbike title on 381pts ahead of Jones on 331pts.

Anthony West (Addicted to Track Yamaha) was third in the championship on 303pts, which included the veteran’s first Superbike race win at Phillip Island.

• SW-Motech Superbike race one

With the pressure meter dialled down and the passion meter dialled up, newly minted SW-Motech Superbike champion Waters powered to a start-to-finish victory. It was Waters’ 10th win of the season and his 43rd in Superbike.

Waters’ only hiccup was a slight mistake on lap six which allowed Nahlous and Jones to close back up on him, but the veteran was soon back into a steely rhythm to win by nearly half a second.

Nahlous was a brilliant second – his best rookie result – ahead of Jones, who ran wide at turn one on the last lap which scuppered his chances of putting extra pressure on his rival.

West was fourth from Cameron Dunker (MotoGO Yamaha), Glenn Allerton (Superbike Advocates Ducati), Troy Herfoss (Yamaha Racing Team) and Max Stauffer (Yamaha).

Broc Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati) and Cru Halliday (Stop and Seal Ducati) both went down, the latter shortly after setting a new lap record of 1:50.035.

• SW-Motech Superbike race two

It was Jones at his metronomic best, moving into the lead on lap three and then controlling proceedings from the front to win his fifth race of the season. Including his two podiums today, Jones now has eight top three finishes in the last 12 Superbike races at The Bend.

The race was held over a shortened nine laps after the first attempt was red-flagged due to an oil spill at turn 17, and in the restart Nahlous got the jump while Waters was well back after his worst start of the year.

Waters slowly began to move forward, but his advance would end at third place.

West, Pearson and Dunker completed the top six from a fast-starting Stauffer and Allerton, while a bitterly disappointed Halliday didn’t make the restart after a mechanical issue.

Dunker finished fourth in the championship on 246pts from Allerton (241pts) and rookie of the year Nahlous (239pts).

The five-round 2026 ASBK Championship commences at Phillip Island from February 20-22, before transitioning into a summer calendar in 2027.