Josh Waters has banished the ‘bogey track’ tag in emphatic fashion to claim overall honours in round four of the 2025 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK) at Morgan Park Raceway in Warwick (Qld) on June 15.

The reigning SW-Motech Superbike champion finished with a 1-2 scorecard on his McMartin Racing Ducati around the physically demanding 2.96km circuit, with Broc Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati, 2-3) and Anthony West (Addicted to Track Yamaha, 3-4) completing the dais.

Race one was particularly dramatic, with circuit guru Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team) retiring on lap four after his machine expired, which took all the pressure off Waters as he cruised to the finish line.

Jones’ comeback was emphatic in race two to make it three Morgan Park wins from the last four starts, but he’s now 53pts (215 to 162) behind Waters at the halfway mark in the championship and with a mountain to climb to wrest momentum back from his long-time rival.

For Waters, it was a palpable sense of relief when he spoke in parc ferme at the end of race two.

“I am just so happy with how this round has gone,” he said. “My history hasn’t been wonderful at Morgan Park, but to get pole, win race one, claim the overall and finish second to Mike (Jones) in race two is really satisfying.”

For all the results from Morgan Park, click here.

Round four of the Australian Superbike Championship was supported by the Southern Downs Regional Council.

SW-Motech Superbike race one

Following Jones’ demise in the SW-Motech Superbike opener, all the pressure was off Waters who just had to keep his powder dry to claim maximum points.

He nailed that remit to win the 16-lapper by 2.7 seconds – his 40th victory in the Superbike class and the seventh in a massively impressive 2025 – from Pearson, who was involved in a ding-dong scrap for second with West and Cameron Dunker (MotoGO Yamaha).

And that was the order they finished in, with resourceful rookie Jack Favelle (Addicted to Track Yamaha) fifth from Max Stauffer (Yamaha Racing Team), Glenn Allerton (Superbike Advocates Racing Ducati) and Cru Halliday (Stop and Seal Yamaha).

Meanwhile, young gun Jonathan Nahlous (Omega Racing Team Yamaha) was another race one casualty after crashing out.

SW-Motech Superbike race two

With Jones back in the mix, anticipation went up a notch in race two as Waters got the holeshot from West.

Jones was third, and on lap three he eased past West and immediately set out in pursuit of Waters with his customary smooth and natural flow.

Two laps later the pair was running line astern and threatening to eclipse Jones’ two-year-old lap record. That didn’t eventuate, but Jones did pass Waters on lap 12 to move into the lead.

Waters was perfectly content to finish second, while Pearson was a gritty third after passing West and Favelle in the second half of the 16-lapper.

“That was a great race,” said Jones. “I put the hammer down to catch Josh (Waters). After I got past, the setup was working well on my Yamaha and I was able to push until the end of the race.

“A big thanks to the team for getting my bike back into working order between races.”

Meanwhile, Dunker, Nahlous and Allerton filled positions 6-8 among the 15 finishers.

West (158pts) is third in the championship from Pearson (129), Allerton (126), Stauffer (120), Dunker (119) and Nahlous (113).

Next up for the SW-Motech fraternity is round five at Queensland Raceway from August 8-10 as the ASBK reunites with the Repco Supercars Championship for the first time since 2023 in Darwin.

Jones is also a potent force around Queensland Raceway, but it was Waters and Allerton who shared the winning spoils at the venue in May this year.

The intrigue continues in what has been a stellar year of Superbike action.