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Waters extends ASBK Superbike lead in a day of contrasts at Phillip Island
Mildura ace Josh Waters produced a heady mix of pace and patience to extend his lead in the 2024 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK) at Phillip Island on September 8.
The McMartin Racing Ducati veteran finished with a 2-2 scorecard across the two AMA Warehouse Superbike races, with the opener held in dry conditions before the heavens opened for race two as DesmoSport Ducati rider Broc Pearson broke through for his first victory in the premier class.
Only hours earlier, gifted teenager Harrison Voight (McMartin Racing Ducati) also scored his maiden victory in the Superbike category.
Pearson (9-1) was second overall in the Victorian Government-backed round, with Glenn Allerton (5-4) third on the GT Racing BMW.
With two rounds remaining in the championship at One Raceway (October 4-6) and The Bend (November 8-10), 37-year-old Waters has strengthened his claims for a record-breaking fourth Superbike title.
He is now a 29pt (220.5 to 191.5) leader over Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team), while Pearson (176.5) has moved up to third ahead of Cru Halliday (Yamaha Racing Team, 173). Max Stauffer (Penrite Racing Yamaha) is fifth on 144pts.
“Congratulations to Broc (Pearson) on his first Superbike victory, and from my point of view today’s result is great for the championship,” said Waters.
“In race one, I didn’t want to do anything silly in the last few laps when I was behind Harrison (Voight), and I didn’t have great feel at the start of race two in the wet but I worked my way into it.
“I don’t actually enjoy riding in the wet that much, but I suppose my dirt track background helps when the conditions are really slick.”
AMA Warehouse Superbike race one
The balance of power in the AMA Warehouse Superbike opener was evident from the outset after polesitter Waters got the jump ahead of Voight – the latter making his third guest ride of the season for McMartin Racing Ducati.
The pair then immediately began pulling clear of the pack – a carbon copy of their front-running deeds from February’s Phillip Island round one – with the major intrigue in what pecking order the team quinella would eventually take.
Waters led over the line for the first six laps before Voight made his move on lap seven when he ducked up the inside at turn four.
With Voight firmly in the groove and with Waters determined to keep his powder dry, that was it for the remainder of the race as the duo flashed across the finish line 0.226secs apart.
It was a huge confidence booster for 18-year-old Voight ahead of next weekend’s European Moto2 round in Spain.
Meanwhile, there was plenty of stirring stuff going on behind the two leaders, thanks to a spicy four-way battle for the final podium position between Arthur Sissis (Stop and Seal Yamaha), Halliday, Jones and Allerton.
Sissis passed Halliday at turn one on the final lap, and then held his nerve to register his first podium in the Superbike category in his 85th race – and a continuation of his massive upswing in fortunes after a mid-season switch to the Queensland-based Stop and Seal team.
Halliday was fourth from Allerton, Jones, Stauffer and Anthony West (Addicted to Track Yamaha).
Pearson and John Lytras (Ricondi Yamaha) saw out the top 10.
AMA Warehouse Superbike race two
After the heavens opened, it was wet tyres for all 19 riders on the AMA Warehouse Superbike grid.
Pearson sensed it was his moment and, after nailing the holeshot, he held top spot for the majority of the race as he made it two maiden AMA Warehouse Superbike winners on the one day.
Pearson even upped the ante on the run home as he produced the fastest lap of the race (1:43.172) on the final circuit to put an exclamation mark on his breakout victory.
“That was really cool, and it certainly got the adrenaline going,” said an ebullient Pearson. “I saw the rain coming and thought to myself ‘This is yours’ but I then had to obviously go out and get the job done.
“I’m so lucky to have a really supportive network of family and friends, and I’d like to thank for my team for providing such a great bike.”
Waters was second from former Moto2 grand prix wet-weather master West, followed by Allerton, Cameron Dunker (Penrite Racing Yamaha) and Paris Hardwick (MotoGo Yamaha). Jones and Halliday lost ground in the championship race after labouring to eighth and 10th respectively.
Dunker had earlier been forced out of the opener with a mechanical issue, while Voight (in a preservation mode decision ahead of his return to Europe) and Stauffer (who crashed out of third position on the final lap) failed to see the distance in race two.
South Aussie Ty Lynch (Adelaide Motorcycle Recovery Yamaha) was also taking it right up to his more experienced Superbike rivals before crashing on lap three. Meanwhile, Sissis went down on the first attempt at race two before it was red-flagged.
