Cycle News Staff | March 5, 2011
Team Suzuki’s Josh Waters won the opening race of the second round of the Viking Australian Superbike Championship, using a new lap record to power to victory late in the race.Waters sat out last week’s opening round while racing the Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 in the first round of the World Superbike Championship at Phillip Island. But the 2009 champion came back to his national championship with a vengeance, instantly putting himself among the leaders and taking part in a five-rider pack contesting the lead as the laps wound down.Team Honda’s Wayne Maxwell and Procon Maxima BMW’s Glenn Allerton took turns out front late in the race while Waters was planning his strategy, which he’d execute with a pass on the 16th lap. He’d set the new lap record before going to the front.Still, the others wouldn’t relent and Waters had his hands full within sight of the checkered flag, with Maxwell making a run in the final corner. But Waters remained steadfast and fought him off to win by .048 secs.”I couldn’t have asked for a better result for my first race,” said Waters. “I didn’t get a great start but knew the bike would be strong so kept at the leaders.”I was able to get by with a few laps to go and from then it was a matter of riding smart.”It’s a great feeling and a good result for us considering we had a slow start to the weekend – I’m looking forward to another strong race this afternoon.”Allerton faded fo fifth after leading for five laps early in the race, but recovered to finish a strong third, making it three different brands on the podium.Team Suzuki’s Troy Herfoss and Team Honda Racing’s Jamie Stauffer were both in the podium picture but were muscled back late in the race, finishing a close fourth and fifth, respectively.
Race One:
1. Joshua Waters (Suzuki)
2. Wayne Maxwell (Honda)
3. Glenn Allerton (BMW)
4. Troy Herfoss (Suzuki)
5. Jamie Stauffer (Honda)
6. Ben Attard (Aprilia)
7. Robert Budgen (Suzuki)
8. Craig Coxhell (Honda)
9. Kris McLaren (Honda)
10. Cole Odendaal (Honda)