ASBK Round Eight | Josh Waters secures fifth Australian Superbike

Josh Waters started celebrations early at the final round of the 2025 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul at The Bend (SA), wrapping up the Superbike title in Saturday qualifying. Report” Ed Stratmann/ASBK Media Photos: RbMotoLens

Waters’ path of least resistance to winning an unprecedented fifth SW-Motech Superbike title was always going to come in the battle for grid positions, and the script went perfectly to plan for the McMartin Racing Ducati star.

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Waters qualified in fifth, but with arch-rival Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team #46) unable to secure pole position, Waters took a 50p lead into Sunday’s two 11-lap races.

Even if Jones won both battles and Waters didn’t score any points – extremely unlikely for such a well-drilled champion – Waters would still win the championship on a countback. With the numbers falling his way, it was a super Saturday for Waters, who won his first Superbike title in 2009, followed by further successes in 2012, 2017 and 2024.

After three decades of Aussie Superbike brilliance, Waters still can’t fully comprehend what he has achieved. “When I started road racing, I used to stand outside Shawn Giles’ garage and think, ‘Will I ever be like that’?,” said Waters, referencing the former three-time Superbike champion (2000-2002).

“I used to stand outside Shawn Giles’ garage and think, ‘Will I ever be like that’?,” said Waters

“Now to win five titles against such a high level of competition means so much. This year has been really special. I’ve got such a great team and crew around me, and everyone at home is such a big support: my wife, my family, my training partners. It just means so much.”

Cru Halliday (Stop and Seal Ducati #65) started from pole in the SW-Motech Superbike races and was joined on the front row by Jones and Jonathan Nahlous (Omega Racing Honda #20). There was plenty of action across the other ASBK classes on the Saturday, including Kawasaki Supersport, where Archie McDonald (#69) earned pole with two-time British Superbike champion and Stop and Seal Yamaha teammate Kyle Ryde (#666) alongside him.

Races also began in the Race and Road Supersport 300, ShopYamaha R3 Cup, BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup and Superbike Masters classes on Saturday, with a dominant Beau Beaton (#86) crowned early in the latter after a faultless campaign.

SW-MOTECH SUPERBIKE

The equation was simple for the SW-Motech Superbike battle to move into a live Sunday rubber: Jones had to secure his fourth pole position at The Bend. He was seemingly on track for exactly just that until the last three minutes of qualifying when Halliday produced a searing 1:50.028 – under the current lap record and only just adrift of the best-ever lap – to become the ultimate spoiler.

Jones didn’t have time to muster a counter-offensive, much to the delight of a jubilant Waters. It was Halliday’s fourth pole in Superbike, and his first since 2023, as he got to grips with his new Ducati after a mid-year switch from Yamaha. “It’s taken a little bit to get used to the Ducati after being on a Yamaha for years,” said Halliday. “It’s been about changing habits and riding the Ducati a whole different way, but it’s finally paid off at a very good time.”

Meanwhile, Nahlous was a revelation in only his second ASBK meeting on the Honda, with the Sydneysider returning to a happy hunting ground after winning the Supersport title at The Bend in 2024. Broc Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati #11), Waters and Cameron Dunker (MotoGO Yamaha #3) lined up on row two, followed by Troy Herfoss (Yamaha Racing Team #17), Anthony West (Addicted to Track Yamaha #13) and Max Stauffer (Yamaha #27).

KAWASAKI SUPERSPORT AND SUPERSPORT NEXT GEN

McDonald’s sixth pole position in Kawasaki Supersport came without too much fuss, which included a new Supersport best lap of 1:54.271. Ryde was next, followed by BCperformance Kawasaki duo Olly Simpson (#5) and Hayden Nelson (#279), Will Nassif (Omega Yamaha #65), Jake Farnsworth (Yamaha #49) and Tom Edwards (TeamBWR Yamaha #71).

Championship leader Jack Mahaffy (Stop and Seal Yamaha #37) put himself in the danger zone, starting from the third row of the grid as he defended a 23pt buffer over the in-form McDonald. Tom Toparis (Stop and Seal Ducati #7) was the fastest Supersport Next Gen rider – and, in fact, the fastest on track by a wafer-thin 0.001 seconds over McDonald.

RACE AND ROAD SUPERSPORT 300

Races got underway in both Race and Road Supersport 300 and the ShopYamaha R3 Cup, with Nikolas Lazos (Yamaha #11) and Hudson Thompson (Yamaha #41) the respective victors. In Supersport 300, Lazos’ path to a maiden victory opened up after Riley Nauta (Champions Ride Days Kawasaki #42) crashed out while holding a healthy lead. Lazos grasped the golden opportunity and won by 3.5 seconds ahead of polesitter and 2025 champion Scott Nicholson (Kawasaki #1), followed by Thompson, Tyler King (Kawasaki #128), Matthew Ritter (Yamaha #23) and Jordy Simpson (Yamaha #33).

While Nicholson has an insurmountable lead, the battle for second in the championship was still a tight battle between Jordy Simpson, Tara Morrison (Kawasaki #95), King and Mitch Simpson (Yamaha #66) with two races remaining. Jake Paige (Kawasaki) remained in second but was swallowed up by the pack as he wasn’t competing at The Bend. Thompson prevailed in a signature tight and tough R3 Cup scrum from Mitch Simpson, Lazos, Phoenix O’Brien (385 #85) and Jordy Simpson.

BLU CRU OCEANIA JUNIOR CUP

It was a nine-bike rolling scrum in the BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup race one, with the riders separated by less than a second after the five-lapper.

Xavier Curmi (#82) scored maximum points from Ghage Plowman (#27), Connor Lewis (#77), Hunter Charlett (#73), Rossi McAdam (#61), Chaz Williams (#18), Thomas Cameron (#23), Krue Knight (#46) and Charlie Nichols (#22).

Lewis now led Williams by 6pts, while McAdam, Curmi and Charlett would likewise battle it out until the very end for third place in the official Australian Junior Road Race Championship.\

SUPERBIKE MASTERS

The same trifecta in both Superbike Masters races on Saturday, as Beau Beaton (Ducati), Ben Burke (Honda #60) and Michael Berti Mendez (Ducati #17) dominated. Beaton was on another level, setting a new lap record and wrapping up the series with one race to spare.

Sunday

Superstars Josh Waters and Mike Jones again rose 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 #14), 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.

Race One Results

Josh Waters
Jonathan Nahlous (+0.476)
Mike Jones (+1.093)
Anthony West (7.936)
Cameron Dunker (+12.532)

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.

Race Two Results

Mike Jones
Jonathan Nahlous (+1.008)
Josh Waters (+1.640)
Anthony West (7.446)
Broc Pearson (+8.380)

Championship Points

Josh Waters – 381 Points
Mike Jones – 331 Points
Anthony West – 303 Points
Cameron Dunker – 246 Points
Glenn Allerton – 241 Points

Kawasaki Supersport

Victorian Jack Mahaffy is the 2025 Kawasaki Australian Supersport champion, keeping his powder dry in the final round at The Bend (SA) on November 9 to complete a magical season for the Stop and Seal Yamaha rider. Mahaffy curbed his normal competitive instincts with a 5-8 scorecard at the high-stakes grand finale, but it was more than enough to hold off teammate Archie McDonald (2-2) in the final championship standings.

Both races at The Bend were won by reigning two-time British Superbike champion Kyle Ryde, with the 28-year-old displaying his class on yet another Stop and Seal Yamaha. Mahaffy finished the seven-round season on 294pts, ahead of McDonald (282), Olly Simpson (BCperformance Kawasaki, 270), Hayden Nelson (BCperformance Kawasaki, 206) and Tom Bramich (Yamaha, 194 #44).

As with most championship successes, the bedrock of Mahaffy’s campaign was extraordinary consistency, with the 24-year-old finishing on the podium in 12 of the 13 races before The Bend and with no DNFs – which then gave him the luxury of not having to push the envelope on the run home.“I’ve been thinking about the championship non-stop since the last round at One Raceway,” said Mahaffy. “I don’t think I’ve been pushed so hard in my life as I was this year, both on and off the track, so hats off to Archie and Olly. When Stop and Seal took me in two years ago, I was a very different rider and person. We’ve had our ups and downs, but we got the job done, and what they’ve (Stop and Seal bosses Claire and Robbie) done for the sport is incredible. Of course, if the championship wasn’t on the line today, I would have wanted my piece of the fun at the front. But I’m a true believer you ride to your circumstances, and if the championship was really on the line, then it would have been me and Archie battling.”

The first Supersport race at The Bend was a short and sharp five-lap affair after the first attempt was red-flagged following a crash at turn 17.

In the restart, Simpson, Ryde and Tom Toparis (riding in the Supersport Next Gen class on a Stop and Seal Ducati) all took turns at the front before Ryde reasserted his authority on the final lap – one where McDonald set a new record of 1:54.270 as he made a late charge. Toparis was second across the line from McDonald, Simpson, Nelson and Mahaffy.

Race two was over the full nine-lap distance, and it was a cracker, with the lap record lowered on multiple occasions (now owned by McDonald with 1:53.724) and the major combatants pushing hard for the final time in 2025. Ryde led most of the second half before McDonald passed the BSB star under brakes on the final lap. However, McDonald went in a little too hot, which allowed Ryde to regain the ascendancy.

The pair broke from the pack with their late speed, while Toparis was third from Simpson, Nelson, Jake Farnsworth (Yamaha), Will Nassif (Omega Racing Yamaha), race one faller Tom Edwards (TeamBWR Yamaha) and Mahaffy.

“The first couple of laps with Archie in the final race was a bit like racing against Tommy (Bridewell in BSB) in 2024 when we both had to win to take the championship,” said Ryde, who will now continue his trip Down Under on a golf pilgrimage. “A few of the moves were probably not acceptable, but it was more fun than anything! Race two had everything: a dogfight at the start, there were lap records broken and everyone got back safe. I’ve had a great weekend, and the track is fun to ride. I also love the R6: I ride one all the time to keep fit and to practice on, so I know it inside out. But that was my complete maximum: I couldn’t go faster than that!”

Round Results

Kyle Ryde – 50 Points
Archie McDonald – 41 Points
Olly Simpson – 36 Points
Hayden Nelson – 34 Points
Jake Farnsworth – 31 Points

Championship Points

Jack Mahaffy – 294 Points
Archie McDonald – 282 Points
Olly Simpson – 270 Points
Hayden Nelson – 206 Points
Tom Bramich – 194 Points

ShopYamaha R3 Cup

A second ASBK title was decided in South Australia, with Mitch Simpson winning the 2025 ShopYamaha R3 Cup.

Hudson Thompson, Valentino Knezovic (#48) and – fittingly – Simpson won the three races at The Bend, with the finale an almighty scrap as riders let it all hang out in the final battle of the season.

Simpson completed the four-round, 12-race season on 203pts from his younger brother Jordy Simpson (186), Thompson (171), Phoenix O’Brien (161), John Pelgrave (161 #43) and Nikolas Lazos (157) – the latter in title contention until he was injured in a Supersport 300 crash on Sunday morning.

Championship Points

Mitch Simpson – 203 Points
Jordy Simpson – 186 Points
Hudson Thompson – 175 Points
Phoenix O’Brien -161 Points
John Pelgrave – 157 Points

Race and Road Supersport 300

In Race and Road Supersport 300 – which had already been wrapped up by Scott Nicholson (Kawasaki) at the previous round – it was a smaller program after Sunday’s race two was abandoned due to time constraints after a multi-bike crash on lap three. Nicholson (2-4) was the overall winner from Riley Nauta (Champions Ride Days Kawasaki, 10-1) and Mitch Simpson (Yamaha, 6-2).

Nauta clearly had the most impressive pace all weekend, checking out in race one before a crash on lap six – with Lazos (Yamaha) taking full advantage to win his first Supersport 300 race in front of Nicholson and Thompson. In the shortened race three, Nauta was in a class of his own, while Mitch Simpson was second from Tyler King (Kawasaki).

Nicholson’s final championship margin was a resounding 103pts (378 to 275) over Jordy Simpson (Yamaha), and then King (263), Mitch Simpson (261), Jake Paige (Champions Ride Days Kawasaki, 260) and Tara Morrison (Kawasaki, 256).

Championship Points

Scott Nicholson – 378 Points
Jordy Simpson – 275 Points
Tyler King – 263 Points
Mitch Simpson – 261 Points
Jake Paige – 260 Points

BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup

As far as edge-of-the-seat thrillers go, it doesn’t get any better! The 2025 BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup (OJC) concluded in dramatic circumstances at The Bend (SA) on Sunday, November 9, with the championship fight coming down to the final lap of the season between Connor Lewis and Chaz Williams. Both riders were in the leading pack a few corners from home in race three before Williams’ challenge evaporated when he was cannoned into by another machine which had gone down.

Lewis then finished third to turn around a 1pt deficit into a 17pt championship victory over Williams after one of the most thrilling seasons in the seven-year history of the OJC. Lewis finished on 324pts after six rounds, from Williams (307), Rossi McAdam (293), Xavier Curmi (277) and Hunter Charlett (274).

The final OJC round was held alongside the 2025 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul, with the expansive layout of The Bend delivering myriad slipstreaming opportunities for the YZF-R15 riders.

A strong wind on the weekend provided some challenges, though, but the racing was still typically tight and uncompromising, with a combined winning margin of 0.193 seconds over the three races. McAdam (5-2-1) was the overall winner from Curmi (1-5-4) and Lewis (3-3-3), with Ghage Plowman (second in race one) and polesitter Williams (victory in race two) also amongst it.

Lewis now joins an illustrious list of OJC winners, starting with Carter Thompson in 2019, followed by Marianos Nikolis (2020), Cameron Swain (2021), Harrison Watts (2022), Archie Schmidt (2023) and Hunter Corney (2024).

Championship Points

Connor Lewis – 324 Points
Chaz Williams – 307 Points
Rossi McAdam – 293 Points
Xavi Curmi – 277 Points
Hunter Charlett – 274 Points

Superbike Masters

Beau Beaton (Ducati 851) stormed to another clean sweep to remain undefeated throughout the season. His final tally was a perfect 250pts from Michael Berti Mendez (Ducati TT2 992, 173) and Phil Allen (Ducati 851, 153 #35).

At The Bend, Beaton, Ben Burke (Honda VRF750R) and Berti Mendez claimed the trifecta in all four five-lap races, with Beaton setting a new lap record of 1:58.457 to put the icing on the cake. Beaton also took home the P6 Formula 1300cc class honours, and the other class winners were Allen (P6 Formula 750cc), Berti Mendez (P5 F1) and Patrick Povolny (Suzuki GSX1100, P5 Unlimited #4).