Josh Waters and McMartin Racing with K-Tech runners up in ASBK Championship.

Josh Waters and the McMartin Racing with K-Tech have finished an extremely close ASBK season in second place after a winner takes all final round at The Bend in South Australia over the weekend.

For the first time in history the two title challengers arrived at the final round of the championship tied on points. Despite a significant injury mid-season while racing in Japan Josh arrived at the final round determined to be the first rider to ever win four Australian Superbike Championships. The bend is the longest track of the season, so the team had to focus on improving the feeling with the bike as from the first session it was clear that the pace of the entire field had risen considerably from previous years.

Waters was able to put in a scintillating lap in qualifying, .3 under the previous qualifying record set by Wayne Maxwell on the McMartin Racing with K-Tech Ducati Panigale in 2021. This time was bettered late in the session by Josh’s championship rival Troy Herfoss who took pole, and an important championship point to set up a winner takes all final two races.

Josh got off the line well in race one and slotted into second as the field tipped into turn one. Herfoss and Josh on the Ducati Panigale V4R were able to pull a small gap over the first few laps before reigning champion Mike Jones tagged onto the back of the dueling duo and then made a pass for second place. Josh was able to get back past and then reel in the gap that Herfoss had pulled before arriving right on the tail of his championship rival for a last lap showdown. Despite completing seven of the eleven laps in the race under the old lap record along with looking for every opportunity to get past on the final lap Josh finished in second place .253 behind Herfoss.

For race two the mission was clear, Josh Waters and the McMartin Racing with K-Tech team were going all out for victory. With Herfoss now six points ahead in the championship battle they would also need a little luck to go their way. Things were looking good as the field tipped into turn one with Josh slotting the Ducati V4R into the lead ahead of Herfoss and rapid youngster Max Stauffer and reigning champion Mike Jones. Josh was unable to shake the attention of Herfoss while leading the race for the first five laps but on the entry into turn one on lap six Herfoss was able to slide up the inside on the brakes to take the lead. Josh was able to sit right on his tail until turn six on lap eight when he lost the front into the tricky downhill left hander and crashed. Josh was able to pick the bike up and finish the race in tenth place.

Josh and the McMartin Racing Team with K-Tech Ducati V4R secured second place in the 2023 Australian Superbike Championship with a total of seven wins from the sixteen races held this season. 

“Obviously second is not what we came here for but after such a close and competitive season this result just makes me more determined” commented Josh Waters. “Unfortunately, the championship battle came to an end after a small crash late in the race, but we can leave this round knowing that the entire team gave it everything we had right up to the final corner of the final race. I simply cannot thank Craig, Adrian, Greg, Julie, Shaun and Wayne enough for everything they have done this year. We had some awesome results, taking many race wins, and we can be proud of our efforts”.

“I am extremely proud of what Josh and every single member of our team has achieved in 2023 and can't thank everyone enough for all their hard work” said Team Manager Craig McMartin. “I’m so blessed, we are not just a team we are a family.

Josh rode amazingly all year, and this weekend he certainly pushed both himself and the bike to the limits to try and take the championship. Adrian Monti and the entire team worked tirelessly to give him a bike that could do the job and that's all I can ask for. Thank you to Greg and Julie from Races Edge Performance for their continued support and hard work all year. I’d also like to thank Shaun Olson and Wayne Maxwell who helped immensely every race meeting. Finally, a huge thanks to all the sponsors for their support, we couldn't do any of this without them”.