Josh Waters and Onyabike McMartin Racing with K-Tech solidify championship lead at the all new One Raceway.

Josh Waters and the Onyabike McMartin Racing with K-Tech Team have maintained a healthy lead in their bid for the 2024 ASBK championship with third overall at round six held at the brand new One Raceway over the weekend of 4-6 October.

With One Raceway being brand new, and the ASBK championship being the first ever event here, an additional afternoon of practice was made available to all classes on Thursday to familiarise riders and teams with the circuit layout.

The usual practice sessions got underway on Friday, still with minimal grip available from the brand-new surface but Josh and the Onyabike McMartin Racing with K-Tech team got to work to fine tuning the setup of the Ducati V4R chassis, electronics and K-Tech suspension. Over the three sessions Josh managed to find over a second per lap but the big difference came with the changes made in FP4 on Saturday morning, Josh topping the session on the Onyabike McMartin Racing with K-Tech Ducati V4R.

A solid Q1 session saw Josh through to the Q2 session to decide the top twelve grid positions. Josh was able to adapt quickly to the windy conditions, only missing a front row start by .124. 

Josh got a sensational launch off the second row and slotted into third place as the field made their way through turns one, two and three for the first time. By the time the field reached the top of the hill Josh had moved the Onyabike McMartin Racing with K-Tech Ducati V4R past title rival, and pole sitter, Mike Jones into second. Josh uncorked a series of fast laps to sit right on the tail of race leader Broc Pearson and was ready to mount a challenge for the lead when a red flag halted proceedings after 9 laps. 

The race was restarted over a nine-lap distance with Josh, starting from second on the grid, didn’t get the best launch off the line and had to settle with fifth into turn two but was then pushed a fraction wide at turn three as Ant West surged past on the inside. Waters got great drive out of Ducati corner and was able to surge past Jones back into fourth as the field negotiated the final corners of the opening lap of the restarted race. Josh was in the middle of a serious battle with multiple riders covered by a second, losing a spot to Cam Dunker at the bottom of the hill on lap four. With Jones a few positions, but over three seconds behind, Josh set consistent laps to secure fifth place and sixteen vital championship points.

Race two was almost a carbon copy of race one, Josh getting another lightning start sitting in second early on before taking the lead on lap three and trying to open a gap over Broc Peason before the race was red flagged after five laps. 

A much better jump off the line in the restart saw Josh get a great launch from pole slotting into second as the field made their way through the long complex of right-hand corners that start the lap. A series of laps in the 59’s allowed Josh to pull away from the pursuing pack and secure second position as the chequered flag signalled an end to the shortened twelve lap race.

A solid points haul and third place overall for the round sees Josh Waters and the Onyabike McMartin Racing with K-Tech Team head to the final round of the 2024 ASBK championship at The Bend Motorsport Park with a twenty-seven-point lead over Mike Jones

“At the end of free practice four we made a good step; we were quite fast” commented championship leader Josh Waters. “In qualifying we ended up fourth, but so close to the front row. In race one, before the red flag, we were in second, but I felt we had the pace to get away if I could have got in front. Unfortunately, in the restart I didn’t have the same feeling, and we ended up fifth. Race two I was in the lead, feeling good and another red flag, In the restart I got away well and was able to take second. Overall, I gained solid points for the championship which was my main focus for the weekend. As always, I really can’t thank every member of the Onyabike McMartin Racing Team with K-Tech team enough, this weekend was a challenge with a new track and of course all of our sponsors for their continued support”.

"This weekend started out with a fair bit of extra work coming to a new track” said Team Owner Craig McMartin. “We really just focused on trying to set the bike up, we looked at the data we had from the old circuit with Wayne but that didn’t make any difference as the track was so different. In the end I am so happy with how the weekend went, both races were both good and bad, he had really good track position, race one he was fighting for the lead and the red flag came out. The restart wasn’t as good and both Josh and Mike didn’t have the same feeling. Race two was the same thing, good track position and then a red flag. But overall, I am really happy to leave here with the championship points gap pretty much the same. I really appreciate the huge effort by every single member of the team this weekend with the increased workload of adapting to a new track. Continually I am inspired by their hard work, passion and dedication”.