PHILLIP ISLAND, VIC – Round 6 of the mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) delivered a ripper of a weekend at Phillip Island, with seasoned campaigners Josh Waters and Anthony West stealing the show in challenging conditions. The two-day meet, held on September 6-7 and backed by the Victorian Government’s Significant Sporting Events Program, saw Waters and West split the wins, showcasing their mastery on a track known as one of the world’s best grand prix circuits.
Waters Dominates Wet, Extends Championship Lead
In race one, Waters, riding for McMartin Racing, tamed a treacherous wet track to pip DesmoSport Ducati’s Broc Pearson by a mere 0.094 seconds in an 11-lap thriller. The four-time champion, who kicked off his racing career at age five and snagged a national title by six, showed his mettle with a daring last-lap move. “I had so many moments out there – I reckon Broc could’ve slowed down a bit!” Waters quipped post-race.
With 99 top-three finishes from 176 ASBK starts, Waters’ consistency paid off, extending his championship lead over Yamaha Racing Team’s Mike Jones to 69 points (306 to 237) with two rounds remaining. The 2011 Phillip Island 8-Hour Endurance winner with Team Suzuki Australia credited his team and sponsors: “I was getting carved up like a Sunday roast, but I’m stoked with the result. Huge thanks to the crew for sticking by me.”
West’s Emotional Breakthrough in the Dry
The afternoon’s dry race saw Addicted to Track’s Anthony West storm to an emotional maiden Superbike victory in his 64th attempt, beating Waters by 0.262 seconds. Nicknamed “The Rain Man” for his wet-weather wizardry, West’s win came a day after securing his first-ever Superbike pole position. Fired up by some young guns getting under his skin, the 44-year-old Queenslander savoured the moment: “I don’t remember much of race two – too much happening! But this weekend’s been bloody awesome.”
West’s resilience shines through his storied career, including Grand Prix wins at the 2003 and 2014 Dutch TTs (250cc and Moto2 classes). Despite a 24-month suspension from 2018-2020 for banned substances, his return to the ASBK in 2024 has been marked by determination, landing him third in the standings on 234 points.
Pearson Impresses, Others Struggle
Broc Pearson’s 2-3 result locked down third overall for the weekend, while Glenn Allerton fought back from a back injury to finish third in race one, carving through from the rear of the grid. However, it was a tough day for others, with reigning King of the Baggers champ Troy Herfoss crashing out on his out lap, and riders like Max Stauffer, Jack Favelle, Cru Halliday, and Ty Lynch also falling victim to the slick surface, leaving just 13 finishers from 18 starters.
Championship Tightens Up
Waters’ dominance has him firmly in the driver’s seat, but the battle for the podium heats up. Pearson (185 points) and Cameron Dunker (175) are closing in on Allerton (190) in fourth, while the series now heads to One Raceway in Goulburn from October 3-5 for Round 7.
Supersport and 300 Classes Heat Up
In Supersport, BCperformance Kawasaki’s Olly Simpson claimed the round win with a 2-1 scorecard, his third career victory and first on the Ninja ZX-6R. Jack Mahaffy leads the championship, but Simpson’s rise to second (21 points back) keeps the title fight alive. In Supersport 300, Scott Nicholson’s 2-1-3 result gave him a 67-point lead, putting him in pole position to seal the crown next month.
This weekend’s action at Phillip Island proved once again why the ASBK remains a must-watch, with Waters and West’s standout performances etching their names into the championship’s lore. Stay tuned for more thrills as the season rolls on!
