Australian Superbike: History Made At The Bend
11/10/2024 07:14 PM
Josh Waters makes history with fourth Australian Superbike title
Josh Waters is the Australian Superbike Champion for a history-making fourth time following a gripping final round of the 2024 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK) at The Bend in South Australia on November 10.
Waters (McMartin Racing Ducati) and Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team) went into the third and final race at The Bend separated by 25pts, but after Jones crashed on lap one the pressure valve was completely released – even a DNF for Waters would have still seen him claim the championship spoils.
In true title-winning style, though, Waters still kept pushing hard and finished less than a second behind outgoing champion Troy Herfoss (DesmoSport Ducati) who became the third race winner over the weekend.
Waters' 2024 championship is now added to his previous Superbike successes in 2009, 2012 and 2017, in what was a triumphant return to The Bend after he came out second best in a similar final round brawl against Herfoss in 2023.
Waters now stands supreme as the most successful rider in the 35-year history of the ASBK Championship, moving ahead of Jones, Herfoss, Shawn Giles, Wayne Maxwell and Glenn Allerton as three-time champions.
"That was bloody awesome!. I am so thankful to the McMartin Racing Team, and I'm just so rapt as it's been a long time since I won a championship," said a relieved Waters.
"The championships have all been special but what I've been through leading up to this one makes it even more special. Thank you to everyone who supports me."
Waters completed the seven-round championship on 321.5pts, with Jones (276.5) hanging on for second over Broc Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati, 264.5).
THE BEND RESULTS AND STANDINGS
Pirelli Superbike race two
After Jones got the job done in race one on Saturday to fire a 'I'm not giving up without a fight' warning shots across Waters' bows, Waters' Sunday morning retort was emphatic as he won the shortened seven-lapper after the first attempt was red-flagged when Superbike rookie Tom Toparis (Stop and Seal Yamaha) went down. The crash put the two-time Australian Supersport champion out for the balance of the day.
In the restart, Waters wasn’t in the mood for power sharing as he led from the front and, just when it appeared he was on the cusp of winning the championship with one race to spare, Jones speared up the inside of Herfoss on the final turn to finish second.
That meant the gap between the pair was 25pts, leaving a flicker of hope for Jones that if he won the final race and Waters was a DNF, the Yamaha man would win the championship based on a season race-winning countback.
Meanwhile, Anthony West (Addicted to Track Yamaha) was fourth in race two, followed by Arthur Sissis (Stop and Seal Yamaha) and Max Stauffer (Penrite Racing Yamaha).
Pirelli Superbike race three
It all boiled down to the final race of the season, but the tension was only fleeting after Jones crashed out at turn 13 on lap one and was unable to remount.
Waters was initially unaware that Jones had exited stage left, but he was soon made aware by his team as he eventually settled into second place behind Herfoss and in front of Sissis.
And that's how the top three finished in the 11-lapper, just over a second apart, while top rookie Cameron Dunker (Penrite Racing Yamaha) was fourth from West and early leader, Pearson.
Herfoss was the sixth separate Pirelli Superbike winner in 2024, while Waters' 2-1-2 scorecard at The Bend saw him the round winner from Sissis (3-5-3), West (4-4-5) and Jones (1-2-DNF).
See the complete results from the weekend here:
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