Josh Waters and Boost Mobile Racing with K-Tech take ASBK round honours at The Island.

Wayne Maxwell along with new team member Josh Waters took their Boost Mobile Racing With K-Tech Ducati V4R’s to a race win each with Josh securing the round victory in the penultimate round of the ASBK Championship over the weekend of 18-20 November.

Despite a limited amount of free practice due to the combined World SBK and ASBK program Josh and Wayne were able to top Fridays to Free Practice sessions. 

In qualifying Josh set a new best ASBK qualifying lap of 1:31.286 to secure pole position with Wayne also on the front row in third.

Race one started on a wet track after a shower just before the start. Josh got a great start from Pole; but Wayne was determined to get to the front as quickly as possible taking the lead into turn two. Unfortunately, his race was over only a few seconds later as the rear came around on the extremely slippery track and Wayne went down. Meanwhile, Josh was involved in a close battle for the lead with three former ASBK Champions, Troy Herfoss, Glenn Allerton, and Bryan Staring, .264 covered the quartet at the completion of lap one. Josh moved the Boost Mobile Racing with K-Tech Ducati V4R into third on the next lap until Allerton made his way back past on lap four. By lap five Staring has had made a small break as Josh battled Allerton for second. With three laps to go Allerton was .3 ahead of Josh in third, Josh greeting the chequered flag in that position to take his first ASBK podium for Boost Mobile Racing with K-Tech.   

Race two was a much better race for the Boost Mobile Racing with K-Tech team, Josh got a great start but in the hectic first lap action was shuffled back to fourth at the completion of the lap, with Wayne just behind in sixth. Josh moved his Boost Mobile Racing with K-Tech Ducati V4R into the lead on lap two with Wayne 1.7 seconds behind in fourth. A blistering 1:32.3 on lap three moved Wayne ahead of both Allerton and Herfoss and into second place on track, but still 1.7 seconds behind Josh. A series if five laps in the mid to low 32’s saw Wayne arrive on Josh’s tail by lap nine, moving into the lead on lap ten to slowly pull away recording a 1.5 second victory and the first ever 1-2 for the Boost Mobile Racing with K-Tech Team.

Race three on Sunday was another tough one for Wayne Maxwell’s 2022 championship aspirations. Getting a great start Wayne unfortunately came into contact with Troy Herfoss in the scramble for track position at Miller Corner, turn four, and went down on the first lap. On the other side of the garage, it was better news as Josh Waters on the second Boost Mobile Racing with K-Tech Ducati V4R completed the first lap with a 1.3 second lead. That was as close as the pursuing pack got as Josh reeled off a string of laps in the high 32’s and low 33’s to open a solid 4.9 second gap by lap six. After backing off in the last lap Josh eventually crossed the line 2.3 seconds ahead of Bryan Staring to take victory and the overall round win for the Boost Mobile Racing with K-Tech Team.

Due to two DNF’s Wayne Maxwell now sits third in the championship forty-nine points off Championship leader Mike Jones. Josh Waters is now only seventeen points behind fourth in the Championship with two races remaining. 

The next round of the 2022 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship Presented by Motul is at The Bend Motorsport Park next weekend, 25-27 November.

“Not really sure what to say after a weekend like that,” said Wayne Maxwell. “It pretty much sums up our year, to make two mistakes when I felt I was nowhere near the limit is incredibly frustrating. We are taking the positives from the weekend, to have the race pace we had, with not just myself but with Josh is a great reward for the Boost Mobile Racing with K-Tech team who are all working so hard.”

“The weekend for me was really good” commented round winner Josh Waters. “On Friday I just clicked with the bike straight away and was fast in both practice sessions. Qualifying was awesome, to achieve the lap time I was able to and claim pole position shows how hard we have been working. Race was wet but I was still able to battle for the lead throughout the race. Race two was great in the dry conditions and special to be able to finish with a Boost Mobile Racing with K-Tech 1-2. To win the final race, and the round overall was awesome for me and all the Boost Mobile Racing with K-Tech Teams sponsors. Again, a huge thank you to Craig, Adrian, and the whole Boost Mobile Racing with K-Tech Team for making this result happen.”

“What a weekend of mixed emotions” said Team Manager Craig McMartin. “With Wayne crashing out of two races and Josh winning the overall. I feel really sorry for Wayne as we all tried our hardest to get some points back on Mike, but it didn’t work out the way we wanted. Josh did an amazing job over the weekend, and I am very happy for him. I would also like to thank the team for all working extremely hard over the weekend we are all very motivated to get to The Bend get some good results to finish the season.”