Josh Waters and Onyabike KW Civil McMartin Racing with K-Tech on track for record fifth ASBK Championship.

Josh Waters and the Onyabike KW Civil McMartin Racing with K-Tech Team are on the brink of creating history for the second year in a row after a solid points haul at the penultimate of the ASBK Championship held over the weekend of 3-5 October.

A return to One Raceway in Goulburn for the seventh round of the championship saw a slight chance that the title could be wrapped up this weekend, Josh and the Onyabike KW Civil McMartin Racing with K-Tech Team holding a sixty-nine-point lead in the championship coming into the round.

Friday practice saw the team build solid momentum at a circuit that doesn’t really allow the Onyabike KW Civil McMartin Racing with K-Tech Ducati V4R to really highlight it’s performance potential, finishing the day in sixth position, less than a second from the fastest time of the day.

Josh was able to up the pace considerably in the final practice on Saturday morning before improving again in qualifying to secure an all important front row grid position for Sunday’s two twenty lap races.

Race one got underway in brilliant sunshine and in front of a healthy crowd. Josh got a flying start and was second into the first corner, but Troy Herfoss and Cam Dunker pushed their way past setting up a tight tussle over the opening few laps. Josh was holding fourth position behind local hero Herfoss for the first stanza of the race recording consistent lap times until on lap fifteen Ant West moved onto the back of Josh to challenge for position. West pushed past a lap later setting up a three-rider battle that went all the way to the chequered flag fighting for third position, Josh and the Onyabike KW Civil McMartin Racing with K-Tech Ducati V4R just .2 of a second away from securing their fourteenth podium of the year and ninety ninth of Josh’s superbike career.

Race two was held in much hotter conditions, Josh getting a great start and holding down fourth position. Six riders, covered by less than a second, making a small break away from the pack when a red flag saw the race stopped on the eighth lap.

Race two was re-started over a ten-lap duration, Josh got a flying start on the Onyabike KW Civil McMartin Racing with K-Tech Ducati V4r from the second row of the grid and was second into turn one but ran a fraction wide at turn three and was relegated back to sixth position. Fighting back immediately, Josh pushed past fast starting rookie JJ Nahlous at Ducati corner and then blasted past Herfoss and up into fourth at the start of lap three, but Herfoss fought back immediately taking the position back one corner later. On lap four Cru Halliday, riding the McMartin Racing prepared Stop and Seal Ducati V4R was able to also overtake Nahlous at Ducati corner to slot in behind Josh. Josh and the Onyabike KW Civil McMartin Racing with K-Tech Ducati V4R were glued to the tail of Herfoss for the remainder of the race, but unwilling to make any risky moves at a track that is notoriously difficult to overtake on, held that position to the flag only .087 behind Herfoss.

After six consecutive round wins this year, a pair of fifth place finishes this weekend has put the Onyabike KW Civil McMartin Racing with K-Tech’s teams rider in the box seat to take a record fifth ASBK title at the final round with a fifty-point lead and only a total of fifty-one points up for grabs.

The Onyabike KW Civil McMartin Racing with K-Tech team now look forward to the final round at The Bend Motorsport Park One Raceway over the weekend of 7-9 November.

“Round seven is over and I was happy with how I was able to qualify on the front row and be in the battle for the podium” commented championship leader, Josh Waters. “It's a unique little circuit, One Raceway, with track position very important. We are in a great position now for the Championship heading into the final round, I'm really looking forward to racing at The Bend. Like always, a huge thank you to my team for the work they do to give me a great bike and of course all our sponsors and everyone that supports us”.

“I am really happy with how Josh and the team worked over the weekend” said Team Owner Craig McMartin. “This weekend we achieved what we wanted to achieve and that was leaving One Raceway only needing one point at the last round. Josh rode extremely smart and thanks to the team for working hard all weekend. As always, we could not do what we do without the continued support of all our sponsors including Onyabikeadvantures, KW Civil, K-Tech, Ducati and Pirelli tyres”.