Josh Waters and Wickham Freight Lines McMartin Racing with K-Tech bank vital championship points at Morgan Park.

Josh Waters qualified the Wickham Freight Lines McMartin Racing with K-Tech Ducati Panigale in fourth place, missing a front row grid position by .057 and went on to secure ninth and fifth positions in the two sixteen lap races at round four of the ASBK Championship held at Morgan Park over the weekend.

Morgan Park at Warwick in Queensland is a tight and physical track, three-time ASBK Champion Josh Waters had not raced at this venue since 2019 and knew that with a lack of recent track time this weekend would be one of, if not the most, difficult weekend of the entire season. Working hard with the team over the practice sessions Josh was able to improve the feeling with the bike, cutting over 1.7 seconds off his lap time before qualifying in fourth position with a time that would have secured pole position at this venue twelve months ago.

Josh got off to a flying start on the Wickham Freight Lines McMartin Racing with K-Tech Ducati Panigale V4R in race one slotting into third position behind Troy Herfoss and Mike Jones, two riders that have an impressive record and an intimate knowledge of this track. Able to fend off the early challenges from fellow three time champion Glenn Allerton over the early stages Josh was able to build a comfortable buffer as he continued to shadow the leaders, only .4 behind at the completion of lap seven. Josh was one of only three riders to dip into the 1:12’s during the race but unfortunately ran off the track trying desperately to stay in touch with the Herfoss Jones battle on lap twelve, costing six positions and around eighteen seconds. Josh crossed the line four laps later in ninth position to secure twelve vital championship points. 

Race two saw Josh get a great jump off the line but get caught on the outside at a very congested turn one losing several positions. Fighting back from sixth on the first lap Josh moved the Wickham Freight Lines McMartin Racing with K-Tech Ducati Panigale V4R into fifth on lap two. From lap five Josh Waters was in a three-bike freight train with Glenn Allerton and Broc Pearson, all three riders setting similar lap times for the remainder of the race. Conscious of the need to ensure championship points Josh crossed the line in fifth place securing more valuable points heading into the next round at Phillip Island.

Josh and the McMartin Racing Team with K-Tech Ducati V4R are now second overall in the ASBK Championship, fourteen points off the lead, heading into round six at Phillip Island in October.

“Things didn't go to plan today here at round five at Morgan Park.” commented Josh Waters. “The pace we were able to produce over the weekend with no testing at this circuit and the fact I have not raced here since 2019, I was happy with. In race one I was able to go with the leaders sitting comfortably in third, unfortunately with five laps remaining I made a mistake which made me have to run off and pull the bike out of the gravel trap. For race two I didn't get a great start and I was only able to get to fifth. We now have a big break in the championship, I look forward to the two remaining rounds. As always, a huge thank you to my team for all the work this weekend and of course all our valued sponsors”.

“Tough weekend, but that's racing” said Team Manager Craig McMartin. “Josh and the team did a fantastic job all weekend, the team worked really hard to give Josh a bike to challenge with, as can be seen by the huge improvement over the practice sessions. We knew it was always going to be hard to come here with no testing, especially considering Mike and Troy do so many laps around Morgan Park. I’d just like to thank all the sponsors for their continued support, we will now put our full focus on Phillip Island”.