Waters wins Australian SB opener

From Team Suzuki News Service

Team Joe Rocket Suzuki rider Josh Waters kicked off his 2009 season with the overall win at the 2009 Australian Superbike World Championship at Phillip Island last weekend.

Commencing his first full season of Superbike racing with the team, Waters had a perfect start to his title assault with victory in the opening race. The 22-year-old backed up with a hard-fought third in race two to finish the round with 43 points and the championship lead aboard his TJRS GSX-R1000.

Waters' tally across the two races gives last year's Australian Supersport runner-up a narrow one-point lead over defending Superbike champion Glenn Allerton with Wayne Maxwell third on 39 points.

"It's a great way to start the year, and it's been good fun riding the Superbike," Waters said. "I was a bit worried when I headed out on the warm-up lap as the track was wet and the Superbike has so much power. I opened the throttle and thought 'oh oh'. It was a bit scary at first until I got used to it, but then I was scraping my knee around corners in the wet.

"I was a bit disappointed with race two as I got a bad start and let the leaders get away in the opening laps. But to be leading the championship after the opening round is a great position to be in."

Team Joe Rocket Suzuki rider Shawn Giles finished fourth overall on 33 points in his comeback ride from serious injuries received mid-way through last year.  Hampered by a lack of strength in his left ankle, the three-time Australian Superbike champion carded fifth and fourth placings on his TJRS GSX-R1000.

The opening 10-lap Australian Superbike Championship race on Sunday morning saw Superbike newcomer Waters master wet and treacherous conditions to take a 6.855-sec. win over the more experienced Daniel Stauffer, with Maxwell third.

In a thrilling race two on Sunday afternoon, reigning champion Allerton took victory from his team mate Maxwell by 0.011 secs., with TJRS team-mates Waters and Giles separated by just 0.141 secs. in third and fourth.

In the opening round of the Australian Supersport Championship, new Team Joe Rocket Suzuki signing Troy Herfoss recorded sixth and fourth placings to secure fifth overall on the points table on his TJRS GSX-R600.

Herfoss, the 2008 US Supermoto Champion, was competing in only his second road race meeting, with the 22-year-old racing at the 4.45km Phillip Island circuit for the first time.

Bryan Staring and Judd Greedy shared the Australian Supersport Championship race wins to finish on 45 points apiece, Greedy taking victory over Staring by 0.054 secs. in race one, with the results reversed in race two by 0.011 secs.