Team Suzuki’s defending Australian Superbike Champion Josh Waters has finished Friday’s opening practice day of the 2010 championship at Phillip Island fastest today, setting a best lap of 1:34.803 this afternoon.

Waters narrowly edged out morning pace-setter Wayne Maxwell’s (Demolition Plus GAS Honda) fastest lap of 1:34.857, placing the pair well ahead of the remaining riders in the field and setting up an early rivalry for the new year.

Third fastest was Waters’ teammate Shawn Giles, who continues his solid run of form from last year’s final round to set a best of 1:35.668 and edging out fellow former multiple-time ASBK champion Jamie Stauffer (Ducati Motologic).

Scott Charlton made a superb start to his season on debut with the Racers Edge Performance Suzuki GSX-R1000, finishing up fifth quickest to make it three Phil Tainton Racing-prepared machines in the top five.

ESG KTM also had a positive start to its twenty-ten campaign, wrapping up day one in sixth with Shannon Johnson, while current Supersport champion Bryan Staring was seventh on his Cougar Bourbon Honda CBR1000RR.

2008 series champion Glenn Allerton was eighth after experiencing mechanical problems this morning, the Valvoline Superbike Team rider ahead of Ducati Motologic’s Jordan Burgess and young gun Kris McLaren.

Trinder Brothers Racing Aprilia rider Dan Stauffer had a nightmare start to his campaign, suffering mechanical issues and missing the majority of both sessions to be placed 26th overall today.

Top Superstock 1000 A- and B-grade competitor was Dustin Goldsmith in 11th overall on his Yamaha YZF-R1, while ESG KTM’s Chris Trounson was narrowly behind in second for the STK1000 category.

Troy Herfoss made it a ruling day for Team Suzuki with the fastest lap in Supersport practice to finish up with a 1:38.330, with Brodie Waters second and Kevin Curtain third to start the weekend’s proceedings.

Pole position in the Superstock 600 category went to Aaron Morris, who has switched to Yamaha machinery for this season and has a comfortable one second lead over the field at this point.

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