Image: Supplied.

Team Suzuki Ecstar Australia’s Josh Waters will ride a factory GSX-RR at Sepang in Malaysia this week as a reward for claiming his third Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) crown on-board the GSX-R1000R last year.

It’s understood that the 30-year-old will join MotoAmerica champion Toni Elias and Isle of Mann TT winner Michael Dunlop on track from Wednesday, 25 January, riding with Team Suzuki Ecstar.

Waters, who was unable to comment when contacted this afternoon, is expected to ride alongside a host of regular MotoGP test riders – including Casey Stoner – in the private test that takes place in the lead-up to the first official test that begins on 28 January.

The Mildura racer will return for a second-straight season with Team Suzuki Ecstar Australia in 2018 to defend their ASBK championship, which he has won as part of the official Suzuki squad in 2009, 2012 and 2017.