Team Suzuki ECSTAR Australia press release:
Team Suzuki ECSTAR Australia got off to a flying start in the 2018 Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) in front of huge crowds for all 3 races over a long World Superbike weekend with Josh Waters taking home 2nd overall with Pole position and a 3-2-2 result while superbike rookie Markus Chiodo came home 12th (10-25-11) for the weekend in packed 50 plus field after qualifying in 14th and battling all weekend.
Team owner, Dale Brede: “It was a great weekend of racing that had us all on the edge of our seats in every race with close racing and typical changing Phillip Island weather causing havoc not just for us but everyone in the paddock” said Dale. “Finding the perfect settings this weekend was a challenge with the conditions and Josh managed to ride the wheels off the bike to get the results he did and Markus, although I know he’s a little disappointed to be outside the top ten, did a great job on debut and no doubt will continue to improve every time he rides the GSX-R. To head to our home round 2nd in the championship with podiums in every race is a great result, but we’re motivated to win and will keep working hard to get there!”
Josh Waters: “It was a tough weekend overall” said Waters, “I felt great on Friday, and it showed with a strong time and Pole position for the weekend. I was in the lead when the rain started to come down in the first race and the conditions were getting dangerous but the confusion in pit lane meant we didn’t get warmers on for some time and so it made the second part of the race tough to race with the lead riders. For the rest of the weekend, we were chasing the setup a little around the conditions and I was pushing hard all the time to keep battling for the lead. Overall I’m happy, heading into the next round 2nd overall isn’t a bad start to the year”.
Markus Chiodo: “I expect a lot from myself, especially having this incredible team supporting me, so to come home 12th overall, I didn’t achieve the goal I set for myself. Phillip Island is a strong circuit for me so I really wanted to do well here, but after qualifying in 14th, I had my work cut out for me in every race to even try to reach the lead group let alone stick with them. A crash in race 2 put me way down the order losing some critical points that could have seen me reach the top ten” said a deflated Chiodo.
The Team Suzuki ECSTAR Australia racing now prepare for what is a home race for the Canberra based team in Wakefield Park, Goulburn NSW on March 16-18.
For more information or tickets to the event head to www.asbk.com.au
Make sure you follow the team on social media to stay up to date with the teams progress throughout 2018:
Facebook @TeamSuzukiECSTARASBK
Instagram @teamsuzukiecstaraustralia