Swann Insurance Kawasaki press release:

The second round of the 2018 Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) was a strong one for Swann Insurance Kawasaki rider Matt Walters, claiming 11th overall for the weekend.

Walters was 10th fastest on Friday and maintained that position in qualifying after posting a 58.605s lap-time, despite a fall in qualifying one.

The Cessnock-based multiple national champion finished with 10-12 results in the pair of gruelling 20-lap premier class races, however some minor mistakes cost him an even higher result aboard his Ninja ZX-10R. Hot and windy conditions made for a challenging race day and the points haul was a plus for Walters.

“It was a positive weekend for us and I was able to lower my lap-time considerably since the test that we did there,” Walters commented. “We got the bike handling really well and the team did a great job to repair it after a crash in qualifying one, so I ended up qualifying 10th.

“In the first race I had an off-track excursion, which was a bit disappointing, but I rejoined and scored valuable points. In the second one it was pretty much the same, as I’d moved into eighth position and with about two laps to go I ran off into the last corner – overcooked it on the brakes a bit, trying to push hard and bring it home.

“I was able to get good points still and am still in the hunt, so it was a competitive weekend for us. We didn’t have to change too much from Phillip Island to Wakefield Park, so we have a really good setting and I’m hoping to keep this form going and will be trying my hardest to get some really good results in the coming rounds.”

Following two of the seven rounds in the series, Walters currently sits eighth in the championship standings with Swann Insurance Kawasaki in an impressive start to his 2018 campaign.

The Australian Superbike Championship will now travel south to The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia for round three between 19-22 April, with Swann Insurance Kawasaki planning to take part in a shakedown test at the brand new world-class facility in the lead-up.

Like Matt Walters Racing on Facebook and visit www.asbk.com.au for further information on the series.