Image: Alex Gobert (Foremost Media).

Reigning Australian Superbike champion Josh Waters’ non-finish in race two at The Bend came due to a front brake fault that caused the wheel to lock on lap two.

Team Suzuki Ecstar will evaluate the front braking system of Waters’ GSX-R1000R – including aftermarket Brembo product fitted – in a bid to detect the issue that cost him vital points on Sunday morning.

Waters suffered a difficult weekend after the team introduced a new ECU package for South Australia, unable to refine it for Saturday’s first 10-lap race of the weekend. They reverted to the previous system for today, however further issues were encountered. They will continue with the latest version in Darwin, according to Phil Tainton.

“In race one we had something different in the bike to how it normally is and we just need to keep developing it – I’m sure it will be better,” a coy Waters explained. “Today we changed the bike a lot with the running gear, but in race two, for some crazy reason, the front brake jammed on and it caused the DNF. That wasn’t related in any way.

“At the start of race three I dropped back a lot because I almost crashed, so that was unfortunate. Right now, it’s like last season where I need to keep working away and try turn things around in Darwin. We will move on from a terrible weekend for the championship, but what can you do? Hopefully MA surprise us again and have five races there…”

With Waters going 5-DNF-6 across the trio of premier class races in Tailem Bend, he was 11th overall for the round and now sits fourth in the championship standings, 47 points in arrears of current leader and The Bend victor Troy Herfoss.