Image: Foremost Media.

Former Australian Superbike (ASBK) champion Josh Waters is looking to the upcoming round of the 2022 Mi-Bike ASBK Championship at Hidden Valley Raceway to take the next step with the M 1000 RR and the Maxima BMW team.

Waters – who previously rode for Kawasaki BCperformance – swiftly adapted to the new bike and surrounds for 2022, qualifying third at Phillip Island before notching a 4-5 scorecard at the iconic Victorian circuit.

An improvement in terms of race result and deficit to the leader came at the second round at Queensland Raceway, where the number 21 went 3-5 and finished within 6.5 seconds of the lead in the first race, as opposed to being 11 seconds from victory at the season-opener.

Wakefield however proved to be a challenge for Waters and the Maxima BMW squad, unable to close the gap to the front and managing a best result of seventh in race two. That said, the Mildura-based rider remains hungry to return to the front, and believes the M 1000 RR will be better suited to the nature of the Darwin circuit.

“We definitely need to improve in some areas, and the last circuit Wakefield, we knew that was going to be difficult with that bike, because a lot of it is to do with the electronics,” Waters explained.

“I hope in Darwin we can make another step forward, obviously we have all been working hard trying to find ways to step it up. I think our package will be a lot better for Darwin than it was for Wakefield, the style of the circuit will suit the bike a bit more.”

Waters’ teammate Glenn Allerton – also a three-time ASBK champion – gave the M 1000 RR a successful debut last season in the Top End and finished a promising third overall. Waters himself has achieved success at the Hidden Valley circuit, notably scoring a double victory with Team Suzuki Ecstar in 2017 when ASBK returned to the venue. Action commences in Darwin this Friday with free practice one and two.