Image: Foremost Media.

A commanding performance from McMartin Racing Ducati’s Josh Waters saw him win the rain-affected opening Mi-Bike Australian Superbike Championship race at Phillip Island, while Harrison Voight took a dominant 13.356s victory in Supersport.

Before the rain brought out the red flag on lap five. Waters grabbed the early lead and didn’t look back, and asserted an early advantage with a new lap record courtesy of a 1m31.075s set on lap two in the process. Troy Herfoss (Penrite Honda Racing) and Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team) were engaged in a tussle for P2 at this point.

Riders were faced with tricky mixed conditions at the beginning of the restarted outing, with a four-rider battle for the lead ensuing between Waters, Glenn AlleRton (BMW), Jones and Herfoss.

Ultimately able to break away and drop back into the 1m31s bracket, Waters claimed the first race win of the season ahead of Herfoss and Allerton who moved past Jones on the inside of turn three during the final lap to secure the last place on the podium, less than a tenth ahead of the defending champion come the conclusion of the outing.

Mark Chiodo (Honda) kept his nose clean to notch a solid P5 to commence his 2023 campaign, leading Ted Collins (Livson Racing BMW) Matt Walters (Aprilia), Scott Allars (Yamaha), Michael Kemp and Broc Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati) who completed the top 10.

Notably, Yamaha Racing Team’s Cru Halliday was off the track at turn three in the early stages, falling just before he hit the wall at the edge of the circuit. Unable to remount, he limped away in a visible amount of pain.

After a strong qualifying performance, Max Stauffer, unfortunately, hit the deck on the opening lap of the restart at turn four, walking away but unable to remount and complete the race.

Image: Foremost Media.

Australian Supersport pole-setter Voight converted to take a dominant 13.356s victory in what was ultimately a red flag-shortened encounter due to rainfall.

Prior to the red flag at the lap nine mark nine, the number 29 delivered blistering pace and posted a 1m34.979s lap time in the early stages, breaking the Australian Supersport lap record of 1m35.200s that Bryan Staring set by Bryan Staring back in 2009.

His immense speed saw him quickly stretch out his an advantage while Olly Simpson, Tom Bramich and Jack Passfield battled for P2.

Ultimately it was Bramich that was able to pull away, finishing in the runner-up position ahead of Passfield in third, and Simpson in fourth. A multi-rider battle for P5 ensued for much of the race behind the leading quartet, with Scott Nicholson ultimately coming out best ahead of impressive Supersport rookie Cameron Dunker.

South Australian Dallas Skeer was seventh, ahead of Ty Lynch (Yamaha), Jake Farnsworth and Sean Condon (Yamaha) completing the top 10.

In the second Supersport 300 encounter, seasoned-contender Brandon Demmery (Yamaha) stood tall ahead of Henry Snell (Yamaha) and yesterday’s winner Jai Russo (Yamaha) – the top three separated by 0.193s at the conclusion of the bout. The lead group consisted of nine riders in the end, separated by just over half a second.

Image: Foremost Media.

Race two of Supersport was a race of attrition for a number of key contenders, with Lynch (Yamaha) delivering a composed ride to victory, 12.916s ahead of Luke Sanders.

Defending champion Lytras scored what could prove to be a crucial P3 finish come season-end, as Farnsworth and Mitch Simpson (Yamaha) completed the top five. Former double Supersport 300 and R3 Cup champion Ben Baker finished sixth ahead of Passfield (Yamaha), Jake Senior (Yamaha), Declan Carberry (Suzuki) and Reece Oughtred (Yamaha).

Notable fallers were race one winner Voight who crashed out of the lead with a commanding advantage at roughly the halfway point,  Olly Simpson coming victim to turn two on the opening lap, Tom Bramich at the Hayshed and Sean Condon at turn four. Dunker fell on the warm-up lap at turn 10 and was unable to complete the outing and Nicholson limped home with a front brake issue to finish P16.

Detailed results