Follow the 2023 Mi-Bike Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) with direct SBK and Supersport updates from the first round of the season at Phillip Island through Racefeed.

Image: Foremost Media.

Superbike race two:
McMartin Racing’s Josh Waters delivered another dominant display to take a 3.236s victory in the second race, with wildlife notably bringing out the red flags throughout the outing. It didn’t take Waters long to assert a extend his lead at the front before the red flag, and by the end of the opening lap he had a second on the chasing group of Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team), Glenn Allerton (BMW), Troy Herfoss (Honda) and Cru Halliday (Yamaha Racing Team). Geese on the track brought the red flags after two laps. Upon the restart Waters again stretched out the lead early, with Herfoss running wide at turn one on lap two, dropping him back to a distant sixth at the time. By lap five Halliday had cleared Jones, maintaining P2 to the chequered flag, with the defending champion completing the top three, just under three seconds from his teammate. Herfoss charged back to fourth, ahead of Arthur Sissis (Unitech Racing Yamaha) who pipped Allerton at the line. Seventh was MotoGo Yamaha’s Bryan Staring who closed right in on the battle for fourth, as Ted Collins (Livson BMW), Broc Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati) and Matt Walters (Aprilia) who completed the top 10. Notably, Mark Chiodo (Honda) crashed at turn two on the opening lap of the restart, and GTR MotoStars rider Max Stauffer crashed at turn four later that lap. With five laps to go Lachlan Epis (Evolution Sports Group) crashed at Honda corner, also unable to complete the race.

Supersport race three:
Making amends for his mistake in race two yesterday, Supersport lap record holder Harrison Voight (Yamaha) delivered a controlled ride to the win in Supersport race three, the race staring in wet conditions with track drying as the bout progressed. Voight led each lap to take a 3.589s win ahead of Olly Simpson, the South Australian rebounding to secure important points following his fall in the wet race two yesterday. After a slow start, reigning champion John Lytras produced a spirited charge to reach P3, edging race-two winner and title rival from last season Ty Lynch who finished fifth, with Hayden Nelson also finding his way past the number 85 in the closing stages to split the pair. Jack Passfield crossed the line P6, with Suzuki-mounted Declan Carberry, Mitch Simpson (Yamaha), Tom Bramich (Yamaha) and Glenn Nelson (Yamaha) completing the top 10. Notably, Jake Farnsworth (Yamaha) crashed on the opening lap at the Hayshed while running P2 behind Voight. In terms of the overall, consistency prevailed for Lynch who took the overall win on 54 points, ahead of Voight (51) and Passfield (47).

Superbike race three:
Another blistering first lap from Waters saw him quickly break the tow of those behind, delivering a clinical performance to lead Halliday by over four seconds at the conclusion of the bout. The number 65 was able to break away from Herfoss after the pair battled in the opening laps and then catch teammate Jones, making a decisive pass on his teammate with five laps to go. Jones then rode on to achieve a relatively quiet third as Honda-mounted Herfoss dropped into the clutches of Allerton, then Staring who caught the pair with roughly three laps to go. Ultimately it was Allerton who secured P4, ahead of Herfoss and the MotoGo Yamaha rider. The fast-starting Sissis finished seventh, ahead of Epis, Collins and Stauffer who completed the top 10. Looking at the overall, it was a perfect weekend for Waters, leading Jones and Herfoss tied on 53 points