Image: Foremost Media.

Topping the first practice session at Hidden Valley marked a ‘fantastic start’ for Josh Waters says former Mi-Bike Australian Superbike champion Wayne Maxwell, as it was the first time he has ridden the 2023 Ducati V4 R.

Waters spent a recent stint in Japan testing for the Suzuka 8 Hours race later this year, notably riding a Suzuki Superbike for the S-Pulse Dream Racing team.

The current ASBK Championship leader was able to make a swift transition back with the McMartin Racing Ducati team at Hidden Valley, topping the opening practice session with a 1m05.368s in what marked his first outing on the 2023 bike.

“Fantastic start, Josh has obviously been in Japan and riding a different brand of bike, so for him to be able to come back here and adapt to a brand new bike, the 2023 Panigale V4 R is really good,” Maxwell said. “To be fast in the first session and half a second faster than last year’s first session, in comparison, a really, really good start.”

Retiring from competition full-time at the conclusion last year, Maxwell has remained involved with the McMartin Racing Ducati outfit and elaborated on the input he gives to Waters across the race weekends.

“It’s a matter of just reiterating what he already knows, telling him what he is already thinking is the right thing,” Maxwell added. “It’s all it is there for, he knows what to do, he knows the process and when we can reassure him, we know a real strong Josh Waters is what we need.”