The 2025 Mi-Bike Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) commences this weekend for round one at the iconic Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, with a range of contenders setting their sights on title success. From established veterans to a young wave of fresh talent, the series features a mixture of riders intent on making their mark this year. Three Things takes a closer look at the contenders for 2025.

Image: Foremost Media.

The champions

First in the pecking order are the champions – riders who have achieved title-winning success in the premier class previously and know what it takes to get it done. Spearheading the charge is defending champion Josh Waters (McMartin Racing Ducati), who, despite entering the opening round still recovering from a broken collarbone sustained at the same venue in early January, will be chasing a record fifth ASBK crown in 2025. Next in line is three-time ASBK champion and 2024 runner-up Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team), with the Queenslander putting up a solid fight to Waters last year, narrowly missing out on the championship by season’s end. Finally, another former three-time ASBK champion, Glenn Allerton has concluded a seven-season tenure onboard BMW machinery, switching to the newly-established Superbike Advocates Racing team for the new season. Equipped with a Ducati Panigale V4 R this time around, the ever-competitive 44-year-old veteran will enter this year’s opening round reinvigorated by the change.

Image: Foremost Media.

The experienced

Slotting into the next tier are the experienced riders with the talent, speed, and smarts to disrupt the established order and mount a serious title bid. Broc Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati) showed flashes of brilliance in 2024 en route to a third-place finish in the overall standings, including victory at round six of the championship at Goulburn’s One Raceway. New South Welshman Max Stauffer makes a high-profile switch from the Penrite Racing SBK team to join Jones at Yamaha Racing Team for 2025, looking to better his fourth-place result in last year’s final standings within his new surroundings. Speaking of YRT, long-time team rider Cru Halliday will embark on a new journey this year, moving to the independently-run Stop and Seal Racing team still on the familiar YZF-R1M, with the move a breath of fresh air in his lengthy national Superbike career. Fellow contenders Anthony West (Addicted to Track Yamaha) and Arthur Sissis (Stop and Seal Racing Yamaha) round out this category, with both former grand prix regulars featuring potential in abundance this year following P5 and P6 scores in last year’s series, respectively.

Image: Russell Colvin.

The youth

As one of the more exciting categories of this group, the youth features a range of riders – most of which are previous Supersport champions – looking to make their mark in the premier class of ASBK competition. Cameron Dunker enters his sophomore season in the class with the MotoGo Yamaha Racing team after finishing an impressive seventh overall in last year’s championship, displaying front-running potential on multiple occasions with the Penrite-backed effort that isn’t continuing in its previous form for this year. Privateer standout John Lytras joins Dunker as a second-year racer in 2025, with the capable Queenslander also inside last year’s top 10 in ninth overall. As for 2024 Supersport champion, Johnathan Nahlous (Yamaha) steps up to the Superbike this year within his own program after initially being listed with MotoGo, and the rookie is expected to make waves upon his entry and will be one to watch. Rounding out the youth division – primarily by the fact that they are also premier class newcomers in ASBK, rather than strictly in relation to their age – are Tom Toparis (Stop and Seal Racing Yamaha) and Tom Edwards (Motoschool Yamaha), who have each had success both domestically and abroad. Both will contest their career-first ASBK campaigns in 2025 and are welcome additions to the full-time grid.