Sydney Motorsport Park saw the Mi-Bike Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) fire back into action for round two of the 2025 series. We’ve gathered the direct takes from riders for this Reaction feature from the second round of the season.

Superbike

Image: Foremost Media.

Josh Waters (McMartin Racing Ducati) – First overall:
That was a really, really good day. I can’t wait to watch those starts on replay when I get home. I’ve even had some world speedway mates messaging me about the starts and what they can learn from me! Once again, a huge thanks to my team for providing such a great motorcycle, as well as all the sponsors which help to make it happen.

Broc Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati) – Eighth overall:
I was confident heading into the weekend that we had all the tools to put in a good result here in Sydney. Although we didn’t show the pace I anticipated, we were working through the bike setup in each session to end up qualifying on the front row on Friday night. I had a chance to try the new ECU in the wet, which gave me some more confidence after warm-up but the reality was our dry setting was a bike that was more difficult to ride than what I had at Phillip Island, and so it was difficult to maintain the track position I had off the start in both races. The team and I are working hard, and I’m looking forward to getting to Queensland Raceway next month where we can put some more laps in.

Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team) – Second overall:
All up it was a pretty good weekend for me to finish with pole and two second place results. I would like to win every race but felt I raced well and did the best I could, so I leave here in good shape and looking forward to the next few rounds which are in Queensland. It was good the weather held off and we got two dry races as well. That’s the first time that has happened at this round, but the team were on their toes all weekend and ready for anything so thanks to them for a huge effort over the weekend.

Max Stauffer (Yamaha Racing Team) – 10th overall:
There is a pretty tight pack from third through to 12th and all it takes is to be a bit off to slide down those positions. I’m not where I want to be or expect to be, but I will keep working hard and we have some test days coming which I’m looking forward to and think will allow me to move forward in that pack. I’m fifth in the points, so it’s not too bad of a start, but I think there is plenty of room for improvement and with more work, I’m sure I can be a lot closer to the front.

Tom Edwards (Motoschool Racing Team Yamaha) – 11th overall:
Sydney Motorsport Park was another positive weekend, we’re achieving our goals and improving every time we are on track. At Phillip Island our times over a single lap were quite good, but we knew at SMSP we had to target overall race pace, so it was good to be able to string together a solid sequence of laps. Behind the scenes the team worked tirelessly to prepare the bike for this round and to make it through without any technical problems over the course of a race weekend in dodgy weather is an achievement in itself. It was so good to have the support of my family and all the fans that made the trip, the fan zone was extra special. Big thanks to Haydan and the Motoschool team, I can see we are getting better with every session and I’m really looking forward to testing and then racing at Queensland Raceway in May.

Supersport

Image: Foremost Media.

Olly Simpson (BC Performance Kawasaki) – Fourth overall:
It was a good weekend of learning for us as a team, we gained a lot out of it as far as the bike goes and how I have to ride it. In race one, I think we played a pretty good strategy, but just missed out. It’s just one of those unlucky things where the wets just went off just towards the end there and the riders on slick tyres were able to come past us once the track dried more. In the second race, I just sort of struggled a little bit with maybe the wrong tyre choice, but there are still positives to take out of the round and we roll onto Queensland next.

Hayden Nelson (BC Performance Kawasaki) – Fifth overall:
This weekend was good. It’s our team’s home round and it was good to bank some points with 6-4 results, despite the mixed conditions. I feel like I rode well in that last one, just missed the podium, and we were able to take home good results as a team. I think we will be even stronger at Queensland Raceway next, we will be able to make steps forward and we are scoring good points at the moment, so it’s all looking good for the long haul in terms of the championship.