Phillip Island’s sixth round of the 2025 Mi-Bike Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) served up a weekend of wild weather and unpredictable racing, and in the end it was Josh Waters – now six from six overall this year – and Olly Simpson who took the Superbike and Supersport victories. CycleOnline caught up with both riders post-race for this Debrief feature.

Superbike

Image: Foremost Media.

The overall winner here at Phillip Island is Josh Waters once again. Congratulations, Josh. It wasn’t as easy for you today, though? That was a pretty crazy day.

It was! Phillip Island – the weather was turned on. Warm-up was good for me, it was dry and I was able to go quite good in those conditions. It was misting rain sometimes, but then in race one the heavens opened. I was really happy because I was able to close back to Broc [Pearson] – he was riding amazing – and the gap we had over the rest of the field shows that he was the one that got away. I was just fortunate enough to get a good run and make a move. Then in race two, the track was still wet, but we were on slicks. It was so dodgy. Obviously, I had a lot to lose, but I was happy to get second and take the overall.

Race one, that final corner – did you just give it everything you had, full tuck to get across the line? Did you think you were going to get there?

I re-watched the video and going onto the last lap I was 1.3 seconds behind, so I was pretty bloody happy with that! Just the rolling speed I was able to carry through turn 12 really helped me.

And that dogfight in race two as well – from where you were, you must’ve had a good view of a lot of that?

Yeah, it was great for the championship. On TV I’m sure it looked really good, because in the premier categories like motocross and so on, the races are often stretched out with not much of a battle. So it was great for the championship to have a race like that. And a new winner in Westy [Ant West] – I was pretty happy because I still got the overall.

It’s very possible you could wrap this thing up at Goulburn. Is that how you see it playing out?

I didn’t even think of it like that. I just thought it was really cool to get another overall.

Looking at the points, yeah, it could be championship time come Goulburn. But for you, you’ve got your mental game, you know what you need to do. You treat it no different, right?

Yeah, 100 percent. After Queensland Raceway, everyone was like, ‘We’re going to Josh’s track.’ It changes every time, so I’ll go there and try to go good in Goulburn.

Cru Halliday jumped on the Ducati this weekend. For you it’s a very similar bike – what are your thoughts on that?

Yeah, Cru has been awesome and going really good. I know how fast he is around here and he’s only going to be stronger in the next two rounds. He’ll go really well.

Is that something where you guys can almost work together?

Yeah, it is. Because we’re a little bit older, it’s like in qualifying – in Q1 he was like, ‘Dude, can I follow you?’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, no problems.’ Then in Q2 he was like, ‘Do you wanna follow me when you put a tyre in?’ But there were a couple of other people who wanted to follow us, so I just took off and did my own laps. But it’s really good having someone like that – we’re a little bit old school in our styles and riding, so we can achieve a bit.

It must feel good for you, too – a bike you’ve developed so much, and Cru jumps on it and is right there with you?

Yeah, it’s cool. It’s also cool because he’s not an idiot – he’s a good dude. He appreciates it, and when he follows me he’s like, ‘I think you could be better here, you’re so good there, but I caught you here.’ A lot of people would hold that information back. Almost like MotoGP, where all the riders get Marc Marquez’s data and the best man wins, they’re not holding secrets.

A few weeks until Goulburn – could be championship weekend for you. Congratulations again on another overall.

Thanks heaps.

Supersport

Image: Foremost Media.

Congratulations on the win here at Phillip Island, Olly. What a way to turn it around – yesterday didn’t go so well for you. I was talking to your team manager Kelvin and he mentioned it was some rough times yesterday afternoon. To turn that around for your team, take me through the weekend.

Yeah, it was a bit of a rollercoaster of a weekend – probably one of the craziest I’ve had so far in the 600 class. I guess Phillip Island does that with the weather, it makes for different days and different situations. But Saturday, I just couldn’t get anything going with the bike. I struggled with setup and just couldn’t put a lap time together. Seeing the rain forecast for Sunday, we sort of missed it in the first race but got a little sprinkle, which helped us get to the front. I was able to put in some good laps and managed a second place, which was solid. Then in race two we kind of missed the rain again, but the drying track with wet patches made for pretty entertaining racing. To come away with a big-gap win in the Supersport category was unreal. It’s the best weekend I’ve had so far this year. The weather may have helped us, but we still have a lot of work to do with the bike and setup. Still, it’s a big bag of points.

You looked comfortable in those conditions. Is that just a confidence thing for you?

For sure, I’ve always loved the wet weather – even drying tracks with a little sprinkle. It’s a big confidence thing. I love the bike sliding around, and coming from motocross that’s never really been an issue for me. I’ve always been confident in those conditions.

Race two was a 1-2 with your teammate. That’s pretty special – not many people get to be a part of something like that. You’ve got the bragging rights when you go back to the truck, right?

Exactly! They always say the first person you’ve got to beat is your teammate. I was super happy for Kelvin too, because that was his first ever 1-2 with the team. He was probably the happiest he’s ever been. It was great for him and great for the whole team because he’s been going for so long. It gives everyone a bit of a motivation boost, and hopefully we can keep it rolling for the next few rounds.

Like you said, a big bag of points – and that’s important for you in the championship, really closing that gap. A couple more races to go, anything could happen, right?

Exactly. One Raceway is always a bit crazy weather-wise, and when we go to the next round it could be the same. Then there’s Tailem Bend, which is my home track. I’ve done plenty of laps around there and I’m normally really fast there, so it’s a good way to finish the series. I’m definitely confident heading into the last few rounds.

Congratulations on an interesting weekend here at Phillip Island – well done.

Yeah, thanks for that.