Image: Marc Jones (Foremost Media).

Reigning Australian Superbike champion Josh Waters is seeking ‘home round’ success when the Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) resumes this weekend at The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia.

A product of Mildura, Team Suzuki Ecstar Australia’s Waters was fourth-fastest in the official ASBK shakedown at Tailem Bend and will be looking to clinch his first round win of the season come Sunday.

With tyre degradation on the all-new surface a critical focus of pre-race testing, Waters said that factor will be of major consideration across the weekend’s trio of 10-lap races around the 4.95-kilometre International Circuit configuration.

“The Bend is the closest race track to my house, officially making it my home track now, so let’s hope I can get a good result on the weekend,” three-time ASBK title-winner Waters commented this week. “I’m happy with how we went in testing.

“I really enjoyed the layout of the track and, while the surface is really abrasive, it’s the same track for everyone and just another factor that we have to consider in our race plans for the weekend. At just short of five kilometres, it’s a long lap with plenty of opportunities to pass, make mistakes and recover from them, so I can’t wait to get back on the bike and get into it.”

Waters is currently second in the ASBK championship standings following two of seven rounds with second position at Phillip Island and third at Wakefield Park, sitting 10 points in arrears of Penrite Honda Racing-mounted early leader Troy Herfoss. Last year Waters took round victories in Darwin and Sydney on his way to the title.