Illustrated ASBK Superbike Qualifying round-up from The Bend

ASBK 2025

Round Eight – The Bend
SW-Motech Superbike

Problems with the timing system caused a lengthy delay to the FP4 session on Saturday morning at The Bend. The 30-minute session was scheduled to get underway at 0925, but riders didn’t exit the pit-lane until half an hour later. A strong wind was blowing down the main straight, which saw some riders nudging 310 km/h through the speed trap. Most riders completed around a dozen laps during the FP4 session, with Josh Waters finishing on top with a 1m50.817 just ahead of Cru Halliday, Mike Jones and Anthony West.  Despite the cool morning temperature, the times were only a few tenths off what they had managed on Friday afternoon.

Qualifying on Saturday afternoon held more interest than usual, as it presented a simple ultimatum/equation: if anyone other than Mike Jones took pole position, Josh Waters would be crowned 2025 Australian Superbike Champion here today. Waters held a 50-point lead heading into this weekend. Unless Mike reduced that to 49 by taking pole position today, Waters would be the champion, regardless of whether the McMartin Racing man fails to score a point on Sunday and Jones wins both races. If they finished on equal points, Waters would be the champion due to taking more wins during the season.

Mike Jones came out swinging in Q1. The YRT man dropped in a 1m50.166 on his first flying lap, then returned to the pits.

Josh Waters didn’t exit his box until halfway through the 20-minute Q1 session. Only the top 12 would progress to Q2; thus, there was no room for mechanical glitches or mistakes…  Josh looked safe on the back of his 1m51.170 first lap, and with six minutes remaining in the session, he was the only rider on track as the rest saved their tyres. He then also returned to the box, and the track remained largely quiet for the last few minutes of the session.  The only rider in the top ten to head back out late on was Cam Dunker, but the youngster failed to improve on his earlier 1m51.520.

The dozen that made it through to Q2, in order, were: Mike Jones, Jonathan Nahlous, Cru Halliday, Josh Waters, Broc Pearson, Anthony West, Cam Dunker, Troy Herfoss, Max Stauffer, Glenn Allerton, John Lytras and Ty Lynch.

When the pit exit opened for the 15-minute Q2 session, the first one out of the gate was Mike Jones, but in no time, all but Cam Dunker were out on track. While Jones was at the front, trailed by Broc Pearson and Anthony West, Josh Waters was at the back on his own…

First lap for Jones was a 1m50.865, which was quickly bested by Waters with a 1m50.664. But they were just getting started. A stiff wind was still blowing down the straight, Waters clocking 309 km/h through the speed trap on that first flying lap. Jonathan Nahlous also matched that speed on the Omega-backed Honda, as did Cru Halliday on the Stop & Seal Ducati that was built for them by McMartin Racing.

Riders then returned to the pits. Herfoss had returned before setting a time, and with only seven minutes to go, Dunker had yet to turn a wheel.

Mike Jones was the first back out, followed by team-mate Troy Herfoss. Soon, everyone was back out, and this time, Dunker was also on track.

Mike Jones then went top with a 1m50.248. Cru Halliday then went top with a 1m50.028 to demote Jones to P2. Young Jonathan Nahlous then dropped in a 1m50.292 to go P3, Broc Pearson was P4, and Josh Waters was P5 ahead of Cam Dunker. Two minutes to go… There were some fast sectors, but nobody improved…

Cru Halliday took pole, and Josh Waters was now the 2025 Australian Superbike Champion.

A strange note to be crowned on, but it had seemed almost inevitable early in the season: Waters makes history with five Australian Superbike Championships to his name. A record that is highly unlikely ever to be broken, that is, unless he does it again next year…

Congratulations, Josh Waters and McMartin Racing.  Waters’ 2025 championship is now added to his previous Superbike crowns in 2009, 2012, 2017, and 2024, cementing his status as the most successful rider in the 36-year history of the ASBK Championship.

Congratulations to Mike Jones and YRT for pushing the contest through to this final round.

And congratulations to young JJ Nahlous on his first Superbike front row!

SW-Motech Superbike Combined Qualifying Results

SW-Motech Superbike Championship Points

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2025 Australian Superbike Championship Calendar

Round	Location	Date
1	Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC	Feb 21-23
2	Sydney Motorsport Park, NSW	Mar 28-29
3	Queensland Raceway, QLD	May 2-4
4	Morgan Park Raceway, QLD	Jun 13-15
5	Queensland Raceway, QLD (Superbike Only)	Aug 8-10
6	Phillip Island GP Circuit, VIC	Sept 6-7
7	One Raceway, NSW	Oct 3-5
8	The Bend, SA	Nov 7-9

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