Jones eyeing off dominant Waters at his ASBK happy hunting ground

It is federal election time as round three of the 2025 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK) heads to Queensland Raceway from May 2-4, with candidates chasing glory in five separate classes.

In the premier SW-Motech Superbike battle, defending champion Josh Waters (McMartin Racing Ducati) finds himself in a similar situation to the past couple of seasons as he leads the standings with a near perfect scoreline – 126pts out of a possible 127 – after two of eight rounds.

Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team) is second, 27pts in arrears, but is returning to the unassuming but unique 3.126km circuit where his recent history has been nothing short of sensational: six podiums for four wins and two second places.

If he can continue the same electric, uncompromising form in Sunday’s two 16-lap races, Jones will put a major dent in Waters’ lead – and then take extra comfort knowing the Superbike riders will return for another outing at Queensland Raceway in August alongside the Supercars Championship.

Conversely, Waters will be desperate to extinguish an incongruity for someone with such a rich ASBK CV: he’s never won a Superbike race at the circuit.

Just two of the many Superbike storylines this weekend, across a 13-race program that will also include the Kawasaki Supersport, Race and Road Supersport 300, ShopYamaha R3 Cup and BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup classes.

Queensland Raceway is a delight for spectators, with elevated mounds offering an unrestricted view of the entire six-turn circuit so you don’t miss a minute of the action – including the fierce braking duels.

ASBK’s resident stunt rider, Tjay Stuntz, will also deliver his high-octane shows across the weekend, while fans can also immerse themselves in the usual array of off-track activities including the ASBK Trade Alley, dedicated autograph sessions and ASBK Pitlane Walk.

Related:
ASBK Queensland Raceway event program
ASBK round three tickets, entry lists, event schedule and more

SW-Motech Superbike
Producing a hot lap around Queensland Raceway can often be a deceptively tricky proposition, and if riders are tentative – especially under brakes – they can quickly be swallowed up by the pack. That’s what the 21 SW-Motech Superbike riders will face this weekend.

Although Waters (Vic) has been the reference point in 2025, he knows he will have to be at his best to keep the winning streak alive against an all-star cast led by Jones (Qld).

Jones delivered an imperious ‘full monty’ in 2024 – pole position, two race wins and a new lap record – which puts him firmly in favouritism mode for 2025.

Tireless veteran Anthony West (Addicted to Track Yamaha, Qld) is third in this year’s standings, so don’t be at all surprised if he jumps on the top step of the podium at Queensland Raceway – a circuit where he logs plenty of laps during the year.

West’s teammate Jack Favelle (NSW) put in a breakout performance at Sydney Motorsport Park, so he could again be a threat if he can reproduce the same hustle, while well-established Superbike contenders such as Glenn Allerton (Superbike Advocates Ducati, NSW), Cru Halliday (Stop and Seal Yamaha, NSW) and Broc Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati, Qld) will be hard at it alongside the new generation of supremos such as Max Stauffer (Yamaha Racing Team, NSW), Cameron Dunker (MotoGo Yamaha, NSW) and Jonathan Nahlous (2Step Racing Yamaha, NSW).

There are some strong claims in that group, too: Stauffer finished on the podium at the equivalent round in 2024, Allerton is the only other Queensland Raceway Superbike winner in the field, while Nahlous and the resurgent Halliday were both in combative round two form.

Meanwhile, Arthus Sissis (Stop and Seal Yamaha, SA) is looking to find some form after an unusually lacklustre start to the year, while new to the field will be the Supersport Next Gen Ducati Panigale V2 of Luca Durning (NZ) riding under the DesmoSport umbrella.

Supersport Next Gen is being introduced as a ‘’class within a class’ at Queensland Raceway, which will continue for the balance of the current ASBK season.

Kawasaki Supersport
The Kawasaki Supersport class has been a Stop and Seal Yamaha benefit in 2025 with teammates Jack Mahaffy (Vic) and Archie McDonald (NSW) sharing the five victories, but the latter will be an absentee at Queensland Raceway as he competes in the 2025 European Superstock opener.

McDonald’s absence will provide Mahaffy with an opportunity to consolidate his position at the top of the standings – he’s currently a 1pt leader – while the class will again feature a touch of Spanish flair thanks to Jesus Torres Cabrera (Yamaha, ESP).

The likeable teenager has already proven that he learns tracks extremely quickly – he was third in race two at Sydney Motorsport Park – which bodes well for another strong outing.

There will be plenty of others also aiming to topple Mahaffy, including Tom Bramich (Yamaha, Vic) after some recent struggles, BCperformance Kawasaki teammates Olly Simpson (SA) and Hayden Nelson (NSW), Glenn Nelson (Stop and Seal Yamaha, Qld) and the returning Corey Turner (Yamaha, Qld) who has also been competing in the Australian Sidecar Championship.

The class is also bursting with rookie talent such as Will Nassif (2Step Racing Yamaha, NSW), Levi Russo (Yamaha, NSW), Josh Newman (Addicted to Track Yamaha, NSW), Marcus Hamod (Honda, NSW) and Cameron Swain (Yamaha, Qld), who is back in ASBK mode after pulling out of the Supersport 300 World Championship.

Race and Road Supersport 300 and ShopYamaha R3 Cup
The Race and Road Supersport 300 and the ShopYamaha R3 Cup classes have more potential winners than the Melbourne Cup over their six races – three apiece.

Scott Nicholson (Kawasaki, Vic) leads the Supersport 300 points standings after winning the previous round, with Tara Morrison (Kawasaki, SA) and Hudson Thompson (Yamaha, NSW) the next in line. Thompson will be keen to emulate his older brother Carter, who won his maiden Red Bull Rookies Cup race in Spain last weekend.

Champions Ride Days Kawasaki rider Jake Paige (Qld) – a two-time winner at the recent Australian Junior Dirt Track Championship – will also be determined to impress a home crowd, while Valentino Knezovic (Yamaha, NSW) and Jordy Simpson (Yamaha, SA) also have winning form in 2025.

The R3 Cup leader is Mitch Simpson (SA), ahead of his sibling Jordy and Seth Dellow (SA).

BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup
In the BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup, for the youngest of our aspiring circuit racing champions, Sunshine Coaster Chaz Williams will be aiming to continue his charge at the top. In Sydney, he won two races before the third was abandoned due to time constraints.

The likes of Connor Lewis (NSW), Hunter Charlett (Vic), Rossi McAdam (WA), Sydney polesitter Ghage Plowman (SA), Xavier Curmi (NSW), Liam Fookes (NT), Phoenix O’Brien (Vic), Charlie Nichols (NSW) and a very rapid young lady Stevie Middlebrook (WA) will also be aiming to circulate at the front.