2025

QR takes centre stage as ASBK and Supercars reunite

By MA Media 0

The collective eyes of the nation’s two- and four-wheeled motorsport fans will be on Queensland Raceway from August 8-10 when the ASBK and Supercars Championships compete on the same stage for the first time since 2023.

The flagship circuit racing categories will show their wares on the unassuming but supremely entertaining and spectator-friendly layout, in what will mark the second visit to Queensland Raceway for the SW-Motech Superbike and Supersport Next Gen competitors in the 2025 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul.

The ‘two-plus-four’ concept has a long and distinguished history in Australia, all the way back to the 1980s when riders like Rob Phillis, Michael Dowson, Kevin Magee and Malcolm Campbell were the local Superbike star power – and touring car icons like Dick Johnson and the late Peter Brock became ardent fans.

Four decades on, there’s a new guard of riders and drivers in the Superbike and Supercars paddocks, but the mutual admiration remains steadfast – and even extends into family ties with reigning Superbike champion Josh Waters a cousin of Ford driver Cam Waters.

There will be live coverage of the two-plus-four round on Fox Sports (Ch:506) and Kayo from Friday to Sunday, and a dedicated ASBK post-race highlights show will go to air on SBS on Sunday, August 31 from 1-3pm.

Broc Pearson (#11) and Mike Jones (#46) in promotional mode at Queensland Raceway

Round five of the ASBK Championship is set to be a blockbuster, with the injection of not only new and returning names but also additional hardware to make for some explosive racing.

Waters (McMartin Racing Ducati) remains the reference point in the SW-Motech Superbike class, and he’ll be one of 21 riders competing in the three 15-lap races at Queensland Raceway: one on Saturday and two on Sunday. The field will also be bolstered by four Supersport Next Gen entries.

At the halfway mark in the ASBK Championship, Waters leads the Superbike class by 53pts (215 to 162) over Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team) after seven wins and a full complement of podiums in nine races.

In the first two rounds at Phillip Island and Sydney Motorsport Park, Waters left everyone trailing in his rear vision mirror, but the last two rounds at Queensland Raceway and Morgan Park Raceway have been tighter affairs – but Waters, ever the consummate professional, won races at both for the first time.

Meanwhile, the Queensland swing hasn’t been as profitable for Jones, who in recent years has nailed a chunk of victories in his home state to build his championship credentials.

That’s why this weekend will take on extra importance for the ultra-smooth three-time Superbike champion, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he responds in emphatic fashion on the YZF-R1M.

Josh Waters has won seven of nine SW-Motech Superbike races in 2025

Anthony West (Addicted to Track Yamaha) has been another powerful figure in 2025, with six podiums and a clear third place (158pts) in the standings ahead of Broc Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati, 129pts), Glenn Allerton (Superbike Advocates Racing Ducati, 126pts), Max Stauffer (Yamaha Racing Team, 120pts), Cameron Dunker (MotoGO Yamaha, 119pts) and Jonathan Nahlous (Omega Racing Team Yamaha, 113pts). In a logjammed mid-pack, 11th placed John Lytras (Yamaha) is also in the mix on 103pts, so the pecking order could change dramatically at Queensland Raceway.

Allerton is the only other race winner in 2025 outside Waters and Jones – his victory in round three breaking a nine-year drought – while Pearson pushed race winners Waters and Jones to the limit in round four at Morgan Park to charge up the leaderboard.

Meanwhile, Stauffer will fly straight to Australia after finishing 13th in last Sunday’s Suzuka 8 Hours world endurance race in Japan – just a week after having a broken collarbone plated – and the versatile Dunker has used the ASBK break to win a race in the opening round of the Aussie Flat Track Nationals!

As well as the regular SW-Motech Superbike stars, Harrison Voight (McMartin Racing Ducati) will make his first appearance in the ASBK Championship in nearly 12 months – when he defeated teammate Waters at Phillip Island – as he heads home between his European Moto2 and World Supersport commitments.

Former Australian Supersport 300 champion and current Supersport rider Marcus Hamod will also make his Superbike debut at Queensland Raceway in a welcome return to the grid for Honda, while former Superbike gun and runaway Superbike Masters leader Beau Beaton is back in the premier category for a cameo on a Stop and Seal Yamaha.

Arthur Sissis (Stop and Seal Yamaha) also returns for Superbike action after missing the last round, while the Next Gen class has received a massive shot in the arm with Archie McDonald, Jack Mahaffy and Tom Toparis joining early category adopter Luca Durning.

Durning (DesmoSport Ducati) has been campaigning the new Panigale V2 since ASBK round three, and he’ll now be joined by Toparis (Stop and Seal) on the same machine, while Supersport arch-rivals McDonald and Mahaffy will be on Stop and Seal Yamaha YZF-R6s.

For the Queensland Raceway entry list, click here.

For details on the Queensland Raceway television coverage, click here.