Supersport and Supersport 300 riders put on a show at Phillip Island

Round six of the 2025 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK) at Phillip Island on September 7 was a wonderfully unpredictable spectacle after a band of late morning rain turned race strategies on their head.

Conditions eventually eased – in Phillip Island’s very unique way – for the final wave of races across all classes, but not before championship aspirations were solidified for some and relegated to a knife-edge for others.

We’ve already reviewed the race-winning deeds of Josh Waters and Anthony West in SW-Motech Superbike, so let’s now delve into what transpired in the Kawasaki Supersport and Race and Road Supersport 300 classes.

Round six of the Australian Superbike Championship is supported by the Victorian Government via its Significant Sporting Events Program.

Kawasaki Supersport and Supersport Next Gen 
It was a massive power shift in Kawasaki Supersport from Saturday to Sunday.

After Archie McDonald’s sensational record-breaking performance in qualifying on the Stop and Seal Yamaha – and bike geometry woes for teammate and championship leader Jack Mahaffy – the prevailing view was “how far” for the Albury dasher in Sunday’s two 10-lap races.

But Mother Nature doesn’t always follow the script, with the first spots of rain appearing at the start of race one with riders on slicks.

Front row starter Jake Farnsworth (Yamaha) immediately sensed his opportunity, bolting from the start in an all-the-way triumph. It was his first victory in the category, and he was understandably elated: “I knew I had to get to the front and build into the race. It’s been so much hard work to get here, so this one’s special.”

Olly Simpson (BCperformance Kawasaki) was second ahead of Mahaffy and McDonald, who adopted a more cautious approach at the start before finding some late speed.

Tom Bramich (Yamaha) and Hayden Nelson (BCperformance Kawasaki) were fifth and sixth, while Tom Toparis (Stop and Seal Ducati) was the first Supersport Next Gen rider ahead of Luca Durning (DesmoSport Ducati) – a feat he would replicate in race two.

The second outing saw riders on wet tyres on a drying track, making tyre management critical.

Toparis and Simpson immediately settled into a nice rhythm, and were 1-2 across the finish line ahead of Nelson, Farnsworth, McDonald, Mahaffy and Mitch Simpson (Yamaha).

Simpson (199pts) is now second in the standings, moving past McDonald (195pts), while Mahaffy (220pts) still leads. Nelson (165pts), Bramich (155pts) and Farnsworth (147pts) fill positions 4-6.

Race and Road Supersport 300
Three very different scenarios for the Race and Road Supersport 300 field, with race one held on a wet track, race two in drying conditions and race three on dry asphalt.

Through it all, championship leader Scott Nicholson (Kawasaki) showed the most composure with a 2-1-3 scorecard to claim the overall from Tyler King (Kawasaki, 1-15-2), Jordy Simpson (Yamaha, 4-9-5), Tara Morrison (Kawasaki, 3-DNF-1) and Phoenix O’Brien (Yamaha, 5-2-14).

Meanwhile, surprise polesitter Ghage Plowman (Yamaha) elected to sit out the races, instead focussing on his BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup commitments.

Attrition was its highest in race one, with 17 riders going down – including Morrison and three others on the sighting lap. The first attempt at the race was red-flagged after Riley Nauta (Kawasaki) crashed at turn six and required medical assistance. He was okay, and returned for the balance of the program.

With an imposing lead of 67pts over Morrison (292 to 225), it’s now Nicholson’s championship to lose. Simpson (208pts), Jake Paige (Kawasaki, 190pts), King (190pts) and Hudson Thompson (Yamaha, 186pts) are next, with Simpson making the biggest inroads at Phillip Island – up from fifth to third.

Round six of the ASBK Championship will be held at One Raceway in Goulburn from October 3-5. To purchase tickets, click here.

Images: RbMotoLens