Waters gives Ducati a boost
Friday, 14 October 2022
The Boost Mobile Ducati rider snatched the victory.
Josh Waters has taken first blood on the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit in the opening National Superbikes support race of the Animoca Brands Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix 2022.
In his first ride on the Boost Mobile Ducati, usually raced by Wayne Maxwell, Waters snatched the lead from Yamaha’s Cru Halliday right at the chequered flag to take the victory by 0.009s. Earlier, Halliday had come from behind to pass Waters, who started in pole position, only to have the red V4 streak past in the final metres of the race.
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Mike Jones made it a 2-3 result for the Yamaha Racing Team after dropping back as far as sixth on the opening lap. Bryan Staring (Ducati) and Troy Herfoss (Honda) filled out the top five placings.
The Superbikes will be back in action on Saturday with two races, at 4:05 pm and 5:45 pm.
Earlier in the afternoon, British GasGas star Jake Dixon stole the headlines after the two Moto2 sessions by topping the times by a wide 0.3s margin from the two Boscoscuro bikes, Fermin Aldeguer leading fellow Spaniard Alonso Lopez. American Joe Roberts and Brit Sam Lowes rounded out the top five.
Augusto Fernandez led the title contenders in seventh, but Ai Ogura finished the day in 17th overall, putting him into the first Qualifying session on Saturday unless he can improve in the third Practice session and make it into the top 14.
Moto2 Practice resumes with the third session at 10:55 am, followed by Qualifying at 3:10 pm.
The opening seven-lap race for the Oceania Junior Cup was a typically fraught affair, with Ryan Larkin sneaking past two riders in the final metres to take the win from Levi Russell by 0.008s, with Cameron Rende 0.004s further back in third.
The lead pack of up to nine riders was broken up on Lap 5 when Sam Drane, Alexander Codey and polesitter Marcus Hamod crashed out Turn 2, without any injuries.
The OJCs will take to the track for two races on Saturday, at 11:45 am and 4:45 pm.
