Team Suzuki ECSTAR Australia and Josh Waters won the 2017 Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) in convincing fashion during the weekend’s seventh and final round of the season at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in Victoria.

After qualifying third on Saturday with a scorching 1m32.740s lap-time, Waters piloted the brand new GSX-R1000R to victory in race one and took charge of the points lead in the process. His winning margin of 3.759s enabled him to stretch a 13-point margin at the top of the points table with just one race remaining on Sunday afternoon and in front of a live television audience.

That advantage saw Waters start race two in ‘championship mode’ of sorts, understanding what it would take to seal the crown in glorious afternoon sunshine at the world-famous 4.445km circuit. He led lap one but soon settled into a rhythm as the 12-lap duration ticked down, eventually crossing the stripe in fifth position to cement the number one plate.

It was a special victory for Waters in what was his first full season of ASBK since winning with Team Suzuki in 2012. His first-career championship was won way back in 2009 as a rookie and once again equipped with GSX-R machinery.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling to win another ASBK title in my first year with Team Suzuki ECSTAR Australia and also with the new GSX-R1000R,” Waters said. “At one stage we were nearly 60 points down, so to turn that around and even be in the position to challenge for the championship at the last round was an achievement for everyone. It’s just unbelievable - I still can’t believe it!