Waters brothers take top five finishes in ASBK Supersport finale

Talented Mildura-based brothers Brodie and Nick Waters have taken impressive top five finishes in the final round of the 2010 Australian Supersport Championship to round out the season at Symmons Plains in Tasmania on 12-14 November.

Regular Supersport contender Brodie was joined by younger brother Nick for the season finale, the Waters Racing/Sunstate Racing Suzuki teammates finishing fourth and fifth respectively on their GSX-R600s in the event contested alongside the V8 Supercars Championship Series.

Brodie qualified an uncharacteristic fifth before racing to 3-6 results in the pair of 14-lap races across the weekend, Saturday’s opening race run in the dry before treacherous rain set in for Sunday’s second outing.

“Qualifying wasn’t so good and I only managed fifth on the grid, which wasn’t ideal to start from inside the second row at Symmons Plains, and then in race one I worked my way through the pack and finished third, so I was quite happy with that result,” 18-year-old Brodie explained.

“In race two it was wet and I struggled, almost had a few crashes and only ended up sixth. It wasn’t the best way to finish off the year, but overall the season was a strong one to finish third overall in the series and second privateer.”

Brodie sealed third in the championship for the 2010 season in a series won by factory Suzuki rider Troy Herfoss, also clinching second in the Privateer Cup. Now, his focus is solely on returning to win the title in 2011.

“It’s been a good year with Suzuki and I was able to be a lot more consistent while learning a lot as well,” Brodie continued. “I’ll come back next year and use that experience gained to try and win the championship.”

The weekend marked 17-year-old Nick’s official Supersport debut in the ASBK after finishing fourth in the Superstock 600 title earlier this year, and he showed skill beyond his experience with a determined fifth overall. Nick qualified seventh before taking sixth in the dry opener for the weekend, and then finished an impressive fourth in the wet on Sunday.

“I had a lot of fun in my first Supersport race and was really happy to finish in the top five for my first ASBK race on the bike,” he said. “It was a good result for Suzuki and hopefully next year I can race Supersport full time.

“Racing against the top guys in Supersport was completely different to what I’m used to in Superstock, you can really race close and I learnt a lot out there. Hopefully I can race against Brodie again next year and maybe even beat him again!”

In the Superbike ranks, eldest Waters brother and 2009 Australian Superbike Champion Josh Waters made his ASBK return to racing from injury for Team Suzuki to finish third overall for the round.

Symmons Plains Supersport Overall Results

1. Troy HERFOSS
2. Christan CASELLA
3. Aaron GOBERT 
4. Brodie WATERS (Waters Racing/Sunstate Racing Suzuki)
5. Nicholas WATERS (Waters Racing/Sunstate Racing Suzuki)

Final 2010 Australian Supersport Championship Standings
 

1. Troy HERFOSS 275
2. Christan CASELLA 233
3. Brodie WATERS 212 (Waters Racing/Sunstate Racing Suzuki)
4. Aaron GOBERT 164
5. Chris QUINN 152
18. Nicholas WATERS 31 (Waters Racing/Sunstate Racing Suzuki)