Potential the key for ASBK Supersport rookie Waters at Phillip Island opener 

Rookie talent Nick Waters showed off his Australian Supersport Championship potential as a rookie in last weekend’s season opening round at Phillip Island in Victoria on 24-27 February.

Waters slotted his Waters Racing/Sunstate Racing Suzuki-supported GSX-R600 into fifth position on the grid for the weekend’s pair of 12-lap Supersport affairs, immediately proving he’ll be on the pace in season 2011.

Disaster struck during race one when an electrical gremlin forced the 17-year-old out of the running while he latched onto the back of the lead group, but he was able to rebound to a safe seventh come Sunday’s second leg.

“I was able to stay with the front group in the first race after I wound them back in because I had a slow start,” the Mildura resident explained. “When I got close enough to challenge them my bike cut out through the Hayshed and that was the end of my race. It was disappointing, for sure.”

The damp second race of the weekend on Sunday morning in front of a healthy crowd of spectators saw Waters again give chase to the front runners before eventually settling for seventh and the vital championship points that go with it.

“I got off to a good start and I was in fourth, but then I saw Aaron [Gobert] getting away and started pushing harder,” he continued. “I didn’t have the best settings for the wet and I destroyed my rear tyre. With five laps left I just had to conserve my tyre and ride for points.”

This weekend will see round two of the series contested at Symmons Plains in Tasmania, and Waters is confident he has what it takes to contend for podium placings.

“I’m really looking forward to Tassie and I won’t be backing down for anybody,” Waters added. “Hopefully I can get on the podium on Sunday – maybe even the top step!”

Heading into Tasmania, Waters currently sits 14th in the series, set to capitalise on experience gained as the 2011 series progresses over the coming months.

Waters Racing's Nick Waters is proudly supported by Sunstate Racing, Arai Helmets, John Judd Industries, Xsind Graphics, GTS Transport and Agip, plus brothers Josh and Brodie Waters in 2011.

2011 Australian Supersport Championship
Round One – Phillip Island, VIC
 

 Round and Championship Results (after 1 of 5 rounds):

1. Aaron Gobert (Gobert Motorsports Yamaha) 42 points

2. Kevin Curtain (Yamaha Racing Team) 40

3. Brodie Waters (Team Suzuki) 39

4. Mitchell Carr (Carr Brothers Motorsport Triumph) 35

5. Blake Leigh-Smith (Leigh-Smith Racing Suzuki) 32
14. Nick Waters (Waters Racing/Sunstate Racing Suzuki) 14