Waters Takes Race 1 Victory at Morgan Park

McMartin Ducati star claims dominant win as Jones suffers tech DNF

Josh Waters claimed the Race 1 win at Morgan Park Raceway in commanding fashion, leading from start to finish. The McMartin Racing Ducati rider took full advantage of a strong launch off the front row and never looked back, extending his 2025 championship lead with a flawless performance.

Waters got the holeshot into Turn 1, holding off early challenges from Anthony West and Mike Jones as the field streamed into the tight and technical layout. Mike Jones was running at the front early, but disaster struck just a few laps in when his Yamaha came to a sudden stop due to a mechanical issue. Jones was visibly frustrated, pulling off near the pits, and Yamaha Racing Team staff were left scratching their heads, unable to immediately diagnose the problem.

With last year’s pole-sitter out of contention, Waters set about building a steady gap, lapping consistently in the 1:12s as the battle behind him intensified. West, who’s been a regular fixture on the podium this season, held onto second for several laps but began to fade slightly as Pearson and teenager Cameron Dunker turned up the pressure.

Pearson, riding for DesmoSport Ducati, was aggressive and brave as he launched moves around the middle of the race to pass West for second place. He mounted a solid charge in the second half, even pulling away briefly from the battle for the final podium places, before Dunker also passed West with a bold lunge down the inside at Yamaha Corner to grab third.

The final laps delivered tight racing and near-constant position changes. Pearson, Dunker and West were nose-to-tail, separated by tenths of a second as they fought for the podium behind an untouchable Waters. West briefly dropped to fourth but wasn’t done yet, summoning his experience and pace to claw his way back onto the podium.

Heading into the final lap, Waters had a lead of over three seconds and was in complete control, maintaining his pace as those behind him closed their battle. Pearson defended vigorously, using every inch of the track aboard his Ducati to hold off a charging Dunker who was visibly pushing the limits. The pair swapped lines into Morgan Park’s braking zones, but Pearson stayed strong.

West managed to find a final burst of speed, making an ambitious pass just before the final sector to reclaim third. He crossed the line behind Waters and Pearson, securing yet another podium in what has been an incredibly consistent season for the experienced Queenslander.

At the flag, Waters took the win by 2.7 seconds as he eased off across the line at a track that’s typically been one of his weaker venues. Pearson held firm in second, while West’s late move meant Dunker just missed out on his maiden ASBK podium in fourth. Nonetheless, it was a strong ride that shows the teenager is now a real threat in dry conditions.

Further back, Favelle had a solid ride to finish in fifth, followed by Max Stauffer in sixth. Allerton came home seventh ahead of Halliday, Lytras and Yanko.

It was a heartbreaking blow for Jones, and Yamaha Racing will be under pressure to solve the issue before the second race.

2025 ASBK MORGAN PARK RACE 1