The Mildura-based siblings continued their rapid development in the Top End, where the Superbikes visited Darwin for the first time in 11 years ‰ÛÒ marking the first time that the Waters Racing brothers and teammates have visited the technical 2.9-kilometre circuit.
In just his second season of national Supersport racing, Brodie clinched his first ever race victory in race two on Sunday afternoon, claiming second overall for the round after finishing third in the opening race of the weekend.
Brodie was the revelation of the weekend on his Sunstate Racing-supported GSX-R600, upstaging factory Team Suzuki rider and current series points leader Troy Herfoss after an epic dual in race two by just 0.373sec after 14 nail-biting laps.
"Heading into the round I wanted to go well at Hidden Valley, but I wasn‰Ûªt sure what the track was going to be like, or how quick I could adapt to the new track up there," Brodie said.
"I knew that Troy [Herfoss] was going to be the man to beat. After practice and qualifying I thought that I could be in with a chance for the round win, but I made a mistake in the first race with my rear suspension settings. I made some changes for race two, the bike was heaps better and I was able to get my first race win.
"The Suzuki has been really good this year, I felt comfortable on it straight away, so getting my first race win is a big confidence booster heading into Queensland ‰ÛÒ I think I can go well there. Coming into this year I would have been happy with top three in the series, but now I‰Ûªm close in the championship I need to try to be consistent, but win races when I can for the rest of the season," Broadie concluded.
The result has boosted Waters to second overall in the championship and top privateer, sitting just eight points behind Herfoss and putting himself within striking distance of the 2010 championship.
Youngest Waters brother Nicholas also impressed at Hidden Valley in the Superstock 600 category, racing to fourth overall after 6-7-4 results in the trio of eight lap races contested throughout the weekend.
Nicholas rode his production-based GSX-R600 to a consistent weekend of finishes during the Darwin event, now sitting fourth overall in the championship standings after the second round, just eight points in arrears of round winner and new series leader Matthew Walters.
"I was happy with fourth at Hidden Valley, but I‰Ûªll be happier if I can win at Queensland at the third round! I can‰Ûªt complain though, it‰Ûªs my first full year of racing in Superstock 600 and I‰Ûªm learning heaps," Nicholas said.
"The track at Hidden Valley was pretty cool, something different for us and another new track to learn here in Australia. Hopefully I will be able to get it on the front row at Queensland and get on the podium in the races, but we‰Ûªll just see what happens when we get up there. The GSX-R600 is the best bike that I‰Ûªve ridden so far, it suits the Superstock 600 class and is really fast, so I‰Ûªm having a lot of fun right now.
Oldest brother and reigning Australian Superbike Champion Josh Waters capped off the weekend for the racing trio, winning the Superbike round in a clean-sweep, also excited at his younger brothers‰Ûª results over the weekend.
The series will now move on to Queensland Raceway, near Ipswich in Queensland, on 3-6 June.
Main Photo: Nicholas Waters #21 in action at Hidden Valley.
Image credit: Keith Muir
