INTERNATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT GROUP:

Josh Waters from the Joe Rocket Suzuki team has taken out the last of the Woodstock Bourbon Australian Superbike Championship races today at Phillip Island in dramatic fashion after passing Oleon Motologic rider Wayne Maxwell after the last corner of the last lap.

Waters spoiled what was promising to be a perfect 27th birthday for Wayne Maxwell- a clean sweep of all of the races and especially the two all important points scoring races(races 2 and 4).

Before the race even began American Superbike racer Jake Holden looked to be out of contention with an electrical problem. The ESG team was able to get the American out on track after frantically working on the bike post sighting lap.

The race began at a frantic pace with Wayne Maxwell taking the lead from Josh Waters and CJC Racing’s Craig Coxhell.

On lap two the race was red flagged when both Chris Knox and Craig Coxhell suffered crashes; Knox running wide on the superfast turn 12 and while he was able to wrestle with his Ducati for some time, he eventually succumbed to the slippery grass. Coxhell meanwhile crashed while exiting Southern Loop- after a near high side, his CJC Racing Honda gripped and jagged to the left throwing the former Australian champion into a dirty, but mercifully soft culvert.

At the restart it was Maxwell from Waters followed by Oleon Motologic’s Glenn Allerton. A rejuvenated and ever-improving Jake Holden was all over the back of Allerton early on before the 2008 champion was able to not only gap the American, but pass Waters in the process.

On lap three, Waters retook second position giving Maxwell a slight advantage as he sought to gap the field. This one, two, three of Maxwell, Waters and Allerton would maintain their pace and positions right through until the dash from the final corner to the chequered flag when Josh Waters was able to get better drive and track position and blasted past Maxwell on the line, taking victory by 2/100ths of a second.

The overall round win went to Maxwell after his pole position and three wins.

Importantly , the victory to Maxwell and Waters has moved both of them closer to Woodstock Bourbon Championship leader Glenn Allerton with Waters just 2 points behind and Maxwell a further 7 points adrift.

This weekend’s results have tightened up what was already an extremely close series and ensures the final round 26-28th November at Phillip Island will be an all or nothing weekend for the three leading riders.

Click here for detailed results