Josh Waters returned to Team Suzuki in the ASBK at Symmons Plains today, setting the fifth fastest lap. Image: TBG Sport/Andrew Gosling.

Team Suzuki’s Josh Waters remains focused on the task at hand despite a steady return to the domestic Australian Superbike Championship at Symmons Plains today.

2009 ASBK champion Waters enters the round as a favourite for round honours following his standout performance as a wild card during last weekend’s World Superbike opener at Phillip Island, however he admits that it’s taking longer than expected to re-adapt to the Team Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Today also marked Waters’ debut on the latest version of Dunlop’s ASBK control tyre, completing much of his pre-season testing using 16.5-inch wheels and Pirelli’s WSBK-spec rubber.

Waters finished the opening two practice sessions in fifth position, his 54.164 marginally over half a second off the pace from Friday pace-setter Glenn Allerton.

“It didn’t really work out how I hoped it would today, but hopefully we can improve tomorrow,” the 24-year-old Mildura resident told MotoOnline.com.au tonight. “This is the first time I’ve ridden on the new Dunlops, but they feel fantastic already.

“We’ll make some changes tonight, put our heads down tomorrow and try as hard as I can. It really does show how tough the Australian championship is.”

Waters was surprisingly upstaged by teammate rookie and reigning Supersport champion Troy Herfoss in the pair’s first official day as partners in the premier class, but Waters says they are working together in a bid to pull back the BMW of Allerton, plus the factory Hondas of Wayne Maxwell and Jamie Stauffer.

“We’re working together to catch the three ahead, and we’ll keep working hard to do that. I’m sure that in the race it’ll be a good race and definitely exciting to watch. Hopefully we can make progress tomorrow and score a strong result on Sunday.”

It was also confirmed this week that Waters has been invited to contest the Miller round of World Superbike at the end of May, and he’s excited to gain more experience with the world’s best.

“I’m over the moon to be able to race again – it really is pretty cool,” Waters added. “I just need to focus on what I’m doing here at the moment in the Australian championship, but for sure it’s a great opportunity and I’m really thankful for Yoshimura and Suzuki.”