Josh Waters returned to victory lane for Team Suzuki in ASBK race one at Symmons Plains. Image: TBG Sport/Andrew Gosling.

Team Suzuki’s Josh Waters has made a triumphant return to the Australian Superbike Championship in race one this afternoon, taking victory by a wheel length to commence Sunday’s Superbike action.

Waters won by just 0.048sec from pole-sitter Wayne Maxwell following a five-way fight for the victory.

Team Honda Racing teammates Maxwell and Jamie Stauffer lead the early running before practice pace-setter Glenn Allerton worked his way to the front on the Procon Maxima BMW Racing S 1000 RR.

It was Waters who was on the charge though, surging his way to the front with a new Superbike race record of 53.475sec on lap seven, eventually taking the lead on lap 17 of the 20 and staying there to edge out Maxwell.

Meanwhile, Allerton recovered from a mid-race slump with brake fade to return to the 53s over the final laps, working his way past Stauffer and Team Suzuki rookie Troy Herfoss in the closing laps to secure third.

Herfoss – like his teammate Waters – was another to rebound from a slow start, lapping as high as third on the penultimate lap before being passed by Allerton. He finished fourth, narrowly ahead of Stauffer.

The top five were separated by just 1.469sec at the race’s duration.

Race two of the Superbikes is set to take place this afternoon at 3:40pm.

2011 Viking Group Australian Superbike Championship
Round Two – Symmons Plains, TAS

Superbike Race One Results: