Australian Superbike Champion last year after having already won this title in 2009 and 2012, Joshua Waters was invited by Suzuki to do a few laps on the Grand Prix bike, alongside Michael Dunlop and Toni Elias.
Waters has participated several times in the Suzuka 8 Hours on the Yoshimura official. Last year, he finished ninth in the 2017 edition as part of the MotoMap Supply team, with Yoshihiro Konno and Nobuatsu Aoki on a 2016 model.
He was pleased to discover the GSX-RR at Sepang: “I did two half-hour runs. As the laps went by, I got used to the track. The only time I raced here was in 2002 and a lot has happened since then.
“It’s been an incredible experience and very different from what I thought it would be.
“It wasn't easy to ride but it was like riding a normal bike, they did a good job. The way the torque is delivered is very smooth. I was a little worried because I was the first to ride it and I thought I might stall.
“The team made us feel welcome and that they wanted us here. They were all great and it made the experience so much better. »
Adjustments to the bike or not at all?
“It would have been a waste of time to do something like that. It was more me on the track and stuff like that. It was special for sure.
Sylvain Guintoli mentioned during the briefing the incredible power from fourth gear, how did you find it?
" Mad ! The engine keeps pulling and pulling! Incredible acceleration. In Australia our bikes are standard so the electronics are good but these are the ones you buy from the dealer. We change them a little, but here in MotoGP they are the best in the world, so you can trust them a lot more. But I didn't want to fall or anything! Maybe that was why they put me first, they thought I would be the safest!
“It was just an incredible experience that I will never forget. »
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Source: Peter McLaren for crash.net
