Josh Waters will leave McMartin Racing to join DesmoSport Ducati in 2027. Image: Russell Colvin
Waters will take over the DesmoSport Ducati Superbike for the championship-opening round at Phillip Island, beginning a new chapter in his ASBK career after four seasons with McMartin Racing.
The move came together unexpectedly, with DesmoSport originally preparing for South Australians Olly Simpson to contest his first full Superbike season with the team in 2027.
Simpson has been forced to undergo surgery to repair an off-season neck injury and will sit out the opening round of the new summer championship, which will be held alongside MotoGP at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit from October 23–25.
DesmoSport Ducati team owner Ben Henry said Simpson had shown strong potential during his first season on the Superbike, but the team ultimately agreed that there was no reason to rush his return from a neck injury.
“Olly had a great year last season and proved to us that he could be a contender on the Superbike,” Henry said.
“Olly has been recovering well, but you just don’t take chances on neck injuries, and we all agreed, although not ideal for our plans, that not rushing back to the Superbike is the best thing for him.”
With Simpson ruled out of the opening round, DesmoSport began exploring its options for a replacement rider.
After speaking with several potential candidates, an informal conversation with Waters quickly developed into a deal.
What started as an off-the-cuff discussion escalated into an agreement in little more than a week, giving DesmoSport a rider the team had not originally expected to have on its Superbike.
Australian Superbike Championship winner Josh Waters.
Henry said the opportunity to bring Waters into the team came as a surprise, but ultimately proved too good to pass up.
“I never dreamt of him riding my motorbike,” said Henry.
Waters will also take crew chief Adrian Monti with him to DesmoSport Ducati, after requesting that Monti make the move alongside him.
The pair have worked together through Waters’ fourth and fifth Australian Superbike Championship title campaigns, maintaining a rider-and-crew-chief partnership that has delivered significant success.
Their first test with DesmoSport Ducati is scheduled for Phillip Island on September 24–25, giving Waters and Monti their first opportunity to work with the new team and Ducati package ahead of the 2027 championship.
Waters said the opportunity to join DesmoSport Ducati, and particularly the chance to race the new-generation Ducati Panigale V4 R, was a major attraction.
“I’m really excited to be joining DesmoSport Ducati for the 2027 ASBK season,” said Waters.
“There’s a lot to be excited about, especially the opportunity to ride the all-new Panigale V4 R. I’m looking forward to working with the team and sponsors and giving it my best shot throughout the season.”
Olly Simpson has been forced to undergo surgery to repair an off-season neck injury. Image: Russell Colvin.
The move will see Waters enter his 16th season competing in the premier Superbike class, while 2027 will mark DesmoSport Ducati’s 12th season in the Australian Superbike Championship. Waters becomes the 12th different rider to compete as part of the team’s Superbike program.
Waters finished runner-up in the 2026 ASBK championship with 208 points, securing two pole positions at Sydney Motorsport Park and The Bend Motorsport Park.
He recorded six podium finishes from 11 races, including victories in race one at Sydney Motorsport Park and race two at The Bend.
The 2026 campaign added to an already impressive ASBK record for Waters, who has claimed five Australian Superbike Championships and 46 race victories from 191 Australian Superbike Championship race starts.
He has recorded 107 top-three finishes from those 191 starts and amassed 3,448 championship points.
Waters’ four-year partnership with McMartin Racing produced another substantial chapter in his career.
Since making his debut with the team at the penultimate round of the 2022 ASBK season at Phillip Island, Waters has made 65 race starts and 29 round starts with McMartin Racing, recording 18 overall round podiums, including 14 round victories.
His race record with the team includes 47 podium finishes and 25 wins.
His arrival at DesmoSport Ducati will also bring a familiar number back to the team.
For the first time since 2018, the DesmoSport Ducati will carry the #21 — but this time it won’t be Troy Bayliss.
The three-time WorldSBK Champion famously raced the DesmoSport Ducati with the number in 2018, and eight years later the iconic #21 will return with another Australian Superbike Champion at the controls.