Racing News |
Kawasaki Riders Shine in Wild Phillip Island ASBK Weekend
Phillip Island, VIC – September 7, 2025: Olly Simpson and Hayden Nelson have delivered a double podium for round 6!
Amidst unpredictable weather and fierce competition, Kawasaki BCperformance Racing Team riders made a strong impression during Round 6 of the 2025 Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) at Phillip Island, in the Kawasaki Supersport class.
Round six of the 2025 Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) marked a memorable outing for the BCperformance Kawasaki team, with Olly Simpson earning an emphatic Kawasaki Supersport victory via 2-1 race results, with teammate Hayden Nelson joining him on the podium in third position overall.
The team and riders were locked in onboard their Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6Rs from the beginning of the race weekend, posting competitive practice times before Nelson clocked the third-fastest time in qualifying and Simpson secured a grid placement of P6 in class.
The famed Southern Victorian venue produced variable weather conditions, with the Kawasaki Supersport category exposed to slight rain in each of their two 10-lap races on Sunday. For Simpson, consistent progress in each outing earned him his first overall win of the season and elevated him to second in the championship standings with two rounds remaining.
Kawasaki Supersport: Simpson and Nelson Deliver for Team Green
Olly Simpson (Kawasaki BCperformance, Ninja ZX-6R) was a standout performer across both Supersport races. In Race One, Simpson battled through sketchy conditions to secure a second-place finish, just 1.393 seconds behind Yamaha’s Jake Farnsworth. Ninja ZX-6R rider, Hayden Nelson also flew the Kawasaki flag high, finishing seventh after a gritty ride through the pack.
In Race Two, Simpson battled with Ducati’s Tom Toparis in a thrilling final-lap showdown. Despite Toparis clinching the win, Simpson’s second-place finish and fastest lap on lap eight (1m46.539) earned him the overall round victory in the Supersport class. Nelson again impressed, claiming third after a drag race to the line with Farnsworth.
The results saw Simpson climb to second in the championship standings, just 21 points behind leader Jack Mahaffy, while Nelson’s consistent form continues to build momentum for Kawasaki in the latter stages of the season.
Olly Simpson: “That was one of the crazier weekends of racing I have had, especially in the 600 class! Phillip Island will do that though – the weather was pretty wild across each of our races and in the second one we were on wets while the track was drying, which is always entertaining. I’ve always loved the wet weather, I have a lot of confidence in those conditions, but yeah, for us to go 1-2 in that second race gives a great motivation boost to everyone on the team. We’re excited to keep it rolling in the next couple of rounds, and really thrilled to have gotten the points we did today.”
Nelson largely shadowed his teammate throughout the weekend, taking home a 6-2 race scorecard which sealed third position on the overall podium, as well as consolidating his position of P4 in the Kawasaki Supersport standings.
Hayden Nelson: “I’m really happy with the weekend. I qualified well and was happy with the time I posted, and then the opening race was a little bit difficult and didn’t quite go the way we’d hoped. Race two, we bounced back and claimed a 1-2 for the team, which is amazing! I’ve really found comfort in both the dry and wet now – especially at this round – so heading into the last two rounds, I’m feeling very confident on the bike. To have two Kawasakis at the front is a great achievement and a testament to all the work the team has been putting in.”
Kelvin Reilly, BCperformance Kawasaki Team Manager: “Today was a pretty sizeable turnaround from yesterday, especially with Olly, who was experiencing some difficulties with set-up. But everyone on the team worked so hard to turn things around, and both our riders rode like lions today – with that, we achieved our first 1-2 as a team, which is incredible. I’m so happy, it’s the best feeling I have had for a long time, and that is exactly what the team needed. P2 and P4 in the championship, we’re pushing really hard as a team, and we’re serious contenders now, 100 percent.”
Looking Ahead
With just two rounds remaining, Kawasaki’s Supersport squad is well-positioned for a championship push. Olly Simpson’s form and Hayden Nelson’s consistency could prove decisive as the ASBK heads to One Raceway in October.
ROUND RESULT:
| POSITION | NAME |
| 1 | OLLY SIMPSON |
| 2 | JAKE FARNSWORTH |
| 3 | HAYDEN NELSON |
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS:
| POSITION | NAME | RACE # | TEAM | POINTS |
| 1 | JACK MAHAFFY | 37 | YAMAHA | 220 |
| 2 | OLLY SIMPSON | 5 | KAWASAKI | 199 |
| 3 | ARCHIE McDONALD | 69 | YAMAHA | 195 |
| 4 | HAYDEN NELSON | 279 | KAWASAKI | 165 |