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Kawasaki Celebrates Championship Success at Queensland Raceway Finale
Kawasaki riders wrapped up a successful 2026 Australian Superbike Championship campaign at Queensland Raceway, highlighted by Tom Edwards securing the inaugural Supersport Next Gen Australian Championship aboard the Kawasaki ZX-6R.
Kawasaki BCperformance Racing Team rider Edwards entered the final round with the championship lead and immediately made his intentions clear, securing pole position for the season finale. Edwards delivered a strong second-place finish in Race 1 after an incredible race-long battle with teammate Hayden Nelson, with the Kawasaki duo crossing the line separated by just 0.06 seconds after 14 laps of racing.
Knowing a safe finish in the final race would secure the championship, Edwards produced a smart and calculated ride in Race 2 to finish fifth and officially be crowned the 2026 Supersport Next Gen Australian Champion.
Nelson completed an impressive season aboard the Kawasaki ZX-6R, qualifying fourth at Queensland Raceway, just 0.3 seconds from Edwards’ pole position time, before securing back-to-back third-place finishes across both races. Nelson finished the season second overall, only six points behind his teammate, completing a Kawasaki 1-2 in the final Supersport Next Gen Australian Championship standings.
In the Supersport 300 category, Kawasaki riders continued to show their strength, with Riley Nauta entering the final round in championship contention. The Champions Ride Day Race Team rider qualified second before claiming victory in Race 1 by just 0.066 seconds in a thrilling finish.
Unfortunately, a Race 2 incident ended Nauta’s championship charge, with the Kawasaki rider unable to score valuable points after being taken out of the race. Nauta responded in impressive fashion, bouncing back to claim victory in the final race of the season. Despite narrowly missing out on the title, Nauta finished second overall in the Australian Supersport 300 Championship, an outstanding achievement in just his second season in the category.
Teammate Orlando Peovitis also showed strong pace throughout his rookie Supersport 300 campaign. After qualifying fourth at Queensland Raceway, Peovitis fought back through the field in Race 1 following an opening lap incident to finish 15th. While his final races didn’t reflect his potential, Peovitis ended his debut season fifth overall in the championship, cementing himself as one of the rising talents of the class.
With a Supersport Next Gen Championship victory, a Kawasaki 1-2 in the final standings, and multiple young riders fighting at the front of Supersport 300, the 2026 ASBK season highlighted the continued strength and success of Kawasaki machinery across Australia’s national racing categories.