Reigning Australian Superbike Champion Josh Waters has set an impressive fourth quickest time in his first AMA Superbike test at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama this week, the two-day test wrapping up yesterday.

Waters made his debut with the Rockstar Makita Suzuki team and matched the fastest race lap of last year’s Superbike round at Barber, his 1:26.021 just over half a second in arrears of regular factory Suzuki rider Tommy Hayden’s 1:25.435 set at the test.

Day one saw Waters lap eighth fastest with a 1:27.519 before his big improvement on day two, working hard to adapt to the AMA bikes that are more highly modified than Australian Superbikes.

“This is my first time riding in the U.S,” Waters commented after day one. “It’s a little hard, I’m still jet lagged – I raced last weekend and only slept two hours last night.”

Waters is riding for the Yoshimura-run factory Suzuki team in the Barber test, with the possibility of contesting the AMA race at the circuit in September. The team is the former team of Australian Mat Mladin and current WSBK champion Ben Spies.

“The team is great, they’re really helpful,” Waters continued. “The bikes are quite similar. This bike has more modifications, better electronics. The tanks are different, and the handlebars, so I’m getting used to it. I’m working on making the bike more comfortable.”

Come day two, Waters had a better sleep and came out quick in the morning session, setting his best lap of the test.

“I slept good last night,” the 23-year-old Victorian explained. “I’m still learning the track but it sure feels a lot better – I’m not miles off the pace and the bike is obviously good.

“I’m still messing up a little in the rollercoaster, the museum turn. I’m losing quite a bit of time there. I just found out that my fast time was the same as the fastest lap of the race last year, but I’d love to do a ’5 [1:25 laptime] before I leave here. I still don’t think I’m taking full advantage of the tyre.”

Waters will now return to Australia to continue his ASBK title defence, however he’s hopeful that he’ll get another opportunity to return for the race weekend.

“I’m heading back Monday at midnight,” he said. “I wish I could have flown over earlier, but I raced last weekend and then had an 18 hour flight. We got into LAX at 7:00am, but didn’t get [to Alabama] until 10:30 at night. Hopefully I’ve done good enough to come back.”

While Hayden was quickest at the test, Waters was notably faster than second factory Suzuki AMA regular Blake Young, who was fifth quickest at 1:26.261. Young has won two races so far during the 2010 season.