American publication Roadracing World is reporting that reigning Australian Superbike Champion Josh Waters has crashed during a shakedown test with the Rockstar Makita Suzuki AMA Superbike team at Willow Springs International Raceway in California.

It’s reported that Waters was airlifted from the circuit as a precaution after suffering a concussion and a soft tissue neck injury, combative as medical staff were putting him into the helicopter. It’s a normal procedure to transport riders with closed head injuries via helicopter at the desert-based Willow Springs venue.

Waters was testing in preparation for the upcoming Mid-Ohio round of the AMA Superbike Championship on 16-18 July as a replacement for injured Suzuki regular Blake Young, also scheduled to contest the Laguna Seca round alongside the MotoGP World Championship on 23-25 July.

Willow Springs is a non-championship circuit based in Southern California, Waters’ crash coming on the ultra fast run between Turns Eight and Nine during the morning of the test after he had an off-track excursion according to sources.

Stay tuned for an update on Waters, the 23-year-old also currently defending his ASBK title, which is set to continue at Queensland Raceway on 20-22 August.

Click here to see the report from Roadracing World