- Sponsorship
Craig McMartin’s Superbike Legacy
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As cultured enthusiasts of motorsports, we at KW Civil & Construction savor the artistry of two-wheeled competition — the roar of engines, the precision of a perfectly tuned machine, the courage of riders pushing the limits. This year, we’re proud to announce we’ve partnered with Craig McMartin Racing to sponsor his Australian Superbike team for the 2025 season. Our logo will gleam on their Ducatis as they chase glory, and we’ll be cheering every lap.
We chose to support McMartin racing due to a long and personal history between KW Civil & Construction’s owner, Jeff Burke, and Craig McMartin. As a solo tarmac competitor in local championships, club racing, and national championships many years back, Jeff got to know Craig on the racetrack and off, and maintains a love of the sport. So, while he’s not revving it up at racetracks, Jeff is able to maintain his support for racing vicariously by sponsoring McMartin’s Ducati team—from which we’re already seeing great things.
Recently, we chatted with Craig McMartin himself — a man whose life has been shaped by racing — for a deep dive into his journey, his team’s stellar start to the season, and the state of superbike racing Down under. Spoiler: It’s kicked off with a bang, as rider Josh Waters swept all three races at Philip Island in round one of 2025. But more on that triumph later.
For the Love of Riding
Craig’s love for racing began on the dusty dirt tracks of West Wyalong. Decades later, he’s steering a championship-winning superbike team to victory. At the time, his cousin was road racing — Craig watched him on Suzuki RGV 250’s. By 1997, he was hooked, and began road racing. This blossomed into a full-blown racing career. Craig enjoyed immense success as a rider for Ducati, claiming eight championships in Superbike racing.
Fatherhood shifted Craig’s gears, as it does for many. With Abby (now 14) and Haydan (12) in the picture, he took one last season to race and called it a career. But while his active racing career was in the rear view mirror, he never lost his love of the sport. “I still wanted to be involved,” he explained. “I still enjoyed the sport, but I just didn’t enjoy riding anymore.”
So he pivoted, tinkering around with a friend running a team, helping out and having fun. Craig’s team participated part-time in the 2016 and 2017 seasons on select tracks their riders enjoyed. A pivotal moment came in 2018 during a six-plus month trip around Australia during a meeting with Jamie Stauffer, a revered name in Aussie superbikes — a connection that would prove invaluable.
In 2019 fellow champion racer Wayne Maxwell reached out to ride McMartin’s Ducati Panigale V4, gave it a ride, and gave the bike a thumbs up. This meeting led to the creation of what’s now the team. “Once Wayne had a ride and thought the bike was good, it all got serious and we went from there,” McMartin noted.
As the team has grown, racing remains a family affair. Craig’s wife Lisa is supportive — “She comes to as many race meetings as she can,” he says. Craig’s family and champion rider Josh Water’s family come to back the team at meetings, like at Philips Island in round one. Editor note: It’s a sure morale boost when your family backs your endeavors.
The challenges of a Championship-Calibre team
Nobody said building a championship team was easy. “Finding good people you can trust to work on your motorbike at the race meeting” tops Craig’s list of priorities. He preps bikes at home, then relies on a tight-knit crew of 3-4 paid members at races — veterans like a Honda factory alum and Ducati pros with 14 years of experience. Jamie Stauffer helped introduce some talent to the team. “I’m really lucky,” Craig says of his team.
Talent-spotting is an art in itself. New riders always come through trying to ride Craig’s bikes. When Wayne Maxwell hung up his helmet in 2022, rider Josh Waters stepped up. After a rocky stint with BMW, Josh joined Craig’s team for a MotoGP support race at Philip Island when a sponsor really wanted the team to ride. “Josh won all three races and set a lap record,” Craig beams — a clutch moment proving his eye for riders who thrive under pressure.
The challenges go beyond teammates and riders. “Getting sponsorships really has been the hardest thing,” Craig notes. In a sport where funding can make or break a season, securing backers is a constant battle — one that can test resourcefulness and resolve.
Inside the team: Balancing Racing and Business
Beyond the team, Craig runs a bike-building business in Sydney. “The racing side always comes first for me,” he insists. Customers know the drill: When race weekends loom, their bikes take a backseat. They’re okay with it, knowing they’re part of something bigger.
Innately high morale has been a blessing to the team. When asked how he keeps his team motivated after rough results, Craig heaped praise on his fellows. “The guys really want to win, so it’s all about the common goal,” he says. “If we don’t win it’s alright, but if you do win you need to keep improving.” That shared hunger keeps heads held high and eyes clear in any conditions.
One of the pinnacles of success the team has had was Wayne’s championship at Tailem Bend in 2022. “He didn’t need to win both races that weekend to win the championship, but he won both anyway,” Craig recounts. Another highlight was the 2024 season opener, with Harrison Voight and Josh nabbing 1st and 2nd in two of three races — a testament to the team’s growing prowess and commitment to building on wins.
The state of Superbike Racing in Australia
So, what’s the current state of the sport? Craig is bullish. It’s a transitional era, he says, with veterans like Wayne retiring. There was some concern about the lack of new blood for a while, but the sport has rounded a corner. “Now there’s a lot of younger guys coming through,” he notes, suggesting that the combination of experience and fresh talent promises interesting races in the future. “The Championship is in a good position to have good racing and be competitive because there’s a mix of young and old.”
What about innovation? “The biggest thing at the moment is the electronic side. Engines are standard and you can’t modify them in any way, so there’s not a lot you can do to that. So, traction control, engine brake — that’s what we can do to make the bikes better.” It makes sense — the strict rules in the sport mean there’s a limited amount of tweaks a team can make to its bikes.
The sport is slated to grow over the next several years in a healthy way, Craig suggests. Younger riders are coming up from the 300 and 600 superclass ranks. As for his team, he’d like to keep it going for as long as he can and grow it step by step in tandem with the sport’s development.
Behind the Scenes
No race happens in a vacuum — there’s a lot that fans don’t see. We asked Craig what he thought fans needed to know to understand the sport better. His response? “The time and effort that goes into everything away from the race track.” Between meetings, the work is relentless — tweaking bikes, testing setups, chasing fractions of a second. It’s the unseen grind that fuels race-day glory.
There’s no shortage of personal commitment, either. Take Josh — he’s a full-time worker with his own business who has a busy life and doesn’t ride full time. “Up early every morning, trains hard, trains a lot” notes Craig. Fitness is critical to racing success — another bit of dedication beyond the racetrack.
Craig hopes fans grasp “how involved and how in depth” it all is. It’s not just riders and machines. It’s families like his and Josh’s trackside, crew tweaking late into the night, sponsors betting on the dream. It’s a tapestry of sweat and strategy that turns a bike into a winner. .
FAQ
1. Why is KW Civil & Construction sponsoring McMartin Racing?
Because of our owner’s long-standing friendship with Craig McMartin and a shared passion for motorsport.
2. Who is Craig McMartin?
A former champion rider for Ducati and now the team principal of a top Australian Superbike team.
3. What bike does the team race on?
Ducati Panigale V4, prepped by Craig and raced by top talent like Josh Waters.
4. How did the 2025 season start for McMartin Racing?
With a bang — Josh Waters swept all three races at Phillip Island in Round 1.
5. What’s the biggest challenge for McMartin Racing?
Securing sponsorships and building a reliable, skilled crew for race weekends.
Keep it Moving
As superbike racing in Australia enters a new era — veterans fading, young guns roaring, tech evolving — Craig McMartin Racing is right at the heart of it. Craig’s approach is steady but relentless, and with Josh Waters’ 2025 Philip Island sweep, the momentum is palpable. KW Civil & Construction couldn’t be prouder to support McMartin Racing this season, our logo a badge of honor on those flying Ducatis. For us, this is more than sponsorship — it’s a front-row seat to a sport on the cusp, and a team poised to define it.
