Australian Superbike Champion Josh Waters has decided to withdraw from this weekend’s AMA Pro National Guard Superbike event at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca due to lingering concussion-related symptoms. Waters was drafted into service to fill in for Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Blake Young, who broke a vertebra in a crash during a test at Barber Motorsports Park in June. The 23-year-old Australian was expected to race last weekend at Mid-Ohio and this weekend at Laguna Seca, but he crashed during a test with Rockstar Makita Suzuki July 7 at Willow Springs International Raceway and suffered a collapsed lung and a severe concussion. After spending five days in the hospital and receiving orders not to fly, Waters was quickly ruled out of the race in Ohio, but he and his team remained hopeful that he would be able to ride at Laguna Seca. After completing just a handful of uncomfortable laps during Friday’s only AMA Superbike practice session, however, Waters and the team decided it would be best for him to sit out the event. “I don’t feel like I did at the Barber test or any of the Australian Championship rounds,” Waters told Roadracingworld.com on Friday. “Physically, everything, I feel normal. Mentally, this conversation is perfect, but I feel like I need a coffee or a Rockstar or something like that, like I need to be woken up more. But it doesn’t matter if I have one because it doesn’t wake me up. I’m really appreciative of Suzuki for giving me this chance and I hope they have a good season.” Waters’ next Australian Superbike Championship race (round five of seven) is August 20-22 at Queensland Raceway. He currently sits third in the point standings, just 9.5 points behind current leader Bryan Staring.