2025

Jones masters tricky conditions to claim pole position in Sydney

By MA Media 0

Wily Yamaha star Mike Jones will start from pole position in round two of the 2025 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship in Sydney after shaking off his rivals in a tricky qualifying session on March 28.

With light drizzle falling under lights at Sydney Motorsport Park, Jones picked the perfect time to unlock a couple of flying laps on his Yamaha Racing Team YZF-R1 – which was all the momentum he required to lock in a 16th career pole position in the premier SW-Motech Superbike class and his third in the last four rounds.

Cru Halliday (Stop and Seal Yamaha) and Broc Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati) will join him on the front row in Saturday’s two 13-lap races, while in the Kawasaki Supersport class Archie McDonald (Stop and Seal Yamaha) is the polesitter.

On a huge day one of the ASBK Sydney Night Race, racing also got underway in a number of other classes, and on Saturday the tempo will go up a notch with all the on-track action commencing at 2:40pm and continuing until 10:15pm.

ASBK SYDNEY NIGHT RACE RESULTS

Round two of the Australian Superbike Championship is proudly supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

Saturday’s ASBK entertainment will also include the popular pit walk, which provides the perfect opportunity to grab autographs from riders and ASBK legends.

The ASBK Trade Alley will also be in full swing, as well as a host of other family-friendly activities that will delight fans young and old.

To purchase tickets to the ASBK Sydney Night Race, click here.

Related:

Top three in SW-Motech Superbike qualifying: (L to R) Halliday, Jones and Pearson

SW-Motech Superbike
Three-time SW-Motech Superbike champion Jones would not be denied in qualifying, as he put himself in prime position to make a dent in Josh Waters’ 17pt (76 to 59) championship lead.

“It’s never great when there’s water on the visor or screen, but it was just dry enough to ride something like normal,” said Jones. “Those situations are always tricky, and it’s just a matter of nailing the right strategy to get the top spot.

“It often comes down to a minute either way, but I’m certainly happy to be on pole.”

Jones’ best lap was 1m30.450s as he finished ahead of Halliday (1:30.559) and Pearson (1:30.759), while surprise packet Jack Favelle (Yamaha, 1:30.978), Cameron Dunker (MotoGO Yamaha, 1:31.170) and Max Stauffer (Yamaha Racing Team, 1:31.204) were next.

A number of riders were caught out in the SMSP lottery, including defending champion Waters (McMartin Racing Ducati) who will start from an uncharacteristic seventh – his worst qualifying position since 2021.

Jonathan Nahlous (Yamaha), Anthony West (Addicted to Track Yamaha) and John Lytras (Yamaha) completed the top 10 – but the form guide could be turned on its head if track conditions worsen on Saturday.

Halliday is back in top form at Sydney Motorsport Park

Kawasaki Supersport
A second consecutive pole position for Archie McDonald (Stop and Seal Yamaha) in the Kawasaki Supersport class, just ahead of teammate and main rival Jack Mahaffy. The duo produced sizzling Friday times that would have kept many Superbike riders on their toes.

It was then a massive gulf back to third-placed Jake Farnsworth in a Yamaha front row lockout.
Row two for tomorrow’s two 11-lap Supersport races – the second one under lights – will be filled by Glenn Nelson (Yamaha) and Bcperformance Kawasaki teammates Olly Simpson and Hayden Nelson.

McDonald holds a slender 6pt (71 to 65) lead over Mahaffy, followed by Simpson (51) and Jake Farnsworth (Yamaha, 46).

All 19 riders qualified for Saturday’s two 11-lap races.

McDonald is full of momentum in the Kawasaki Supersport class

Race and Road Supersport 300 and ShopYamaha R3 Cup
Valentino Knezovic (Yamaha) continued his purple patch of strong form and became the fourth separate Race and Road Supersport 300 winner in as many races this season.

On a sodden track Knezovic prevailed by a slender margin over Hudson Thompson, while siblings Jordy Simpson (Yamaha) and Mitch Simpson (Yamaha) also finished within one second of the winner.

It was then a 30-second gap back to fifth-placed Tyler King (Kawasaki), who in turn had Nixon Frost (Yamaha) on his bumper at the conclusion of the eight-lapper.

Thompson bumped himself up to second in the championship behind Jordy Simpson, while Scott Nicholson (Yamaha) dropped back to third after finishing seventh.

Meanwhile, Thompson topped ShopYamaha R3 Cup qualifying from Knezovic and Jordy Simpson ahead of two races on Saturday.

Race and Road Supersport 300 race one podium: (L to R): Thompson, Knezovic and Simpson

BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup
The BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup opener began just as the precipitation began to settle in, which would have undoubtedly increased anxiety levels – especially for the newest members of the junior circuit racing academy.

Amazingly, a rookie in the shape of Chaz Williams won the season-opener, ahead of polesitter Ghage Plowman (another rookie) and Hunter Charlett. Connor Lewis, Xavier Curmi and Charlie Nicholls were also in the leading group on the final lap before signing off in positions 4-6.

Rookie Chaz Williams won by a whisker in a tight BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup opener

Superbike Masters
Beau Beaton (Ducati 851) put the sword to the small Superbike Masters field at SSydney Motorsport Park on Friday night, the ex-Superbike gun winning by over one minute in the slick conditions.

Joshua Mathers (Yamaha FZR1000) and Phil Allen (Ducati 851) joined Beaton on the podium, while defending champion Ryan Taylor (Suzuki GSX-R1100) limped across the line in sixth after a day of mechanical woes.