Jones set to fight off ASBK competition at home

If anyone has had a target on their back this season it has been young DesmoSport Ducati pilot Mike Jones, and at Round 5 of the 2016 Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli at Morgan Park Raceway this weekend, August 5-7 it’s going to be no different for this Queensland local.

Jones entered this season as the 2015 Australian Superbike Champion, and with a strong desire to back that up. However, with a new bike and the new support from the factory DesmoSport Ducati team it simmered down to a big question mark for the young rider at the beginning of the year.

Round 4 at Barbagallo Raceway saw Jones take his first win for the season and settle himself in to pole position for the round, and defending his home track this weekend the competition will have all eyes on Jones, and he shares just how important it is to take the win.

“It would be extremely important for me to get a win at Morgan Park, it obviously being my home round of the ASBK Championship this year and having my family and friends around supporting me over the weekend,” he said.

Although a home track veteran of Morgan Park Raceway, Mike Jones has had a lot to adjust to since winning at Morgan Park last year on his Kawasaki machine, jumping on to a new Ducati 1299 Panigale S.

“It has been a big learning curve riding on the DesmoSport Ducati in comparison to last year. We have made a lot of progress and I am feeling quite comfortable on the bike now so that gives me a lot of confidence for next weekend.

“I think even though I am on new machinery I still have the home track advantage over the other guys. As a kid I have grown up racing this circuit and although I have done minimal Superbike laps I still know the track quite well.

“Switching to the Ducati this year hasn’t been a hindrance, if anything for this track it is an advantage because of Ducati’s strengths and the way the engine works it should suit the twisty and narrow track well,” he finished.

With no secret recipe to winning a race Jones shared that all it’s going to come down to this weekend is sheer determination to be out in front.

“This weekend is really just going to come down to pure determination I think. The guys I am riding against are equally as good and their equipment is equally as good as ours, so it’s just going to come down to who is more determined to win the race!” he shared.

“I think that I am certainly determined to win being a home track race,” he said.

This young gun isn’t resting there though, this weekend will also mark the start of the two round FIM Oceania Championship where Jones will represent Team Australian with Jon Daniels Racing’s Daniel Falzon to battle against the Kiwi representatives, in a bid to win the title for a second year in a row.

“To be able to represent my country at my home track is quite an achievement and I suppose to be representative for the FIM Oceania Championship, and it couldn’t be better for me to have the first round at my home circuit,” he said.

With already one Australian Superbike Championship under his belt we asked what is next for this up and coming Australian talent.

“The ultimate goal this year was to be able to back up an Australian Championship win again this season, although it’s looking a bit difficult due to a shocking round two of the ASBK.

“If I am racing here again in 2017 I’ll be looking to win another Australian Superbike Championship but if that is not the case and I was to race in Europe, then obviously I would have to re consider my goals.

“But always the overall goal is to be racing in the World Championship at some point in my career,” Jones concluded.

With Jones close to home his attention will be focused on warding off the competition as he takes them on at his home track, Morgan Park Raceway this weekend, August 5-7 for the fifth and penultimate round of the 2016 Yamaha Motor Finance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul Pirelli.

For more information of the 2016 ASBK head to www.asbk.com.au, like the ASBK Facebook page or follow @ASBK on Instagram.

Image – Andrew Gosling/tbgsport