Video: Mike Jones Reflects On His ASBK Triumph
Yamaha Racing Team’s Mike Jones is still riding the waves of emotion after winning the 2022 Australian Superbike Championship, his third ASBK Championship, after the final round of the season was completed last weekend. Check out the video Yamaha Australia have put together following his triumph!
In a season that saw the Queensland based racer won four rounds and podiumed at another two, from the seven rounds contested. Jones was simply the best rider in the ASBK paddock in 2022 and thoroughly deserved anther championship trophy on his mantle piece.
Jones started the year with a solid third place finish at the opening round at Phillip Island, but it was a three round victory run at rounds two, three and four at Queensland Raceway, Wakefield Park and Darwin that really established his championship credentials. The Morgan Park round saw Wayne Maxwell wrestle back some momentum as he won both races at Jones home track to claw some valuable points back. Jones lost those two races by a combined total of .6 of a second, but the 10-point gain from Maxwell kept the championship alive.
The championship returned to Phillip Island and loomed as a real danger round for Jones despite carrying a 29-point lead with five races to run. Phillip Island saw the ASBK contenders contest three races over the weekend and the combination of typical PI weather and the success of Maxell at this venue meant Jones had to stand his ground or see his lead shrink even further.
But stand firm he did, as Maxwell faulted. That 29-point lead increased to a 38-point lead and with just two races to go, Jones had one hand on the trophy and required nothing more than a sensible ride in the opening race at the final round at The Bend, to secure the championship.
That’s exactly what he did and as expected, when he crossed the finish line, he was the 2022 ASBK Superbike Champion. But it was the final race of the championship that really showed the growth and dominance of Jones. With nothing more to ride for other then pride and the shackles of championship pressure released, Jones unleashed the thundering Yamaha R1M and went on to win one of the most exciting races of the season.
“It’s been a massive week after the final round with a heap of media commitments and people offering me their congratulations,” Jones offers. “The support from the industry, my friends and family has been overwhelming and I’m thankful to everyone who has reached out. It truly means a lot. I’m proud to be able to bring this one home for myself and for the Yamaha Racing Team. It’s been a few years for them but that doesn’t mean they haven’t always worked hard. Kevin, Dyllan, Joel and everyone on Cru’s side of the garage contribute to a championship like this and I hope they all feel proud of the success we have been able to achieve this year.”
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