A brilliant performance by Mike Jones at One Raceway has incredibly kept alive the 2025 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK) until the final round in November.
The Queenslander was at his silky-smooth best on October 5 as he won both SW-Motech Superbike races – his 26th and 27th in the ASBK ranks – from pole position on his Yamaha Racing Team machine around the tight and twisty Goulburn circuit.
Meanwhile, Jones’ heroics also coincided with the lowest scoring round of the season for championship leader Josh Waters (McMartin Racing Ducati).
Waters posted a 5-5 scorecard, which allowed Jones to slash Waters’ lead to 50pts (338 to 288), down from 69pts at the start of the weekend.
A maximum of 51pts are available at The Bend from November 7-9, so it’s clearly still Waters’ championship to lose.
However, Jones is remaining upbeat.
“It’s been a really good feeling today, so special thanks to the Yamaha Racing Team for putting in such a big effort it to give me a great motorbike,” said Jones. “It was really special to get two wins for them.
“I’ll just keep the championship alive and roll onto the next one and see how we go.”
At One Raceway, Jones defeated the mightily impressive 17-year-old Cameron Dunker (MotoGO Yamaha Racing Team) in both races after soaking up relentless pressure, while Troy Herfoss (Yamaha Racing Team) and Anthony West (Addicted to Track Yamaha) shared the third places.
West remains third in the championship on 269pts, while Dunker (215pts) sling-shotted into fourth past Glenn Allerton (Superbike Advocates Racing Ducati, 213pts) and Broc Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati, 212pts).
race 1
race 2
- SW-MOTECH SUPERBIKE RACE ONE
Dunker’s form at One Raceway in 2024 was top-shelf, and this year he took it to the next level as he led race one until lap eight before Jones – fully aware passing opportunities were at a premium – slipped past the teen after he ran slightly wide at turn two.
Jones then put down the hammer for a few laps to weaken Dunker’s resolve, with the final winning margin just under 2.5 seconds.
Herfoss, whose return to his former home track began in measured fashion on Friday, flicked into combat mode when it really mattered, fending off the slow-starting West to finish third. Herfoss also set a new lap record of 58.776 to show he’s lost none of the spark that took him to three Superbike titles, the last in 2023.
Waters was fifth, circulating near the front throughout but just unable to find a way past his main rivals.
The top 10 was completed by Cru Halliday (Stop and Seal Ducati), Pearson, Jack Favelle (Addicted to Track Yamaha), Jonathan Nahlous (Omega Racing Team Honda) and Allerton.
Nahlous was riding a replacement machine after his first bike was badly damaged earlier in the weekend.
- SW-MOTECH SUPERBIKE RACE TWO
Riders were greeted with slightly tougher conditions in the afternoon, including a higher track temperature and a stiff breeze – but no-one told Dunker, who broke Herfoss’ hours-old lap record to set a new benchmark of 58.626.
That was on lap five as he tried to keep Jones in his orbit as both riders cleared away from the main pack in the shortened 10-lapper – the first attempt red-flagged after Favelle went down hard at turn four.
With the leaders firmly ensconced at the front, West slotted into third ahead of Herfoss, Waters and Halliday, and that’s how they remained for the balance of the race.
Nahlous was seventh from Pearson, Allerton and John Lytras (Caboolture Yamaha).