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Mike Jones, the Australian Superbike Champion from Brisbane, will be another local face on the starting grid as the 2016 WorldSBK season gets underway in Phillip Island. Troy Bayliss, who recently took over management of the DesmoSport team, called the young Aussie up to spearhead his team’s national campaign, and to ride in the first WorldSBK round of the year.

Although relatively unknown outside his native Australia, Jones is a talented rider with good credentials including taking the crown in the Australian Superbike Championship in 2015 onboard a Kawasaki. However, signing with Bayliss has meant a change of scenery that sees him riding a Ducati 1199 Panigale R both in his WorldSBK appearance and in the Australian Championship.

“It was Incredible when we got the call from Troy. It wasn't a prank call, either!” said the young rider from Brisbane. "At first I was a bit nervous because I was worried I wouldn’t be able to adapt to the new bike. But it's all good, and Troy's quite happy with where we're at and how we have adapted to the bike." 

Bayliss' new signing will also be on track in the official preseason test on Monday and Tuesday at Phillip Island, sharing the track for the first time with those who will go on to compete against him in the first races of the season the following weekend. "I’m looking forward to the test. Troy will be in our pit from Monday so while I know and love Phillip Island, it will be great to get all the tips I can from the master."

Jones’ busy weekend will really get into gear on Saturday the 27th of February, both against old rivals and new as the next era of WorldSBK begins.