Image: Russell Colvin.

DesmoSport Ducati’s Mike Jones was happy to leave Winton’s fifth round of the 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) with a strengthened points lead, despite missing out on a season-first overall win due to half points being paid for a shortened race two.

The former champion’s 2-1 scorecard would typically be enough to secure top overall honours, however after two stoppages and worsening weather conditions, race two was declared just four laps in, with Jones credited as the winner.

His total points tally, including one point for pole position, saw him wind up on 33.5 points as opposed to eventual winner Wayne Maxwell (Team Suzuki Ecstar Australia), who scored 35 with full points paying for his race one triumph.

“I’m ecstatic with the weekend, to come away with the result we did is really strong for the championship,” Jones explained to CycleOnline.com.au. “Also, to take into consideration, the conditions have been really sketchy, and the condition of the track has been really difficult – we saw that with a lot of riders crashing once it got a bit damp.

“To come away with the result is very good and I’m very happy. I’m just excited now because we go to two tracks I’m very familiar with, and I feel like I’m very strong at those circuits.

“I go out there and do the best I can – I’ve said it before, I really want to win races and be the best guy on the day, but at the end of the day, the championship is the end goal – we’re doing a really good job and the team and I work really well together. The extend the championship lead, it’s ultimate.”

The number 46 leads Cru Halliday (Yamaha Racing Team) by 11.5 points heading into Phillip Island penultimate round on 4-6 October.

Image: Supplied.

Australian Jason O’Halloran has cemented his future in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship (BSB) by signing a contract extension with McAms Yamaha for the 2020 season.

O’Halloran displayed incredible form at the beginning of the year, however much of his 2019 campaign has been hindered by a shoulder injury, which currently sees him ranked 10th in the championship standings.

The number 22 will once again be joined by Tarran Mackenzie, with the duo set to pilot the all-new 2020 Yamaha YZF-R1 in the new season.

“I’m really happy to stay with the team again for next year,” said O’Halloran. “This season hasn’t panned out how I wanted it to given we’ve had two separate injuries, one at the start of the year and now the shoulder. It’s been frustrating as it’s the first year where I feel the potential of the bike and myself hasn’t been maximised.

“From a positive point of view that means there’s more to come, especially as I’m really enjoying riding the Yamaha and even though I’m struggling with my shoulder, the results are still encouraging. I’ve a lot of time for Steve and the team so I’m glad to be staying on and with a new R1 on the way hopefully there’s another step for us to take in 2020.

“The focus for me now is to get fit and healthy for 2020 and then we can learn from our mistakes, put them into practice and have a stronger year with the new bike.”

The next stop of the current BSB season is scheduled for 20-22 September at Assen in the Netherlands.

Image: Supplied.

The BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team has extended its contract with Tom Sykes that will see him through the 2020 season in the Motul FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK).

Sykes, who recorded 13-7-9 scorecard at Portimao’s 10th round on the weekend, has earned three podiums in his first season aboard the new BMW S 1000 RR, while next year’s he’s set to be joined by Eugene Laverty.

“I’m very excited and proud to be continuing into the 2020 season with the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team,” said Sykes. “After such a successful year so far with the all-new BMW S 1000 RR, which is still very early in its development gives me great motivation moving forward.

“I really enjoy the development part and we are certainly moving in a strong way. Of course, with the support from the whole of the team and the prestigious BMW brand my expectations for the 2020 season will certainly move higher and back to where I feel most natural.”

Team principal Shaun Muir added: “As expected we have taken the option in Tom’s contract and extended it for a further year, this is good for our continuity and for the development for the BMW S 1000 RR. We hope that we can we progress further up the grid and fight for regular podium finishes in 2020.”

Sykes currently sits eighth in the championship standings as three rounds remain in the current season.

Image: Russell Colvin.

Kawasaki BCperformance’s Bryan Staring always anticipated Winton’s fifth round to be one his most challenging stops of the 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK), the Western Australian thankful to exit the Victorian venue with minimal damage to his title campaign.

The former champion qualified in P8 before piecing together a 7-4 scorecard for sixth overall, losing just 11 points on leader Mike Jones (DesmoSport Ducati) in the standings, with the advantage now stretched to 19 as the series heads into a pair of strong and favoured circuits of Staring’s.

“This weekend was definitely about damage limitation with two finishes today,” Staring commented. “The first one was seventh, which wasn’t too bad, and race two with fourth position, we couldn’t have hoped to finish that high based on how things were looking beforehand.

“I’m very happy with that and I’m happy to come out of Winton with points on the board and without losing too many points in the championship. I’m very happy to get to the final two circuits of the year, which I’m very much looking forward to.”

The ASBK now heads to Phillip Island for the second time this season on 4-6 October, marking the penultimate stop on the calendar.