Source: Supplied.

Queenslander Mike Jones has been confirmed for this weekend’s 2016 Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Philip Island after bringing the Avintia Racing Ducati home 18th in Japan on Sunday.

Jones completed full race distance despite encountering difficulties at Twin Ring Motegi, which was enough to secure the seat for a second-consecutive round.

“I’m very happy and I can’t believe the experience of finishing my first ever MotoGP race,” Jones reflected last night in Japan, before travelling home to Australia for Phillip Island.

“It was fantastic to be part of the Avintia Racing Ducati team this weekend. They worked so hard to help me learn so much, but definitely I gained more experience through the race.

“My start wasn’t very good. We tried a practice start in the warm-up this morning and I felt really, really good, but we changed the clutch for the race and when I went to do the race start it felt different, so I really struggled with the start.

“Once I got going, I tried to follow the guys in front of me, but I had a few small problems and I couldn’t get the bike stopped like in qualifying.

“I just wanted to finish the race, no matter how, and I did it. I really want to thank Avintia Racing and Ducati for this opportunity and I hope to do it better at Phillip Island.”

The opportunity for Jones comes once again as Avintia Racing regular Hector Barbera has been called in to deputise for injured factory Ducati Team regular Andrea Iannone.