Source: Supplied.

Reigning Australian Superbike Champion (ASBK) Mike Jones has completed his first shakedown on board the DesmoSport Ducati 1299 Panigale S that he will defend his title on in the 2016 season.

Jones and his title-winning Cube Racing team have joined forces with triple WorldSBK champion Troy Bayliss for next year to launch a factory Ducati squad, as announced at the recent Sydney Motorcycle Show.

Just days following the final round of the Australasian Superbike Championship (FX-ASC) at Sydney Motorsport Park, in which Jones won aboard his Kawasaki ZX-10R, the Queenslander took his first laps on the striking new Ducati at the same venue.

“We did two days at Sydney Motorsport Park with the California Superbike School and Keith Code was there for the two days, so that was cool because they have been helping me since I was a Junior,” Jones told CycleOnline.com.au.

“It was my first time riding the Ducati 1299 Panigale S and I’m really, really happy. It’s a really good bike to ride and I can’t believe how well it gets around the circuit. It’s amazing how well it handles and also how it jumps off the turns. Obviously the ZX-10 had a lot of top-end speed, but I think in development that will be similar.

“Overall for the first ride everything was very positive, very good. I think in terms of on-track performance we’re already starting relatively close to where we need to be and the feeling is good. It shouldn’t take too much before we’re on race pace.

“I didn’t know what to expect going to a completely different bike. The power delivery is something I’ve never experienced and the chassis is completely new to me as well. But on the first ride it exceeded my expectations and, like I said, we’re in the ballpark where we need to be.”

Jones is due to continue testing with DesmoSport Ducati this weekend at Lakeside in Queensland, further preparing in the lead-up to Phillip Island’s ASBK opener alongside the Australian WorldSBK round on 26-28 February.