Image: Alex Gobert (Foremost Media).

Crankt Protein Honda Racing’s Jamie Stauffer will race-on at Phillip Island on Sunday despite a horror crash in the opening race of the 2016 Australian Superbike season today.

Double ASBK champion Stauffer made contact with teammate Troy Herfoss coming onto the main straight, who was forced to take evasive action Ducati’s Mike Jones bobbled.

The unfolding incident was a scary one as Stauffer tumbled down the front straight – his CBR1000RR SP sliding even further in the process.

“I’m feeling better than you’d probably expect, but I’ve taken quite a bit of skin off my arm and it’s gone pretty deep,” Stauffer told CycleOnline.com.au.

“They’re not too sure if I’ll need a skin graft yet, but it can wait until after tomorrow. It’s all bandaged up at the moment, so I will ride tomorrow and see what I can do.

“I couldn’t see a lot. I was right on Troy’s back wheel as we came over the rise and all of a sudden Troy stopped, apparently when Mike Jones got out of the throttle there in a moment. “Troy took evasive action and I was commited, had nowhere to go. I hit him hard and there was no hanging onto it from there.”

Herfoss meanwhile recovered for a solid haul of points in fifth position, overcoming a damaged rear tyre from the clash despite considering pitting during the 10-lap affair.