Junior Team newcomer making the most of European opportunity.
Popular Australian newcomer ‘Mad’ Mike Jones has quickly settled into life in Europe as part of the Aruba.it Racing Ducati Junior Team, hopeful that he will make an impact in the 2017 Superstock 1000 FIM Cup series.
The 2015 Australian Superbike Championship winner was propelled into the spotlight last year after being called into the Avintia Racing Ducati outfit during the Japanese and Australian grands prix, scoring 15th at Phillip Island.
That led to a fulltime position with the Feel Racing-run Aruba.it Racing Ducati Junior Team for this season, assisted by triple World Superbike champion and DesmoSport Ducati co-owner Troy Bayliss, who Jones rode for last year.
“My debut with the team went really well,” 22-year-old Queenslander Jones commented. “I’m pleased with the outcomes of our tests and I have to say it was quite easy to get acquainted with the team, everyone is so professional.
“I raced with the Panigale R in the past in the Australian SBK championship and, despite the different technical specs, it wasn’t difficult to adapt to the bike. The electronics, in particular, are so advanced and represent another weapon in our arsenal. Now we’ll work on fine-tuning and I can’t wait to race in Aragon.”
To be hosted alongside nine of the European-based WorldSBK rounds, Jones’ first race appearance with the Aruba.it Racing Ducati Junior Team is slated to take place at Motorland Aragón, Spain, on 31 March-2 April.