Image: Russell Colvin.

Yamaha Racing Team’s Mike Jones is continuing to come to grips with the factory-operated YZF-R1M, indicating that further seat time will be key in fast-tracking the former champion’s adaptation.

While Jones had the opportunity to test the R1 at Queensland Raceway and Morgan Park prior to the official Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) test, the majority of laps completed were in a track day environment or on rain-impacted days.

The Phillip Island test was the first real measuring stick for the Queenslander to see how he stacked up to the national competition on the Yamaha and, while about half of the sessions were impacted by rain, Jones remains optimistic about the initial feeling with the bike and current progress made.

“Getting on the Yamaha R1M has been a fantastic feeling with the bike straight away, as always with such a change you need as much seat time as possible,” Jones commented. “Unfortunately, the weather hasn’t been kind to us this couple of days at Philip Island, we only made four sessions out of a total of eight.

“Half the track time, it’s hurting a lot to be honest, to miss that seat time on the bike, but in saying that, in the short amount of time I have had on the bike I feel great and already making some solid progress.”

Jones finished the Phillip Island test in seventh position on combined times with a best lap of 1m33.321s and is expected to be on-track next week at Queensland Raceway to further continue his progression with YRT.