Image: Foremost Media.

Runaway 2022 Mi-Bike Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) leader Mike Jones has indicated his mindset approaching The Bend ‘is to take pole position and both race wins’, with the Yamaha Racing Team rider carrying a 38-point advantage entering this weekend’s final round.

Consistency proved key for the number 46 across the penultimate stop on the calendar at Phillip Island, extending his points lead with 10-5-3 finishes as title-rival Wayne Maxwell fell twice – first in race one and then in the final encounter.

Maxwell’s misfortune bumps him back to third in the title race, 49 points from the lead, as Jones’ closest challenger now comes in the form of Phillip Island race one winner Bryan Staring (DesmoSport Ducati) – a previous ASBK victor at The Bend.

“It’s fantastic to be able to extend the championship lead at Phillip Island, ultimately it puts me in a really good position heading into the final round at The Bend,” Jones explained to CycleOnline.

“My mindset is to go there to take pole position and both race wins, that’s what I believe I am capable of achieving as I rider, I have been able to do that throughout this year. I want to be able to finish off the year on a high, that’s where my mindset is at.”

Unlike many of his ASBK competitors, Jones was absent from the final round last year at The Bend, however, he was able to cut laps around the South Australian venue on his practice bike, prior to the penultimate round at Phillip Island.

“I was very fortunate to be able to head down to The Bend a few weeks ago and do some ride days there, on the practice bike, just to get my eye in and try a few settings on the bike,” Jones added. “It feels great there, it was fantastic to ride the track, I think it suits my riding style and it really suits the bike as well.

“We ended up coming away from the days of riding there feeling very positive and confident, so that gives me confidence heading into this weekend.”