The final round of the 2022 Mi-Bike Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) commences tomorrow at The Bend, with three riders having a mathematical shot at the crown. Despite Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team) holding a 38-point lead, second-placed Bryan Staring (DesmoSport Ducati) and defending champion Wayne Maxwell (Boost Mobile Ducati with K-Tech) will not go down without a fight, as the top three share their Input ahead of on-track action in South Australia.

Image: Foremost Media.

Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team) – First (287 points):
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. 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. 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.

Bryan Staring (DesmoSport Ducati) – Second (249 points):
As far as this weekend goes, it’s a long shot, but while there is a mathematical chance, like, I am 100 percent in it. If there was anything I needed, it was a dozen extra riders to come in and spread the points out in the championship. I am absolutely all for it, and essentially I’m going to say I’ve got not much to lose. It will so good to have a positive weekend here regardless of any of the championship things, because of all of the riders that are here. We will see how we go, pressure is not on me.

Image: Foremost Media.

Wayne Maxwell (Boost Mobile Ducati with K-Tech) – Third (238 points):
Entering this weekend, I don’t even know what the points are, to be honest. We will go into this weekend with the same approach as every weekend, try and get pole and win both races. I’ve been fast at all of the race tracks for a number of years, I can win at grand prix tracks, I can win at tight tracks. I really feel like the pressure is on Mike especially, looking like he is going to be the champion. He won at Queensland Raceway yeah, can’t win at Phillip Island, he was okay at Darwin so the pressure is really on him to step up and to show that I am a true champion and can win when it counts. I’ve seen his statement during the week that he is going for pole and both race wins, so let’s see if he can talk the big game.