The 2025 ASBK season marked a strong campaign for Superbike newcomer JJ Nahlous, who capped off an impressive P6 in the overall standings with third on the podium at The Bend. CycleOnline recaps his weekend in Five Questions, along with addressing the late-season switch to Honda machinery.

Image: Foremost Media.

JJ Nahlous, a Superbike podium here at The Bend. Today, you looked unreal…

Thanks! It was a challenging weekend – we started off strong, but really, things just worked from the get-go. We moved forward every session in improving the lap time, and yeah, managed to qualify on the front row for the first time, which was an awesome feeling in itself. Then, to back it up with a 2-2 score in the races – I’m over the moon with that.

Two really good races for you – led laps, up the front. Did it come kind of easy to you?

I’ve had a bit of experience being up front with the 600s last year, so I kind of knew what to do and had to tell myself to keep calm a little bit. But yeah, I just knew what I needed to do and to keep calm, and I knew that Mike [Jones] was right there. I tried my hardest to keep him off me, but I wasn’t able to do that.

Is that something you learn in the Supersport class, learning to be up front? Is that something that you can draw on when you’re leading the Superbikes?

For sure, exactly that – even in the 300 class. It definitely warms you up to that in a less important class, you could say. Getting all of that experience for which I can now use.

Image: Foremost Media.

Talk to me a bit about this team, as well. Switching from Yamaha to Honda, for you entering the last two rounds. How did it come about, with the timeframe and everything?

About six weeks ago, we came to The Bend for a test session with the Yamahas, and actually had a couple of engine issues with both bikes. We had to retire those, but luckily, Anthony Hammod from Motocity was there as well, and he had the Honda just waiting there. We hopped on it, and I kind of gelled straight away and put some good times down even on older tyres. I’ve been learning and developing all year as a rider, and when I hopped on the Honda – it felt comfortable and like a good bike. I gelled with it quickly and excelled from there.

And lastly, 2026. Do you have anything in the works, anything you can announce?

Nothing is sure at the moment – we have a lot in the air. I don’t know what is going to happen next year.