Jones and Nahlous return to Yamaha Racing Team for 2027 ASBK season
The Yamaha Racing Team (YRT) heads into the 2027 Shannons Australian Superbike Championship presented by Pirelli (ASBK) with the same two-rider line-up of Mike Jones and JJ Nahlous, who will begin their seasons at Phillip Island from October 23-25.
Jones enters his fifth year with YRT and is more enthusiastic than ever. He started the 2026 season slowly by his normal lofty standards but found form late in the championship to bring home some strong results in the final few rounds with several podium positions.
He has carried the momentum into the 2027 pre-season and is ready to get things rolling at Phillip Island and chase his fourth ASBK Superbike Championship.
“It was nice to get a little break, but it wasn’t too long before I was itching to get back into my riding and training,” he said. “I have been spending plenty of time on my R3, getting my eye in and a good feel on the track, and we recently had a good hit out with the team on the new bike, and now we are ready to go for round one.
“Being with MotoGP also means there will be a huge crowd at Phillip Island for the last one there: the atmosphere will be amazing.”
Mike Jones
Nahlous returns for his second season with YRT after showing flashes of brilliance in his maiden campaign – but with a heap of battle-hardening experience gained in the recently concluded European Moto2 Nahlous will be a far more formidable competitor in 2027.
“Racing in Europe has been such a learning experience for me, and while I’m racing a different category and bike, the continued riding, training and racing has been good for me, and I can’t wait to get back and race the ASBK season,” he said.
“Last year was my first with YRT, and things went well, and we now have a strong working relationship that should see us improve this year. I think we have a great platform to start from, and I trust the team to build me a bike that is fast and competitive right from race one.”
JJ Nahlous
ASBK technical and contingency support continues
Yamaha will again offer an extensive off-track support program for Yamaha ASBK riders across all classes during the 2027 ASBK season – from Superbikes down to the BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup riders on YZF-R15s – with Stewart and Janice Winton providing riders and teams with discounted parts and technical advice.
The Yamaha BLU CRU Bonus program also continues in 2027, with some slight adjustments to suit the updated racing structure. In line with the new ASBK racing terminology, there will no longer be a round winner in each division but payments have been increased for each individual race.
The 2027 payouts are as following, as long as riders start and finish the weekend on a Yamaha and have Yamaha logos visible on their race bikes.
SW-Motech Superbike
Pole: $500
Race:
| 1st | $4,500 |
| 2nd | $2,300 |
| 3rd | $1050 |
Championship:
| 1st | $50,000 |
| 2nd | $25,000 |
| 3rd | $10,000 |
Supersport Next Gen
Race:
| 1st | $1250 |
| 2nd | $625 |
| 3rd | $350 |
Championship:
| 1st | $8000 |
| 2nd | $4000 |
| 3rd | $2000 |
Race and Road Supersport 300
Race:
| 1st | $750 |
| 2nd | $350 |
| 3rd | $165 |
Championship:
| 1st | $6000 |
| 2nd | $3000 |
| 3rd | $1000 |
BLU CRU R3 Cup
Race:
| 1st | $500 |
| 2nd | $285 |
| 3rd | $125 |
Championship: win both R3 cUP and Supersport 300: $2000
| 1st | $5000 |
| 2nd | $3000 |
| 3rd | $1000 |
