Nahlous joins Jones at Yamaha Racing Team
Jonathan Nahlous will take a crucial step forward in 2026, joining Mike Jones at the powerful Yamaha Racing Team (YRT) in the Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK).
Making his debut in the Superbike class in 2025, the 2024 Australian Supersport champion held his own with his spirited, competitive rides and mixing it with the heavyweights of the premier class, netting three podium finishes along the way.
Still only 19 years of age, Nahlous is a student of the sport, and his work ethic and dedication to his craft has seen him consistently perform at a high level, putting him in high demand for 2026.
“I had a few offers in the off-season and staying on Yamaha and working with YRT is what I believe is the best one for me,” he said. “The team have been super accommodating in getting me set up and willing to do what it takes to help me improve.
“I’m also looking forward to working with Mike Jones. I already have a good relationship with him and he has assisted me with my riding over the last couple of seasons, so to be up close to him on race day and absorb what he does and how he prepares will be a huge benefit to me and I can’t wait to get the year started.”
Nahlous leads Jones during recent testing at Phillip Island. Images: Russell Colvin
Runner-up in the championship over the last two years, Queenslander Jones is a fiercely determined competitor, yet one of the most respected riders in the ASBK paddock, with years of domestic and international experience.
The three-time ASBK champion is always a threat any time he rolls onto the track and will be keen to hit the ground running as he chases title number four.
“For the last couple of seasons, we have been in the championship hunt right until the end, but we just need to find a way to make it happen in 2026,” he said. “As a team, we sat down at the end of last year and went through a list of things we all feel we need to do better, and it was an honest discussion where we hope we identified the things that will make us better and get the ASBK championship back in our hands.
“I know the guys have worked hard in the off-season and the team has invested in some things we think will improve the bike while I have worked on my riding and I believe we enter this year in better shape than we have been in a while and confident of a successful year.”
YRT enters its 24th year as Yamaha’s official road racing team and the opening round at Phillip Island will mark the 100th ASBK round as team owner for John Redding.
Get your tickets for the Phillip Island opener here.
