ASBK, The Bend: Miller just misses the podium, Mike Jones crowned 2022 champion

The last race weekend of the 2022 season saw the ASBK championship take to The Bend circuit for an exciting grand finale. Jack Miller was out with his team’s Ducati Panigale V4 R, there were big names battling it out in the reigning class and the title fight was still wide open, all of which made for a thrilling weekend at the modern track located not far from Adelaide. Here’s how Sunday’s races panned out.

 

Race 1: Jones takes the title, Miller KO

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A few corners in and we had the first dramatic turn of events, a crash for Billy McConnell and Bryan Staring, second in the championship, ruling Staring out of the title fight. The race was red flagged and restarted, but another unexpected twist came soon after, with Jack Miller forced to retire due to technical problems with his Ducati Panigale V4 R.

The race continued, with Troy Herfoss, Wayne Maxwell and Glenn Allerton in a three-way battle for the win. The riders crossed the line in that order, with the Penrite Honda rider scoring his first victory of the year. But the celebrations were mainly for Mike Jones, who secured his third national Superbike title by finishing the race sixth. An important achievement for the number 46 Yamaha rider, who has become the first rider to win the series with three different bikes, having previously triumphed with Kawasaki and Ducati.

 

Race 2: Jones ends on a high, Miller 4th

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There was no battle for the win in the second and final race at The Bend. With the title firmly in hand, Jones left his rivals with nothing but scraps, finishing an almost impeccable season on a high. But there was a fight for the remaining podium positions, with four riders lying within just a few tenths of each other until the final corners.

Senna Agius and Wayne Maxwell (competing in his final race) eventually crossed the line second and third, after the race 1 winner and Glenn Allerton crashed out on the last lap. After the disappointment of race 1, Jack Miller was able to fight back and cross the line fourth, defending himself from Arthur Sissis and Cru Halliday in the final stages. This weekend marked Jack’s final appearance as a Ducati rider before he moves to KTM in MotoGP.