The opening round of the newly scheduled ASBK 2026-2027 calendar will see the Yamaha Racing Team front the Superbike grid with Mike Jones and JJ Nahlous on thundering Yamaha R1M’s.
The new season will start at the Phillip Island MotoGP on October 23-25 and move through six rounds, ending at Sydney Motorsport Park in late March 2027.
It has been a few years since the ASBK Superbikes have joined the MotoGP round at Phillip Island, and with it being the final time for MotoGP at the iconic circuit before moving to Adelaide, it will be a massive weekend of fast-paced and high-intensity racing with a huge crowd in attendance.
Jones enters his fifth year with YRT and is more enthusiastic than ever. He started the 2026 season slowly by his 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,” Jones explains. “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.”
JJ Nahlous returns for his second season with YRT and will be throwing his leg over a 2027 Yamaha R1M in the first practice session at round one, as he is still in Spain racing the European Moto2 Championship.
Nahlous showed flashes of brilliance during the 2026 season, but with a heap of experience gained in Europe as well as another ASBK season under his belt, 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."
“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,” Nahlous said.
YRD Support
Yamaha will again offer an extensive off-track support program for Yamaha ASBK riders that will see Stewart and Janice Winton provide riders and teams with discounted parts and technical advice, covering every class from Superbikes down to the OJC R15s.
The BLU CRU R3 Cup is back and will run over four rounds this year. The Oceania Cup continues with rider numbers as strong as ever, and the combined 600cc/Next Generation class should provide some close racing.
The Yamaha BLU CRU Bonus program continues for 2027, with some slight adjustments to suit the updated racing structure. In line with the new ASBK racing terminology, there will no longer be an awarded round winner in each division, but payment changes have been increased for each individual race, and the total amount is the same as previous years.
The 2027 payouts will be as below and are redeemable via YRD.
Riders must start and finish the weekend on a Yamaha and have Yamaha logos visible on their race bikes.
Superbike
Pole: $500
Race:
| 1st | $4,500 |
| 2nd | $2,300 |
| 3rd | $1050 |
Championship:
| 1st | $50,000 |
| 2nd | $25,000 |
| 3rd | $10,000 |
600cc / Next Gen (Combined on-track results)
Race:
| 1st | $1250 |
| 2nd | $625 |
| 3rd | $350 |
Championship:
| 1st | $8,000 |
| 2nd | $4,000 |
| 3rd | $2,000 |
300cc Supersport
Race:
| 1st | $750 |
| 2nd | $350 |
| 3rd | $165 |
Championship:
| 1st | $6,000 |
| 2nd | $3,000 |
| 3rd | $1,000 |
R3 Cup
Race:
| 1st | $500 |
| 2nd | $285 |
| 3rd | $125 |
Championship: # win both R3 and 300cc Supersport: $2,000
| 1st | $5,000 |
| 2nd | $3,000 |
| 3rd | $1,000 |
“Normally at this time of year, we are getting ready to wind things up, but with the new calendar kicking in, things are ramping up and we are ready to start a new championship,” begins YRD’s John Redding.
“We hope some of the technical changes will assist Yamaha riders and teams in all classes and look forward to an exciting series in its new time slot that will attract new riders and fans,” Redding ends.
2026-2027 ASBK Calendar
| Rd1: Phillip Island – Oct 23-25 (Superbike only) |
| Rd2: The Bend – Nov 13-15 |
| Rd3: One Raceway – Dec 4-6 (R3 Cup) |
| Rd4: Queensland Raceway – Jan 15-17 (R3 Cup) |
| Rd5: Phillip Island – Feb 19-21 (R3 Cup) |
| Rd6: Sydney Motorsport Park – March 19-20 (R3 Cup) |
