Image: Foremost Media.

DesmoSport Ducati co-owner and triple Superbike world champion Troy Bayliss has hailed Mike Jones as a world-class rider after securing his second ASBK crown last weekend.

Just half a point separated Jones and outgoing champion Troy Herfoss (Penrite Honda Racing) going into the final race of the season at Sydney Motorsport Park, where the Ducati pilot prevailed with victory following an incredible 13-lap tussle between the pair.

The championship marks the first Australian title that Bayliss has had direct involvement in, while it also represents the first national superbike crown for Ducati since the late 1990s.

“He’s fantastic rider with a good head on his shoulders,” Bayliss declared to CycleOnline.com.au. “It would be pretty hard for him to lose his way, and nothing really fazes him too much.

“He keeps calm and in control – we really saw the dog come out of him this afternoon, and it’s great when that happens. He’s a world-class rider, without a doubt. We’re really happy to have him with us.

“I’m so happy with how Mike rode, he’s been riding good all year – that was one of the best races I’ve ever seen, and I’m so proud of him. It’s just really good to see Ducati win an Australian championship since 1999 I think it was with Steve Martin, so we’re all pretty happy – it’s just fantastic.”

Both Bayliss and Jones have indicated they’ll continue their partnership through 2020, where he’ll don the number one aboard a DesmoSport-prepared Ducati Panigale V4 R.