Motorcycling Australia (MA) is pleased to announce a total of five Australian riders will compete as wildcards in the opening round of the World Superbike Championship (WSBK) at Phillip Island on February 26-28, 2016.

Australia will be well represented with two riders in the World Superbike (WSBK) Class and three competing in the World Supersport (WSS) Class.After taking out his first Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) in 2015, Mike Jones (DesmoSport Ducati) said he couldn’t wait to take it up to the world’s best.

“It’s very exciting to receive the wildcard to race at Phillip Island with the World Superbikes,” Jones said.

“Obviously to race in the World Superbike paddock is a dream of mine, so to make that a reality is certainly very cool and I’m looking forward to the opportunity – hopefully we can get a good result.

“After winning the Australian Superbike Championship in 2015 and now having the chance to race in the first round of the World Superbikes is certainly an exciting feeling, and I feel that it is a good step to compare the level that you are at with the world’s best.”

Jones will be joined by Jed Metcher (Race Center, Kawasaki), who pending funding will take his place on the World Superbike Class grid for the second time after receiving a wildcard in 2015.

In the World Supersport class, Kane Burns (Burns Racing, Suzuki) has described his wildcard selection as ‘a dream come true.’