Australian Mike Jones will get another crack at the MotoGP grid at Phillip Island this weekend as he stands in for Alvaro Bautista after the Spaniard got a call up to the works team.

Jones will be contesting his home Grand Prix for the second time, having taken a fifteenth-place finish there in 2016 on just his second appearance in this category. This weekend he will ride the Ducati GP16 normally ridden by his new team-mate Karel Abraham, whilst the Czech rider will ride the Ducati GP17 used usually by Bautista.

“I’m very excited and grateful to race with the Ángel Nieto Team at my home race of the MotoGP,” said Jones.

“Phillip Island is a circuit that I know well and enjoy very much. I look forward to learning step by step throughout the weekend and ultimately riding to the best of my ability.”