ASBK Round 1 Friday Reports | Anthony West has made a vibrant start to his new chapter in the Penrite Australian Superbike Championship presented by Pirelli, topping Friday practice at the opening round of the season at Phillip Island. Press: ASBK Media Photos: RbMotoLens
Five months after the 44-year-old signed off from the final 2025 round at Phillip Island with a maiden SW-Motech Superbike victory aboard a Yamaha, Anthony West has picked up right where he left off at the 4.448km Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit—this time on a Ducati with the DesmoSport Ducati outfit.
West’s pace immediately sent a message to the Superbike field in the Australian Superbike Championship, but he was pushed hard across the two 30-minute sessions by Harrison Voight (McMartin Racing Ducati), with just 0.005s splitting the pair at day’s end. Defending five-time champion Josh Waters (McMartin Racing Ducati) completed the top three on a circuit where he has been particularly dominant in recent seasons.
In the support classes, Hayden Nelson (BCperformance Kawasaki) and visiting Italian Roberto Tamburini (Addicted to Track Yamaha) topped qualifying in the combined Kawasaki-backed Supersport and Supersport Next Gen categories. Meanwhile, teenage charger Riley Nauta (Champions Ride Days Kawasaki) produced a stunning final lap to claim victory in a thrilling Race and Road Supersport 300 opener.
ASBK competition continues on Saturday with Superbike qualifying followed by one race in each class. There was also plenty for local fans to cheer in the world championship ranks, with Oli Bayliss (Triumph) qualifying second in World Supersport, giving himself a strong shot at his first victory in the category. Fellow Australian Remy Gardner (Yamaha) will also be firmly in contention in World Superbike race one.
SW-MOTECH SUPERBIKE
West certainly enjoyed his first official day in the Ducati camp, firing in a best lap of 1:31.492 during opening practice. He was one of four riders to break into the 1m31s bracket, alongside Voight, Waters and new Yamaha Racing Team recruit Jonathan Nahlous.
“We had a good start to the weekend,” said West. “It’s our first time as a team working together under the pressure of a race weekend and everyone is working together unreal. Track conditions changed a lot for FP2 and I was missing some rear grip, but we learnt more and it gives me a lot of confidence heading into tomorrow.”
Jack Favelle (Addicted to Track Yamaha) rounded out the top five ahead of Cru Halliday (Stop and Seal Ducati), rookie Jacob Roulstone (Honda), Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team), Cameron Dunker (Blue Marlin Pools Racing Yamaha) and veteran Glenn Allerton (Superbike Advocates Racing Ducati).
There was drama for Marcus Hamod (Honda), who crashed at turn 11 in FP1 and sat out the remainder of the day. He is expected to return for Saturday morning qualifying, where cooler conditions should allow for rapid lap times.
KAWASAKI SUPERSPORT / SUPERSPORT NEXT GEN
Nelson and Tamburini will lead the 21-rider combined field away in race one, with Tom Edwards lining up alongside them on the second BCperformance Kawasaki.
Olly Simpson (DesmoSport Ducati) rebounded strongly from electrical issues in practice to qualify fourth, ahead of Jake Farnsworth (Yamaha) and Tom Toparis (Stop and Seal Ducati). With a mix of young talent and seasoned campaigners behind them, all signs point to a highly competitive opening race.
RACE AND ROAD SUPERSPORT 300
If the opening Supersport 300 contest is any indication, the 2026 season is set to be a thriller. A lead group of six traded positions relentlessly throughout the eight-lap encounter, featuring Nauta, Tara Morrison (Kawasaki), Jordy Simpson (Yamaha), Tyler King (Yamaha), Phoenix O’Brien (Yamaha) and polesitter Orlando Peovitis (Kawasaki).
Nauta controlled much of the race before breaking clear on the final lap to score a decisive win by nearly two seconds. An impressive 28 riders reached the finish, with race two scheduled for 8:50am on Saturday morning.
