Troy Corser appointed as ASBK Championship ambassador

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March 6, 2024

Our homegrown talent has been battling it out on track and making us proud! Check out our monthly column that follows all things Aussies racing Internationally on and off-road, from MotoGP to AMA Motocross. This month Miller, Gardner and Lawrence updates. Words: Ed Stratmann

With many talented Australian motorcycle racers showcasing their skills abroad in a range of disciplines both on-track and off-road, our latest column focuses on how they’re faring battling it out with the best in their chosen classes. This month we look at Jack Miller, Remy Gardner, Hunter and Jett Lawrence.

On-Track
Jack Miller – MotoGP
Jack Miller secured the 11th fastest time at the two-day MotoGP test in Qatar, with this latest outing full of upside for the popular pilot even if the results weren’t exceptional. Finishing just a tenth off his teammate in Brad Binder, who claimed ninth, there was much to be gained in terms of bike setup, track knowledge and tyre insight ahead of the first round, which will be held at the same venue in a little under two weeks’ time, as Miller will be eager to come out swinging.

“Positive last day here and I’m pretty happy where we are with the bike. I made a few setup changes today and I think we are in the right ballpark to get the season underway. I feel good and looking forward to getting back here to do it all for real,” he explained.

All-in-all it’s been a good pre-season and the boys have done a fantastic job through the winter.

“We still have a few little tweaks to make: motorbike racers are never totally happy! The conditions were tricky away from the racing line; if you make a mistake then it’s hard to come back off the dirty stuff. All-in-all it’s been a good pre-season and the boys have done a fantastic job through the winter with the improvements and I believe we have a very competitive bike to go racing.”

Remy Gardner – WorldSBK (Superbike)
Having achieved ninth in the test prior to the season launching Phillip Island opener, this saw Remy Gardner in a sound position to start off the new term on the right foot. Although plenty of encouragement could be drawn from the #87’s fifth in free practice three and seventh in the Superpole qualifier, his first race was frustratingly ended prematurely when a collision with another rider forced him out early.

We had some good fights in the sprint race and the pace was there, unfortunately we couldn’t finish inside the top three even though we had great speed.

Desperate for an improved Sunday in front of the adoring home fans, his super showing in the Superpole race that saw him battle with the frontrunners before banking sixth set the tone wonderfully.
Come the second race, though, and while the red-flag interrupted race saw him forced to start last following the restart due to him hitting Jonathan Rea’s bike, Gardner produced a smashing charge to ultimately get a credible 12th.

“Well, this weekend wasn’t meant to be. We had some good fights in the sprint race and the pace was there, unfortunately we couldn’t finish inside the top three even though we had great speed. I felt we could make another try in Race 2, but I couldn’t avoid Jonathan’s (Rea) bike and I ended up having some damage,” he reflected.

“The red flag gave us another chance, but I had to restart from the back of the grid. I think this is not good, but rules are rules. Although the guys did a fantastic job on making me able to go out again, the bike was not completely okay but we were still able to score valuable points. It’s a bit of a shame that we couldn’t convert our race potential, but we have to take the positives from the weekend; speed was there and we did a great job. Heading down to Barcelona for the second round of the season.”

Oli Bayliss – World SSP (Supersport 600)
While Oli Bayliss endured an injury interrupted off-season, the Aussie began his third year in World Supersport with a solid 12th in pre-season testing at Phillip Island. Serving as an ideal precursor to get his campaign underway on home soil, the talented Australian bagged a brilliant fifth in race one, which was especially positive given his struggles with the bike and the weather on the Friday. Although he couldn’t find his groove on the Sunday, posting a 10th place was a strong effort, thus meaning he ended the opener sixth in the championship.

“Today went not too bad. I did struggle a lot in the first couple of laps to find a good rhythm. However, after a couple of laps I found some pace…”

“That’s round one in the books and the D34G Racing Team and I walked away with a tenth-place finish in race two today and we leave the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in sixth place in the championship,” he posted.
“Today went not too bad. I did struggle a lot in the first couple of laps to find a good rhythm. However, after a couple of laps I found some pace and then could start to push how I wanted and put some laps together. Anyway, was a pretty good first weekend of the year with the team. Now time to rest up and get fully healed for Barcelona at the end of March. Thanks so much to the team for their efforts and I have to say a huge thanks to the Australian crowd for coming out this weekend. It’s awesome racing at home.”

Off-Road
Jett Lawrence – AMA Supercross
Breathing life immediately into his February by registering a scintillating victory in Detroit, Jett Lawrence became the first rider to win two races this season in the stacked 450 class. Racing out of the gate to dominate proceedings, there was no stopping the #18, who led every lap of the main event to stamp his authority on the series. He then followed this up with a third in Glendale, where he admirably carved through the field after a challenging start to secure a deserved third to regain the red plate.

Jett importantly maintains his grip on the championship lead seven rounds in.

Next on the agenda was Arlington, and all the signs were there that another win was on the cards, as Lawrence stormed to the holeshot and surged to a commanding lead. Disaster then struck for the sensation, with two late spills ultimately meaning fourth was the best he could manage.

“There were ups and downs tonight in Arlington—lots to focus on. It was going good, then it went bad, then it could’ve been good, but then it went even worse! So, fourth place. I have to clean up a few things, but it’s always good to learn some things. I’m looking forward to Daytona this weekend. It’s been a while since I’ve raced there, so I’ll enjoy that Daytona sun,” he told the HRC website.
Jett importantly maintains his grip on the championship lead seven rounds in.

Hunter Lawrence – AMA Supercross
This month has seen Hunter Lawrence make some huge strides forward in the elite division, with him now looking right at home duking it out with the plethora of heavy hitters out there. After riding to a notable eighth in Detroit, he then really turned things up a notch in Glendale to produce his best result of the season to cross the line in fifth on a tricky track. The #96 was then arguably even better in Arlington, for he looked comfortable running upfront and battling with KTM star Aaron Plessinger on his way to banking fifth to equal his season-best finish.

“It was a good night, a lot of positives to take away. It’s a bummer—on the last lap, I was doing everything I could to pass AP [Aaron Plessinger] for fourth; live and learn. Two fifth places in a row, and ending up there after being in the wall, so that’s something I can be happy about. Thank you to the team; we’ll keep on plugging away,” he recalled.

WorldSBK Round One Report | Phillip Island Australia, Lowes magic double, Bulega Stuns!

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March 6, 2024

Lap records were smashed and there were winners from rookies to legends in front of a big crowd of happy Aussie fans at Phillip Island last weekend for round one of the 2024 Motul FIM WorldSBK Championship, the Grand Ridge Brewery Australian Round. Press: WorldSBK

Friday
Friday’s WorldSBK action at Phillip Island saw Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) dominate proceedings, setting a new lap record and finishing atop the timesheets. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) secured second place overall, while Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha), in third, showcased strong potential with a new lap record in FP1.

Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) led the Independent contenders, securing fourth place overall, followed closely by Rookie Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) in sixth. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) had a quiet start finishing tenth overall and Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) took seventh place.

However, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), the Reigning Champion, finished 12th overall, while perennial contender Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) ended up in 16th place in the combined results.

In the electrifying Supersport Superpole session at Phillip Island, Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) showcased his prowess, clinching pole position with a breathtaking lap record despite a late crash, setting the tone for an exhilarating race. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) closely followed in second place, demonstrating impressive speed alongside Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) who secured third. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) positioned himself in fourth, while Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) and Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha) rounded off the top six with impressive performances.

Despite facing challenges, Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) and Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) secured spots on the third row, emphasizing their resilience. Meanwhile, Jorge Navarro (WRP-RT Motorsport by SKM-Triumph) overcame a crash to secure ninth, with Niki Tuuli (EAB Racing Team) completing the top 10, ensuring a fiercely competitive grid for Race 1.

Full Friday Superbike and Supersport results here…

Saturday
Superpole
The first session that counts, the first that matters for the larger context of the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship: Tissot Superpole from the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit and the Grand Ridge Brewery Australian Round was electric. With all the hype about unpredictability and the new line-up for this new era, it was a session with stories everywhere you looked. In what is probably the most incredible Superpole session in recent memory to open a season, it was rookie Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) who denied Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) in the closing moments with two rookies lining up 1-2 on the grid for their first race for the first time in WorldSBK history.

Full Superbike Superpole results here…

Race One
WorldSBK Race 1 at Phillip Island provided thrilling action and historic moments with intense battles among the leading riders and strategic maneuvers during the pit stop phase between Laps 9 and 11.

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) stole the show by claiming victory on his WorldSBK debut, achieving a remarkable feat as the first WorldSSP Reigning Champion to win on his first SBK race, marking an unprecedented accomplishment in the championship’s history.

Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) displayed impressive pace and strategy to claim second place. Making a sensational return to racing, Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) secured third place after leading in the early stages of the race. Locatelli and Iannone completed an all-Italian podium sweep, echoing a milestone last achieved in 1993.

Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) demonstrated strong competitiveness, finishing in fourth position, followed closely by Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK), who initially crossed the line in fourth but was demoted to fifth.

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) struggled to find his rhythm, ultimately finishing in 15th position after a crash, while Jonathan Rea’s (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) difficulties persisted as he crossed the line outside the points in 17th place. Australian Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK), encountered misfortune during the race, as a collision with another rider led to an early retirement.

“Maybe it’s the best day of my life! It’s difficult to already believe it but it is something incredible; I was dreaming about this for many months but now it’s reality. I took pole position; I won my first race and got the lap record. It’s something special that I’ll never forget, said Bulega.

I started to cry a little bit and then, there were good emotions as I saw all my guys on the finish line and all my guys with a big, incredible smile. It was so nice for me. It’s incredible because this team is like my second family, and they always believed in me. When I came here from Moto2™, I was in a bad moment, but they kept believing. This is my third year with them, and we started in a very good way. I’ll try to continue giving them a lot of smiles. I’m ready for my first Tissot Superpole Race and I’ll try to do my best.”

WorldSBK Race 1 Results

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
2. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +2.280s
3. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) +2.630s
4. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +4.728s
5. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +5.706s
6. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +8.333s

Supersport
Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) secured victory after overcoming a poor start and establishing a commanding lead in Race 1 at Phillip Island. Montella’s flawless performance ended a drought of over 400 days for his WorldSSP victories. He led the field with precision, leaving Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) and Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) trailing behind as he crossed the finish line triumphantly. A fierce battle unfolded between Schroetter and Manzi for second place, with Manzi eventually gaining the upper hand to secure the runner-up position.

Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) and Oli Bayliss (D34G Racing WorldSSP Team) engaged in an intense battle for fourth place, with Caricasulo ultimately securing the position in his debut with the team. Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) finished sixth after starting from the back of the grid due to a tire pressure infringement, rounding up the top performers of the race.

“It was a funny race. At first, I didn’t feel comfortable on the bike, and I couldn’t understand why. I just tried to stay close behind Manzi and not let him build a big gap. On the last lap before the Pit Stop, I tried to overtake him, and we both went first to do the Pit Stop. It turned out to be a perfect flag-to-flag because we managed to open a big gap from Manzi, around 5 seconds. We practiced a lot yesterday, and everything came together perfectly in the end! We’ll try to repeat today’s victory tomorrow, but it won’t be easy. Today Huertas wasn’t here, but I think he’ll be fighting for the podium tomorrow.”

WorldSSP Race 1 Results

1. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team)
2. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) +6.666s
3. Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +6.968s
4. Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) +16.748s
5. Oliver Bayliss (D34G Racing WorldSSP Team) +17.452s
6. Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +17.580s

[Download Full Results]

Sunday
Superpole Race
In a repeat to Race 1, Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) got a superb start as lights went out, leading the race although Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) came past on Lap 2 at Turn 1. Iannone’s race was interrupted by a mechanical issue on Lap 6 which dropped him out of contention, coming home in 14th. This allowed Lowes to pull out a gap for his first victory in four years by just over a second.

Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) took second after dropping as low as tenth, charging through the field in the second half of the 10-lap race with aggressive moves on his rivals at Turn 4 and Turn 10. In just his second race with BMW, Toprak Razgatlioglu claimed his first podium as he battled his way P3 in a run to the line with Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati); the two Champions separated by just 0.074s. Razgatlioglu’s podium was his 116th, putting him level with Noriyuki Haga at third in the all-time level. Lowes, Locatelli and Razgatlioglu will start Race 2 from the front row.

Bautista narrowly missed on a podium as he bounced back from a difficult Saturday for fourth, finishing just over a second ahead of Race 1 winner and teammate Nicolo Bulega in fifth. ‘Bulegas’ lost out at the start again but was unable to recover as he did in Saturday’s race, coming home in fifth. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) was sixth, but it could’ve been more for the Australian. Gardner had fought his way into podium contention around the halfway mark of the race but was bundled down the order in the closing stages.

Gardner’s teammate, Dominique Aegerter, had a similar story to Race 1. After starting from fourth, the Swiss rider dropped down the order before battling back. He was able to recover to P7, just two tenths behind his teammate. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) secured eighth place in his first Tissot Superpole Race, ahead of Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) in ninth with Aegerter, Lowes and Rinaldi on row three for Race 2. Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) fought his way to P10 in the Superpole Race after his Saturday disaster, giving the Ulsterman hope for a good result in Race 2 although he will start in his original grid position.

WorldSBK Tissot Superpole Race Results

Race Two
Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) emerged victorious in an exhilarating Race 2 at Phillip Island, securing a remarkable double win. Lowes’ triumph was sealed with a breathtaking last-lap maneuver at Turn 9, overtaking Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) in a display of sheer brilliance.

However, the race was not short of drama as Toprak Razgatlioglu’s (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) promising run in the race was abruptly halted on Lap 3 at Turn 9, as a technical issue which led to his untimely retirement. Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha), unfortunately crashed out at Turn 11 in the early stages, leading to a red flag and subsequent race restart. He was taken to the medical centre and declared unfit with multiple contusions and abrasions.

Despite the challenges, Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) showcased an impressive performance, swiftly climbing from P6 to challenge Bautista for the lead after the restart. However, it was Lowes who ultimately prevailed, with Bautista settling for second place.

Meanwhile, Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) staged a remarkable comeback before unfortunately crashing out on the final lap while battling for position. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) claimed a well-deserved third place, rounding off the podium. Notably, Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) showcased a commendable recovery from a poor start to secure fifth place, with Rinaldi finishing just behind in sixth.

“It was an unbelievable day! The second race was chaos from the start. It was a little bit delayed, and in the first part of the race Toprak’s bike blew up. I was nearly off track, I did well to stay on. Then, Jonathan had a big crash, so I hope he’s okay. I was dropping back a little bit, but just before the red flag, I had a couple of good sectors to get back on my brother. I had some good speed, and the temperature was down a little bit.

My focus in the restart was to make a good start, put myself in the first three or four positions. I knew Toprak wasn’t there, and when he is, you have to ride a little bit more defensively because he’s always going to have a pass. Once I got settled into the race, I was struggling to stay with Bautista a little bit and Michael.

“Locatelli passed me at Turn 4. He was going to hit the back of Bautista, so he went wide and then I managed to stay on the line, stay close to Alvaro because, in my head, I was thinking he was struggling to enter the corner because the grip was going. I knew I could be really fast through Turn 8 and into Turn 9. This was my chance to pass him and try to stop the bike into Turn 10 and 11. I had a little plan, and it went quite well. In the end, I had a lot more grip than Alvaro which allowed me to make this pass.”

WorldSBK Race 2 Results

1. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK)
2. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 0.048s
3. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +1.178s
4. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) +1.275s
5. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +2.346s
6. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) +2.913s

Download Championship Standings

WorldSBK Championship Standings

1. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 50 points
2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 41 points
3. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) 29 points

Supersport
The WorldSSP Race 2 at Phillip Island unfolded with high intensity as riders navigated challenging track conditions and a shortened race due to an oil spill. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) displayed impeccable form, securing his second consecutive win at the iconic circuit. Despite facing late pressure from Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), Montella held firm to claim the top spot, as he now leads the Championship standings.

Meanwhile, the battle for the podium raged on as Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) and Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) fought for positions. Unfortunately for Manzi, his podium hopes were dashed as he suffered two crashes during the race, ultimately dropping out of contention. Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) capitalized on the unfolding events, securing his first WorldSSP podium with a commendable third-place finish.

Caricasulo clinched fourth position marking a strong start to his campaign. Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) and Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) rounded out the top six.

“Today was a strange race for sure, because of the delay, but we tried to stay focused on the race. My plan was to push at the first lap to create a gap and it worked, so I’m happy for this. During the race, I managed to maintain this gap with Marcel, and it was fun to push every lap. Today we won the race, and I’m happy about it! It really was an incredible weekend! It’s something that nobody expected, and I’m just happy about it! I want to stay focused on the next race, but then at the same time, enjoy this moment. It’s just the first race and I still have 20 races in front of me, so for the moment my focus is on Barcelona.”

WorldSSP Race 2 Results

1. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team)
2. Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +0.203s
3. Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) +1.658s
4. Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) +5.289s
5. Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Racing Team) +5.554s
6. Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +5.677

Download Championship Standings

WorldSSP Championship Standings

1. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) 50 points
2. Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) 36 points
3. Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) 26 points

ASBK Round 1 Report | Josh Waters Leaves Phillip Island as Top Dog

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March 6, 2024

Round one of the 2024 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK) concluded at Phillip Island on February 25, with circuit master Josh Waters completing a full quota of victories on his Ducati. Press: MA/Mark Fattore Images: Optikal/Karl Phillipson

Josh Waters, The Mildura Flyer, undoubtedly produces his most scintillating work at the 4.448km grand prix venue, and so it was again this weekend as he won all three Australian Superbike ASBK races, including two on Sunday, on his Panigale V4 R. He now takes a healthy lead into round two under lights at Sydney Motorsport Park on March 22-23, where he will again have to be at his towering best against a crack field of seasoned veterans and talented teenagers.

The final races were also held today in Michelin Supersport and Race and Road Supersport 300, with 17-year-old Jonathan Nahlous (Yamaha) producing another masterclass in the former and 15-year-old Harrison Watts (Kawasaki) breaking through for his first victory in the latter.

With Superbike Masters and the bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup joining the Sydney roster, there’s going to be plenty to look forward to at the Night Race.

mi-bike insurance Australian Superbike
The two constants at the sharp end of the pack for a majority of the 11-lapper were teammates Josh Waters and Harrison Voight, while Troy Herfoss (DesmoSport Ducati Panigale V4 R) went back and forth as he struggled to find rhythm. However, the reigning Australian Superbike champion – as he so often does – found a way, passing Voight on the final lap to finish second behind Josh Waters.

Cru Haliday (Yamaha Racing Team YZF-R1) was fourth and right on the bumper of lap record holder Voight, followed by Ant West (Addicted to Track YZF-R1) and Broc Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati Panigale V4 R). Halliday also set the fastest lap of the race – a 1:31.066 on lap three.

Cameron Dunker (Penrite Racing YZF-R1), Bryan Staring (MotoGo YZF-R1), Max Stauffer (Penrite Racing YZF-R1) and Glenn Allerton (GT Racing BMW M 1000 RR) rounded out the top 10. After such a sensational morning bout, race three was short-lived after the Aprilia RSV4 of Matt Walters imploded in a massive plume of smoke at turn one, with the New South Welshman then crashing in his own oil trail.

The race was immediately red-flagged, with half points awarded. At that time, Waters was nearly two seconds in front of Voight, followed by Herfoss, West, Halliday, birthday boy Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team YZF-R1M), Stauffer and Pearson.

“It’s been a great start to the year. To qualify on pole and then win the two-and-a-half races is great,” said Waters. “I’m not sure what it is about this track that I connect well with, other than that I just really enjoy the circuit.
“I like riding in Sydney, too, but I know that everyone in the Australian Superbike field is going to keep working hard and we need to keep on our toes also to make sure we stay ahead of them.”

Waters now takes a 15.5pt (65.5 to 48) lead over Voight into round two at Sydney Motorsport Park on March 22-23. Herfoss is on 47pts, Halliday 42 and West 38.5.

Michelin Supersport
No-one has been more in the ASBK groove than Nahlous Yamaha YZF-R6) at Phillip Island, and his sublime Michelin Superbike campaign was bookended with a third consecutive victory. The win, by 2.451 seconds over Tom Bramich (YZF-R6), saw 17-year-old Nahlous take home the ‘full monty’: pole position, three race wins and a new lap record.

“It was a great weekend; it couldn’t have gone any better,” said Nahlous.“Race three was much harder than the others and I had to adapt on the run so I could put myself in a position to win, which took a while.

“From about lap four, I understood how to ride the track better which was beneficial to me, so I couldn’t have asked for a better way to complete the round.”Nahlous and Olly Simpson (Yamaha) ran line astern in the first half of the race before Nahlous put the hammer down and pulled clear – circulating just shy of his one-day old lap record – leaving Simpson to deal with the advances of Bramich. After electrical issues in the first two races – but still without a quickshifter in the finale – Bramich was galvanised for a big finish, and he passed Simpson on the last lap. Jake Farnsworth (YZF-R6) finished a lonely fourth, ahead of Mark Chiodo (Honda CBR600RR), Hayden Nelson (Kawasaki ZX-6RR), rookie Marcus Hamod (CBR600R) and Declan Van Rosmalen (YZF-R6). Meanwhile, Jack Mahaffy (YZF-R6) was on track for a top-five finish before crashing at turn 11.

Nahlous’ absolute domination saw him collect a maximum 76pts (a bonus 1pt for pole position), ahead of Simpson (56), Farnsworth (50), Bramich (45) and Hamod (44).

Race and Road Supersport 300
The final Race and Road Supersport 300 eight-lapper was box office from start to finish, with Harrison Watts prevailing after a thrilling four-way drag to the finish line. After knocking on the door with a slew of top-five finishes in 2023, it was Watts’ first win in the class. The 15-year-old edged out fellow Kawasaki Ninja 400 riders Tara Morrison and Pete Svoboda in the cliffhanger, with just 0.044 seconds separating the trio at the chequered flag.

Josh Newman (Ninja 400) was fourth, right on the hammer of the top three, ahead of Varis Fleming (Ninja 400) and the first Yamaha rider home, Valentino Knezovic (YZF-R3). The race was another ‘routine’ Supersport 300 battle with too many positional moves to track, but this time there was some extra spice after Svoboda – who won races one and two – ran off the circuit at the ultra-fast turn 12 on lap one.

After dropping to 21st, his cause looked lost – but that didn’t faze the Czech, who pinned his ears back and carved through the pack. The rapid advance saw him hit the lead by lap seven alongside a new lap record of 1:46.529. However, he couldn’t complete the three-peat as Watts and Morrison flashed across the line in front of him. Svoboda leads the championship on 69pts, ahead of Newman (57), Watts (56) and Morrison (49).

But with Svoboda now heading back to Europe to begin his 2024 FIM Supersport 300 World Championship campaign, Newman is the notional leader.

All detailed ASBK Championship class results are here.

Hatto’s Shitbox Rally | Help Legend Tony Hatton & Daughter Peta raise money for cancer

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March 5, 2024

Cancer affects all of us in some way, directly or indirectly. We all need to contribute to finding a cure, particularly when kids are involved. Tony Hatton and daughter Peta Isaac are doing their bit in respect for legendary industry family, the Galvins, in support of their daughter Lucy Galvin. You can help, too…

Tony Hatton and Graeme Crosby with the Yoshimura Kawasaki Endurance Racer at the Bol d’Or 24-hour, Le Mans , 1977. They held 7th place until the bike stopped. Hatto is now swapping two wheels for four in the Shitbox Rally.

With a huge career spanning three decades, very few racers in the history of Australian motorcycle racing have clipped as many apexes as Tony Hatton… His interest in bikes started as young as 12, when the Northern Beaches Sydney kid was already subscribing to Motorcycle News… and by 14 he was riding his pushbike up to Terrey’s Green in Terrey Hills to watch the motorcycle racing. The rest is history, as they say, and Hatto went on to have a huge career as a rider, tuner and mentor, winning all the big races that Wayne Gardner, Mick Doohan and Kevin Magee would go on to win…

Follow Tony and Peta’s Shitbox Rally jouney on their Instagram account here...

Now enjoying retirement but still riding on the roads for fun, Tony Hatton is working on a special race with his daughter Peta, and will be taking part in the Shitbox Rally Winter 2024. The dynamic duo will be driving their 10-owner 260,000km young 2004 Honda Accord ‘Goldie Horn’ in the 4500km trek from Bowral, NSW, to Melbourne then from June 15 head North-West through the outback to Alice Springs!

On March 23/24 from 8:00am, you can meet Tony and Peta and help their cause by going to their huge Hatto’s Shitbox Garage Sale at 2 Alcorn Street, Bowral, NSW 2576 (just an hour from Sydney).

Tony Hatton and Peta Isaac with their 2004, 260,000km 10-owner Honda Accord, Goldie Horn, which will take them from Melbourne to Alice Springs. You can help them raise money for Cancer by attending their Garage Sale on Saturday March 23 or Sunday March 24!

Peta’s mum, Tony’s legendary wife Hayley Hatton, has been working flat out with the team raising money and awareness and they have loads of fantastic stuff for sale, and let’s face it, you can just never have enough stuff! But what is also very cool is the huge raffle that will be taking place on the day. If you donate now, you go into the draw for Hatto’s Shitbox Raffle, or if you can, head to Bowral on March 23 or 24, enjoy a BBQ and shopping, and on the Saturday buy a ticket for $5 while you are there watching the draw live! Check out the amazing prizes! (Terms & Conditions on Instagram @hattos_shitbox and all proceeds to Cancer Council).

To donate to Hatto’s Shitbox Rally and help Team Hatto reach their goal of $30,000 click here.

Wayne Gardner has pitched in to help the Hatto's! Stay Tuned! — Wayne Gardner has pitched in to help the Hatto’s! Stay Tuned!

Pete and brother Mitchell hitch a ride with Dad in the early 1980s.

RAFFLE PRIZES

Weekend at Woodstock Homestead in Milton NSW, worth $2,000.

Manly Sea Eagles jersey, signed by 2023 team, worth $200.

NSW State of Origin jersey, signed by Laurie Daley and Steve “Blocker” Roach, worth $200.

Family photoshoot at Hogarth Australia, Sydney or Melbourne, worth $3,000.

Enniskillen Orchard getaway, Hawkesbury Valley NSW, worth $500.

Beko Bean to Cup espresso machine, from Highlands Betta Home Living, worth $549.

City Cave Bowral Flauna package, worth $119.

Southern Highlands Yoga, four group yoga classes worth $88.

Fella Hamilton $100 voucher.

Swish Bowral $100 voucher.

Mic Mac Boutique $250 voucher.

Rodney Clark Bowral $100 voucher.

Glass Bistro and Golf Club Mittagong $50 voucher.

Pelican Rocks Cafe Greenwell Point $40 voucher.

Clarins gift basket, worth $160, from Glam Bowral.

Children’s face painting party, worth $200, from White Waratah Face Painting.

2 x 4 Pines brewery tour, for 4 people, worth $100.

Revitalize Cryotherapy, Ultimate Revitalize Package, worth $140.

Greenback protein pack, suitable for vegans, worth $200.

Voluspa 3 wick candle, worth $180, from Country Accent.

Two acrylic on canvas paintings, Baled Up 1 and 2, by local artist Deborah Harris, worth $900.

Treekeepers Nursery mature tree voucher, worth $1,200.

Gumnut Patisserie $100 voucher.

TONY HATTON’S CAREER
3 x Australian 125 GP titles
2 x Australian 250GP titles
Multiple Castrol 6 Hour podiums
Multiple Bathurst wins
1974 Duke Of Edinborough Trophy
Multiple Production Bike Wins
Top 10 Le Mans 24HR finishes
Outright Winner 1979 Suzuka 8 Hour

ASBK Round 1 Saturday | Veteran Josh Waters Takes Victory On Ducati

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February 25, 2024

Josh Waters’ affinity with the Phillip Island has continued with the Victorian scoring an emphatic victory in race one of the season-opening 2024 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK). Waters took advantage of pole position on his On Ya Bike Adventures Ducati. Report: MA/Mark Fattore Images: Optikal/Karl Phillipson

Meanwhile, Jonathan Nahlous (Yamaha) continued an imposing day for the teenage brigade with two runaway victories in the Michelin Supersport class, and the local Race and Road Supersport 300 brigade is yet to find a chink in the armour of Czech visitor Petr Svoboda (Kawasaki). The wildcard has now won two races from as many starts as he ramps up his preparation for the 2024 FIM Supersport World Championship.

mi-bike insurance Australian Superbike
After edging out Herfoss, Jones and Halliday in qualifying with a new Australian Superbike best lap of 1m30.379s, there was an air of inevitability when Waters blitzed the race one start and Herfoss struggled to get off the line. Waters immediately set about putting the sword to the opposition – but it was early disaster for Ted Collins (BMW) whose race only lasted two corners before he was cannoned into by another rider and crashed out.

Meanwhile, Waters was in charge from Jones (YZF-R1), Voight (McMartin Racing Panigale V4 R), Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati Panigale V4 R) and 16-year-old rookie Cameron Dunker (Penrite Racing YZF-R1). Voight was then, in his own words, “pushed and shoved” by his more experienced Australian Superbike rivals and ran wide at turn four on lap two as a result, dropping him back to sixth position.

The 17-year-old immediately rallied, though, initially battling with his old dirt track nemesis Dunker as he methodically worked his way back into second position by lap eight. He also set a new lap record (1:30.790) during his offensive. Waters’ disappearing act saw him win the race – his sixth in the last nine Phillip Island races – by 1.250 seconds over Voight, followed by Herfoss, the slow-starting Halliday, Jones, Pearson, Anthony West (Addicted to Track YZF-R1) and Dunker.

“That was a really good race and a great reward for all the effort the team is putting in to continually improve every time we go out,” said Waters. “After I pulled out a good lead, I just played it safe as I had no idea how the tyres were going to wear. I’m really happy but we’ve got two races to go and I’m under no illusions how hard tomorrow is going to be. But for now, we’ll enjoy this one.”

Glenn Allerton (GT Racing M 1000 RR) and Max Stauffer (Penrite Racing YZF-R1) completed the top 10, while Arthur Sissis (Unitech Racing Yamaha YZF-R1) joined Collins on the DNF list.

Michelin Supersport
Nahlous’ Michelin Supersport victories were achieved with absolute precision, defeating Mark Chiodo (Honda) in race one and last year’s No. 2 Olly Simpson (Yamaha) in the two 10-lappers. The 17-year-old also set a new lap record of 1:34.682, obliterating Voight’s old mark of 1:34.979.

“I’m over the moon with my weekend so far,” said Nahlous. “Pole position, two wins and a new lap record is something that I am very proud of and a reward for all the hard work we’ve been putting in. “The bike is riding on rails at the moment, and I can’t wait to get back out on track tomorrow.”

Race one saw Nahlous, from NSW, lead from start to finish on his way to a 4.573-second victory over Chiodo and Simpson. Chiodo (Honda) moved into second place just before mid-race distance – his dive underneath Simpson at turn 10 a highlight – but by then Nahlous had already put the winning equation beyond doubt. Nonetheless, an impressive return to Michelin Supersport for the CBR600RR, which was also extremely fast down Gardner Straight in the hands of not only Chiodo, but 2023 Supersport 300 champion Marcus Hamod.

Tom Bramich (Yamaha), back in action after injury cruelled his 2023 Supersport campaign, was also heavily involved in the scrap for second place early on before a gear shifter issue saw him fall through the pack and finish 11th. Jack Mahaffy (Yamaha) was a solid fourth, well ahead of Jake Farnsworth (Yamaha) and Archie McDonald (Yamaha).

Race two saw Nahlous and Simpson scrap hard for the first half before the former pulled away for another easy win, with Mahaffy completing the trifecta from Jake Farnsworth (Yamaha), Hamod and Bramich, who was as far back as 12th in the opening laps. Hayden Nelson (Kawasaki ZX-6R) and McDonald saw out the top eight.

Race and Road Supersport 300
Two from two for Czech Petr Svoboda in the Race and Road Superport 300 class, with the FIM WorldSSP300 rider pulling clear of the pack in the final three laps to win by just over one second from fellow Kawasaki rider Josh Newman – the same 1-2 as Friday’s race one.

Ryan Larkin (Yamaha) put in a stirring final lap to finish third, just 0.03 seconds behind Newman. Mitch Simpson (Yamaha), Tara Morrison (Kawasaki), Valentino Knezovic (Yamaha), Harrison Watts (Kawasaki) and Ryder Gilbert (Yamaha) all flashed across the line in rapid succession to fill positions 3-8 in the eight-lapper. Gilbert again set the fastest lap of the race, today’s 1:47.348 set in ideal conditions. The current lap record for Supersport 300 is of the oldest benchmarks at Phillip Island – Luke Jhonston’s 1:47.187 set in 2020.

ASBK Round 1 Friday | Cru Halliday Dominates as records tumble

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February 23, 2024

Yamaha Racing Team’s Cru Halliday has burst out of the blocks in practice for round one of the 2024 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK) at Phillip Island today, running fastest in both sessions. Press: MA/Mark Fattore Images: Optikal/Karl Phillipson

Cru Halliday dominated the first day of ASBK Round One practice on the newly resurfaced layout.

mi-bike insurance Australian Superbike
A combination of cool and overcast conditions with the addition of a new surface was always going to be a recipe for spectacular practice times, and that’s how it panned out as Cru Halliday and Waters both dipped under the current lap record (1m31.075s) as times tumbled in the afternoon session. Halliday’s new circuit best lap of 1:30.840 on the YZF-R1M was pure class, setting him up for his first pole position in the Australian Superbike class since round two in 2023.

“I was a bit nervous coming into this round because everyone has been going well over the pre-season – but you virtually reset every time you come here,” said Halliday. “As soon as I completed my first practice session, I knew I had a lot of speed because I was one 10th of a second off my fastest ever race time here.

“In the second session, we tried a different tyre and the laps were actually quite fast. We haven’t changed the Yamaha for the last two years at Phillip Island, as we believe we have a really good set-up. We came here knowing what we want and it works.”

Waters, who’s won five of the last eight races at Phillip Island, will be trying his best to deny Halliday the one extra championship point for pole position – but, of course, the battle runs much deeper than just a two-way affair.

Behind Waters (1:33.033), two-time Australian Superbike champion Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team YZF-R1, 1:31.349) was third overall on combined practice times, ahead of Troy Herfoss (DesmoSport Ducati Panigale V4 R, 1:31.365), teenage sensation Harrison Voight (McMartin Racing Panigale V4 R, 1:31.393), Broc Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati Panigale V4 R, 1:31.642), Anthony West (Addicted to Track YZF-R1M, 1:31.848) and Max Stauffer (Penrite Racing YZF-R1, 1:32.005).

Herfoss, in particular, is methodically working himself into his new home at Ducati, putting the field on notice that he’s primed for a huge weekend at Phillip Island.

Plenty of other stars are also looking to pounce in qualifying, including former Australian Superbike champions Bryan Staring (MotoGo YZF-R1), Glenn Allerton (GT Racing BMW M 1000 RR), Arthur Sissis (Unitech Racing YZF-R1) and Michelin Supersport-winning graduate Cameron Dunker (Penrite Racing YZF-R1).

Michelin Supersport
The Michelin Supersport class is a hotbed of excitement and anticipation in 2024, and qualifying for round one was a case-in-point. After 20 hectic minutes, Jonathan Nahlous (Yamaha YZF-R6) powered to his first pole position in Supersport with a 1:35.258 on his final flying lap. That was enough to edge out fellow Yamaha riders Tom Bramich (1:35.518) and Olly Simpson (1:35.741), with the trio to start from the front row of the grid for the three 10-lap races.

Jonathan Nahlous (Yamaha YZF-R6) powered to his first pole position in Supersport with a 1:35.258 on his final flying lap — Jonathan Nahlous (Yamaha YZF-R6) powered to his first pole position in Supersport with a 1:35.258 on his final lap.

“I just put my head down and managed to do everything right on my hot lap,” said 17-year-old Nahlous, who missed the corresponding round in 2023 because of injury. “It didn’t feel extraordinarily fast, but I’ll take it! And the important thing is that I believe I can go even faster.”

Twenty-six riders qualified, with row two to be filled by Mark Chiodo (Honda CBR600RR), Jack Mahaffy (YZF-R6) and 16-year-old Hayden Nelson (Kawasaki ZX-6R). Honda and Kawasaki are making welcome returns to the Michelin Supersport cauldron in 2024 to take on the dominant YZF-R6.

Race and Road Supersport 300
Czech visitor Petr Svoboda produced the perfect conversion in the opening Race and Road eight-lap Supersport 300 race, easily winning from pole position. Josh Newman managed to hang tough with the FIM WorldSSP300 No. 6 in the first half of the race before the ruthless Svoboda cleared off, winning by 6.709 seconds – an incongruous margin in a class where victories are normally measured in milliseconds. Victorian Varis Fleming, in a final Aussie ride before he heads off for a Spanish campaign, made it a Kawasaki trifecta on the podium in a lonely third place, while the battle for fourth became a massive arm wrestle and eventually fell the way of Harrison Watts (Kawasaki) ahead of Ryan Larkin (Yamaha), Jordy Simpson (Yamaha), Mitch Simpson (Yamaha) and Tara Morrison (Kawasaki). Ryder Gilbert (Yamaha) set the fastest lap of the race with a 1:49.021.

All detailed ASBK Championship class results are here.

Ninja 500 | On Show This Weekend At Phillip Island Expo

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February 23, 2024

Kawasaki Motors Australia have debuted the new Ninja 500 at the WorldSBK Expo at Phillip Island today, and also announced pricing of $7544 + ORC, with arrival in late March. The model will be joined by a SE 40th Anniversary model later in the year, with pricing and info on that one yet to be announced.

The all-new Kawasaki Ninja and Z500 models are LAMS approved and set to arrive Down Under next month. The 451cc parallel twin-cylinder models make 33.4kW@9000rpm and 42.6Nm@6000rpm. With the Ninja priced at $7544 + ORC, we expect the Z500 to come in somewhere just above $7k + ORC. The new models are welcome additions to the ever expanding Kawasaki road range, where you can just about find any motorcycle to suit your needs, particularly in the LAS category.

The 451cc parallel twin-cylinder models make 33.4kW@9000rpm and 42.6Nm@6000rpm with the Ninja priced at $7544 + ORC. — The 451cc twin-cylinder models make 33.4kW@9000rpm and 42.6Nm@6000rpm with the Ninja priced at $7544 + ORC.

Both bikes feature revised styling, LED headlight and taillight, a newly designed LCD dash and smartphone connectivity. You can read the full details on the Ninja 500 here, and the Z500 here.

Phillip Island WorldSBK & WorldSSP Test Wrap | Race News

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February 21, 2024

Download FP1 Results
Download FP2 Results

In the final test before the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship kicks off, Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) emerged as the standout, obliterating the lap record with an impressive 1’28.511s at Phillip Island. His dominance was closely contested by Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), who despite a crash at Turn 4, managed to set an impressive time of 1’28.585s. Report: WorldSBK

Meanwhile, Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) showcased consistent form, securing third place overall. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) also made waves with a strong performance, finishing in fourth position. The top five was rounded out by Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing). Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) showed promising form, consistently in the mix and eventually finishing in fifth place overall.

FIM World Championship Grand Prix, Test, 19-20. February 2024, WorldSBK, Phillip Island, Australia, Andrea Iannone, Ducati

FIM World Championship Grand Prix, Test, 19-20. February 2024, WorldSBK, Phillip Island, Australia, Michael Ruben Rinaldi, Ducati

Both Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) had a challenging final day of testing. Bautista struggled with discomfort aboard his machine due to a nagging injury, leading to a mixed performance as he finished in seventh place overall. Meanwhile, Rea endured a significant crash at Turn 11, leaving him visibly uncomfortable and down the order in 15th.

Additionally, Honda encountered troubles with Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) sustaining an injury following a highside at Turn 11, sidelining him for the remainder of the test, while Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda) also endured a crash at Turn 3, resulting in significant damage to his bike.

WorldSSP
Yari Montella’s (Barni Spark Racing Team) preparations for the 2024 FIM Supersport World Championship were completed in the best possible fashion as he topped the times by 0.062s ahead of Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing). The two Italians were the only riders to lap in the 1’31s bracket at the newly-resurfaced Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, the final test day for the WorldSSP field before the Grand Ridge Brewery Australian Round.

Caricasulo’s first Official Test with his new Motozoo ME AIR Racing team couldn’t have gone much better as he set a 1’31.943s to post the first ever 1’31s lap of the legendary Phillip Island circuit, going two tenths quicker than Andrea Locatelli’s pole lap record of 1’31.176s from 2020, although he did have a crash at Turn 4 in FP1 which impacted his testing programme. However, in the final 30 minutes of the session, Montella overhauled his time by 0.062s to claim top spot in both FP1 and FP2, unofficially smashing the lap record. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) claimed third with a 1’32.183s, matching Locatelli’s pole lap record but finishing three tenths down on Montella.

Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) comes into 2024 having replaced last year’s Champion, Nicolo Bulega, and started his Ducati career with P4 at the Official Test. The #99’s day was disrupted by a crash at Turn 9 in the final hour of FP2, with his bike brought back to the pits, but his 1’32.290s was enough to secure fourth. Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) claimed fifth place with Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) in sixth despite losing time in FP1 thanks to a technical problem. He was 0.453s slower than Montella.

2017 Champion Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha) is returning to WorldSSP on a full-time basis, and he showed his speed with P7 on Day 1 on his Yamaha YZF-R6 as he lapped half-a-second down on Montella. Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) was eighth as he looks to build on his stunning 2023 rookie campaign, with two Triumph riders just behind him and rounding out the top ten. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph), who’s switched to the Street Triple RS 765 for this season, was ninth ahead of Jorge Navarro (WRP-RT Motorsport by SKM-Triumph) in tenth as the team get ready for their WorldSSP debut. Despite his strong day, the #9’s FP1 session was impacted by a Turn 10 tumble.

Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) narrowly missed out on a spot in the top ten as he finished the day in P11, only 0.017s clear of home hero Oli Bayliss (D34G Racing) in 12^th with the Australian planning on completing a long run in FP2. Rookie Niccolo Antonelli (Ecosantagata Althea Racing Team) was 13^th ahead of the returning Lorenzo Baldassarri (Orelac Racing VerdNatura), looking to mount a title challenge in 2024, in 14^th. Niki Tuuli (EAB Racing Team) completed the top 15^th.

There were several red flags throughout the day, mostly due to birds on track, which caused some disruption. However, Piotr Biesiekirski (Ecosantagata Althea Racing Team) brought out the red flags when he crashed at Turn 2 with just over an hour to go, with the Polish rider taken to the medical centre. At the end of the session, he was transported to hospital by helicopter; he is conscious but suffered a head injury and concussion. Marcel Brenner (VIAMO Racing by MTM) also crashed, this time at Turn 6, which disrupted his day although, as it came in the final hour, his lost running was kept to a minimum. Glenn van Straalen (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) had a technical problem during FP2 when his bike came to a halt at Turn 11.

The Aussie Riders
WorldSSP 12 32 Oli BAYLISS AUS D34G Racing WorldSSP Team Ducati Panigale V2 1’32.884
WorldSSP 17 21 Tom TOPARIS AUS Stop & Seal Racing Yamaha YZF R6 1’33.259
WorldSBK 8 87 Remy GARDNER AUS GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team Yamaha YZF R1 1’29.399

The top six from the Official Test for WorldSSP, full results here:
Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) 1’31.881s
⁠Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) +0.062s
Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) +0.302s
Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) +0.409s
Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team) +0.444s
Can Oncu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) +0.453s

WorldSBK Combined Results after FP2

1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’28.511s
2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.074s
3. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +0.324s
4. Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) +0.490s
5. Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.700s
6. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) +0.702s

The 2024 season commences with the Grand Ridge Brewery Australian Round, running from this Friday, February 23rd, to Sunday, February 25th.

2024 Phillip Island WorldSBK Test Gallery

FIM World Championship Grand Prix, Test, 19-20. February 2024, WorldSBK, Phillip Island, Australia, Sam Lowes, Ducati

Philipp Oettl (GER) GMT94 Yamaha Yamaha R1 Superbike

ASBK Rd1 | Celebrating 35-years of the Aus Superbike Championship

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February 19, 2024