Check out our other track guides here…

Turn One
Going down the front straight, all you can see under the bridge is ocean and it looks like that’s what you are headed for. You hit the bump/jump just after the start and finish line as you flash under the bridge and it all opens up on the run into turn one. It’s normally back two gears and the big bikes had you grabbing the brakes about the 150m mark, with the 600s at 100m. It surprises you how deep you can go into this turn, since you get the speed sensation with the wind hitting you and it’s always around 300km/h. It’s important not to be too aggressive on the brakes and just get settled so you hit the inside apex where the bumps are close to the inside kerb and after the bumps get straight back on it.

Turn Two
A common mistake here is to pull the bike over to the right too far after exiting turn one. Turn two is a double apex turn so you can pretty much go straight at it from turn one and apex it going in and then drift out in the middle and apex it again on the way out – running down to turn three. A good run out of turn two means you can pass someone before you get to turn three or at worst, be on the inside of them tipping in.

Turn Three
This can be real fun but also a heart in the mouth type of turn. The bikes have picked up so much speed out of turn two and just as you tip into turn three, the track drops away and gets a little bumpy so you can find yourself going in with the front wheel ever so slightly off the ground, the head shaking and the wind trying to push you into Bass Strait. Once you get it in and on the gas it can be so much fun drifting on the exit. This is where the passes into Honda corner are set-up and pretty much done.

Turn Four
This is one of the best overtaking opportunities on the whole track. As important as it is to get the bike working through the fast corners out the back, it also has to be good on the brakes. The thing that can change from day to day here is the braking marker – depending on the wind, it can change from 30-50m. The bike never feels good around Honda and you always feel too slow around there and that the bike could fall over but you just have to tell yourself to get the exit right.

Turn Five & Six
Six is a great corner with plenty of grip and good camber but has a strange entry and a really late apex. If the bike is geared right, you shouldn’t be downshifting here – just leave it in second and brake. You get it on your knee quite early and out wide and apex it late just as you are starting to wind it up for the exit. A tight exit is really important here and having the bike upright launches you into the next fast physical section. 

Doohan said to me once that the most important part of the track is from Siberia to MG corner. It is very bumpy near the outside kerb on the exit and when the front is light, it is a real physical effort to get the bike over to the left before the flick right into the hayshed. There is a big bump right on the inside near the kerb through this left kink, I always found it easiest to let the bike wheelie over that bump and change direction on the back wheel.

Turn Seven
It never really settles until you roll the throttle a little and get it onto the knee and into the hayshed. On the 600, that wasn’t an option because on a good tyre it was wide open all the way through – touching the limiter in fourth. It is a fun turn when you get it right going from the inside white line to the outside white line. It is also one of only two real times you use the right side of the tyre properly. Again, like turn one to turn two, don’t waste too much effort pulling it over to the right for a wide entry into Lukey. Just get it in there.

Turn Eight
This is a really fast entry and you can run it into Lukey Heights hard because it runs uphill and a few lines work. It’s normally back one gear from fourth to third. There is a bump on the entry on the inside and straight after the bump, you need to get back on the throttle to settle the bike and keep it rolling up and around the hill to apex it again at the top of the hill. The run around here and over the hill is super important because you can stop someone passing you or line up someone for a pass into MG. It’s really a knife edge with rear grip around Lukey – drifting over a blind rise that really only opens up once you are over the hill and heading downhill to MG. 

Turn Nine
Depending on gearing, MG corner can be a first or second gear turn. I preferred second as it cancels the short shift from first to third out of MG and it isn’t so aggressive on the side of the tyre on exit. There is a bump out wide if you tip in from there but I never go there as the middle of the track is fine for me. That allows you to really stop it and get a tight exit set up for the next left. Getting out of MG fast is more important than trying to carry too much corner speed because running wide messes up the next corner and your speed down the straight.

Turn 10
It’s a strange turn that never really feels right and feels frustratingly slow. It seems too long to get on the throttle. Between MG and this turn you can accelerate really hard into turn 10 but then the key is to wait a little so that the bike is turned and pointing towards turn 11. Then open the gas hard and quickly on the fat part of the tyre – running it out to the edge of the track. 

Turn 11
This turn is probably my favourite worldwide, tipping in from the outside white line straight onto your knee all the way in. Sometimes it feels like you will never get it into the apex but as soon as you do, it’s straight back onto the gas – heading for the rise and the outside of the track onto the straight. I’m tucked in even before I’m out of the turn and just before I get it out to the kerb, I’m snicking fifth gear as the front is getting light over the rise and there are a couple of dips in the track near the kerb. When you get a great run out of here and hit the outside of the track, it’s perfect and it’s guaranteed your speed down the straight is greatly improved. 

Phillip Island through expert eyes… Words: Andrew Pitt  Photography: Peter Mitchell, Keith Muir

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WorldSBK testing at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit wrapped up with Nicolo Bulega setting the benchmark on a dominant Ducati showing. The Italian topped all four sessions, completing 138 laps of the 4.445km circuit, while the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati squad locked out the first four positions on the timesheets.

Read our WorldSBK content here…

Bulega’s fastest lap of 1’28.630 confirmed his status as the man to beat, with Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) six tenths behind. Bassani and Lowes proved competitive for bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team, completing a combined 140 laps and showing strong pace ahead of the opening round.

Crashes marred the final day of testing, with Jake Dixon sidelined by a fractured left wrist after a Turn 11 fall. Stefano Manzi and Alvaro Bautista also crashed at Turn 2 and Turn 10 respectively, though Bautista still topped the mileage charts with 74 laps.

Get your tickets and find out the info for Phillip Island here…

Lorenzo Baldassarri’s return to Superbike impressed as the Team GoEleven rider ended the test third fastest, while Miguel Oliveira led the rookies in seventh place for ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team.

Nicolo Bulega – P1:

“I feel good with the bike. We tried something different during the second session but then returned to the previous setting. There’s still a lot of room to improve, and I want to take that step forward with my team ahead of the race weekend.”

Sam Lowes – P2:

“I had a really good day. We improved the bike this afternoon and I found a good rhythm after a longer run in the morning. The team has done a great job session by session, and I feel competitive heading into the weekend.”

Lorenzo Baldassarri – P3:

“It was another positive day. We focused on consistency with the race tyre and built a strong feeling with the bike. Testing results were a bit unexpected, but I feel ready for the first race weekend.”

Day 2 Combined Results:
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’28.630s
Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +0.666s
Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team GoEleven) +0.698s
Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.721s
Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +0.743s
Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +0.945s

Testing now concluded, the paddock turns its focus to Round 1, with Bulega and Ducati looking ominously strong as the season opener approaches.

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Pre-season title favourite Nicolo Bulega wasted no time stamping his authority, topping both sessions for the Aruba.It Racing – Ducati squad. The Italian completed 72 laps and logged more than 30 tours under the 1m30s mark, underlining his strong pace aboard the new Ducati package. Only three other riders managed to dip beneath the 90-second barrier, with Axel Bassani emerging as Bulega’s closest challenger. The bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team rider ended the day just 0.291s adrift.It was a dramatic opening for Sam Lowes, who endured a technical issue in the morning followed by an afternoon crash. Despite the setbacks, the ELF Marc VDS Racing Team rider rallied strongly, setting his fastest lap late in the day during a six-lap stint to secure third overall.After limited dry running over the European winter, Xavi Vierge impressed as the fastest Yamaha rider, placing ninth aboard the Pata Maxus Yamaha machine. A morning crash failed to derail reigning Supersport World Champion Stefano Manzi, who finished just two-tenths behind Vierge as he continues adapting to life in the Superbike class with the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team.Rookie honours went to Jake Dixon, the former Moto2 rider ending the day tenth for Honda HRC, ahead of Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) and Manzi.The session wasn’t without incident, with eight crashes recorded during Superbike running. Among them was an early-afternoon fall for Alvaro Bautista at Turn 5. The double world champion and eight-time Phillip Island race winner still managed eighth fastest, almost a second off Bulega’s benchmark, and is expected to close the gap as testing continues.Speaking after topping Day One, Bulega said the focus was on mileage and understanding the new bike following disrupted winter testing. Despite the hot conditions costing a few tenths, he was encouraged by the base setup and remains confident of making further gains ahead of race weekend.

Day One Results (Top Six)
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.It Racing – Ducati) – 1’29.345
Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +0.291
Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +0.562
Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.576
Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) +0.670
Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +0.914

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With just over a month to go, organisers have officially released the full three-day event schedule, confirming a packed program of international and domestic racing across the weekend – we will see you there!

World Championship On-Track Action

On the international front, WorldSBK will begin proceedings on Friday, February 20, with two Free Practice sessions, while the World Supersport (WorldSSP) field will complete Free Practice followed by the all-important Tissot Superpole session.

Read our WorldSBK reports and features here…

Saturday’s action ramps up with WorldSBK’s final Free Practice, before Superpole and Race 1 close out the day. WorldSSP will contest a Warm Up session ahead of Race 1 later in the afternoon.

The event concludes on Sunday, February 22, with WorldSBK Warm Up, followed by the Tissot Superpole Race and the final feature Race 2, scheduled for a 4:00pm finish. WorldSSP will also complete their Warm Up and Race 2 during the closing day.

Strong Australian and International Line-Up

All permanent WorldSBK and WorldSSP riders have been confirmed for the season opener. Australia’s presence remains strong, with Remy Gardner returning for his fourth WorldSBK season aboard the GYTR GRT Yamaha, while Oli Bayliss continues in World Supersport with PTR Triumph Factory Racing.

Check out the awesome Pirelli Tyre ticket giveaway here…

Several high-profile changes headline the 2026 grid, including Miguel Oliveira, who will make his WorldSBK debut with the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, following a long MotoGP career. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) enters the season as one of the favourites after finishing runner-up in 2025, just 13 points behind outgoing champion Toprak Razgatlioglu, who departs for MotoGP in 2026.

Australian Superbike Championship Support

Supporting the World Championship is Round 1 of the 2026 Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK), featuring Australian Superbike, Supersport, and Supersport 300 categories.

Read our ASBK reports here…

Domestic classes begin Friday morning with Free Practice, followed by Qualifying for Supersport and Supersport 300. Supersport 300 Race 1 will close out Friday’s track action.

Saturday includes Australian Superbike Qualifying, Supersport 300 Race 2, Supersport Race 1, and Australian Superbike Race 1, before Supersport completes Race 2 later in the day.

Sunday delivers the final domestic races of the round, with Supersport 300 Race 3, Australian Superbike Race 2, Supersport Race 3, and Australian Superbike Race 3 rounding out the weekend.

Tickets, Access and Fan Experience

General Admission tickets offer extensive viewing access across the circuit, including the popular outfield areas near Gardner Straight. Fans can also ride their motorcycles directly to select viewing points.

Premium options include BarSBK, offering prime viewing locations at Doohan Corner, Siberia and Lukey Heights, as well as camping at the circuit, with both motorcycle-only and general camping areas available. Limited powered sites are offered.

For the ultimate experience, VIP Hospitality and ClubSBK packages provide pit roof access, premium facilities and views of Superbikes reaching speeds of up to 320km/h along Gardner Straight.

All ticket holders receive free paddock access, including Parc Fermé, podium celebrations, rider interviews, merchandise, food and drink, and The Paddock Show, hosted by Michael Hill across all three days.

Tickets are available now via worldsbk.com.au and Ticketek…

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Waters won all three races in the SW-MOTECH Superbike class, as he completed a flawless season opener on the McMartin Racing Ducati. Waters’ fellow hard-nosed veterans Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team) and Anthony West (Addicted to Track Yamaha) were second and third overall in round one, while Archie McDonald (Stop and Seal Yamaha) and Scott Nicholson (Kawasaki) were the leading point-scorers in the Kawasaki Supersport and Race and Road Supersport 300 classes after three days of scintillating high-speed action.

“I could not be happier with how this weekend has gone, although it certainly wasn’t as easy as it looked,” said Waters. “But I was super happy with how my McMartin Ducati performed, and this result has certainly put down a very solid foundation for the 2025 season. Racing is still a huge passion for me, and I enjoy competing – and celebrating success – with family and friends.”

Race One

Waters’ superiority in the 11-lap race one started from the get-go when he barrelled into turn one with the lead, followed by Cam Dunker (MotoGo Yamaha) and Jones. That’s as close as the field got to him, although West – who started on the front row alongside Waters – was an early threat after he moved into second on lap two.

West reduced the gap to about half a second with a scorching 1:31.669 on lap three, but Waters’ immediate response was a 1:31.599, which was all the impetus he needed to start the year with maximum points.

The final winning margin was well over four seconds from West, who briefly lost the runner-up position to Jones at turn 10 on the final lap before the Moto2 GP winner performed a swift cutback to regain the ascendancy.

Ducati pair Glenn Allerton (Superbike Advocates Racing) and Broc Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati) were next home, with the top eight completed by Max Stauffer (Yamaha Racing Team), John Lytras (Yamaha) and Cru Halliday (Stop and Seal Yamaha).

Tom Edwards (Motoschool Racing Yamaha) and Jonathan Nahlous (Yamaha) made impressive rookie debuts to see out the top 10, while Dunker was one of three DNFs after crashing on lap nine while running fourth.

Race One Results

1. Josh Waters
2. Anthony West (+4.404)
3. Mike Jones (+4.421)
4. Glenn Allerton (+13.809)
5. Broc Pearson (+14.013)

Race Two

In race two, Waters was again in runaway mode, but this time, Jones turned the tables on West as Broc Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati) edged out race one faller Cameron Dunker (MotoGo Yamaha) in a gripping battle for fourth. Glenn Allerton (Superbike Advocates Racing Ducati), Stauffer and Cru Halliday (Stop and Seal Yamaha) completed the top eight.

Race Two Results

1. Josh Waters
2. Mike Jones (+2.661)
3. Anthony West (+2.725)
4. Broc Pearson (+8.758)
5. Cameron Dunker (+8.863)

Race Three

It only took about 10 seconds of race three for the first flashpoint, with Pearson – who came home with a wet sail in race two – going down at turn one after being clipped and forced wide.

Halliday (flat tyre) and Allerton (mechanical) also failed to finish race three, leaving Waters, Jones and West to be followed home in the 11-lapper by the fast-starting Dunker, Jonathan Nahlous (Yamaha), Lytras, Stauffer and Ryan Yanko (Addicted to Track Yamaha).

Josh Waters’ 17th and 18th SW-MOTECH Superbike victories at Phillip were achieved with brutal efficiency, as he sling-shotted off the line on both occasions and then immediately knuckled down to build unassailable leads.

Waters’ three wins and a pole position saw him bank a maximum 76pts (there’s a bonus point for pole position) in round one, from Mike Jones (58), Anthony West (56), Max Stauffer (43) and John Lytras (40).

Race Three Results

1. Josh Waters
2. Mike Jones (+2.108)
3. Anthony West (+2.146)
4. Cameron Dunker (+12.664)
5. Jonathan Nahlous (+17.035)

Championship Points

1. Josh Waters – 76 Points
2. Mike Jones – 58 Points
3. Anthony West – 56 Points
4. Max Stauffer – 43 Points
5. John Lytras – 40 Points

Kawasaki Supersport

Archie McDonald now has seven wins and 11 podiums from 24 starts in the Kawasaki Supersport class, as the 18-year-old’s stocks continue to rise at a rapid rate. His 1-1 scorecard saw him get the better of Stop and Seal Yamaha teammate Jack Mahaffy on both occasions, while Tom Bramich (Yamaha) and Olly Simpson (BCperformance Kawasaki) shared the third places.

Race one was the more intense of the two, with Mahaffy managing to pierce McDonald’s defences a couple of times – but his leadership was fleeting as McDonald immediately regained the top spot. Bramich and Simpson, making his ASBK Kawasaki Supersport debut, were third and fourth in race one, followed by rookie Cameron Swain (Yamaha) and Hayden Nelson (BCperformance Kawasaki).

The pace was a lot slower in slippery race two conditions, but the same riders battled at the front of the field – minus Swain who went down early on. McDonald won by nearly a second from Mahaffy, with Simpson, Bramich, Jake Farnsworth (Yamaha) and Marcus Hamod (Honda) filling the top six positions.

In a sometimes wild and woolly Kawasaki Supersport finale, Jack Mahaffy snapped Stop and Seal Yamaha teammate Archie McDonald’s two-race winning streak to bring up his third win in the category. The start of the race saw Olly Simpson (BCperformance Kawasaki), Mahaffy, McDonald and Tom Bramich (Yamaha) constantly swap positions, and on lap seven Mahaffy and McDonald nearly collided at turn four.

That was the trigger point to take a deep breath and, with Simpson soon losing the tow, it boiled down to a race of three.

Round Results

1. Archie Mcdonald – 71 Points
2. Jack Mahaffy – 65 Points
3. Olly Simpson – 51 Points
4. Jake Farnsworth – 46 Points
5. Declan van Rosmalen – 43 Points

Championship Points

1. Archie Mcdonald – 71 Points
2. Jack Mahaffy – 65 Points
3. Olly Simpson – 51 Points
4. Jake Farnsworth – 46 Points
5. Declan van Rosmalen – 43 Points

Race and Road Supersport 300

Following Tara Morrison’s maiden Race and Road Supersport 300 victory on Friday, it was then the turn of Jordy Simpson (Yamaha) to steal the limelight. Simpson’s win was also a reward for perseverance, with the South Aussie finishing on the Supersport 300 podium six times in 2024 without standing on the top step.

He’s now put that bogey to bed, winning race two after coming from the clouds on the final lap with the fastest lap of the race. His powerful work was rewarded with a tight win over Hudson Thompson (Yamaha) and Scott Nicholson (Kawasaki).

Valentino Knezovic (Yamaha), who finished runner-up in the 2024 championship, recovered from a hapless race one to finish fourth, ahead of Kawasaki pair Oliver Short and Morrison. Sam Drane’s already a junior dirt track star, and now he’s a Race and Road Supersport 300 winner!

The 14-year-old – yes, you read correctly – won another extraordinarily tight battle in Sunday’s third and final race on his Yamaha to make it three different winners across the round. Again, the race came down to precious millimetres, as 18 riders flashed across the finish line 2.2 seconds apart.

After being in the mix in the first two races without quite getting the job done, this time Drane wouldn’t be denied as he inched his way to the front on the second last lap and then kept down the shutters. Scott Nicholson (Kawasaki) was second from 15-year-old Hudson Thompson, followed by Jordy Simpson (Yamaha), Tara Morrison (Kawasaki) and Valentino Knezovic (Yamaha).

Simpson (2-3-4) was the overall round winner from Nicholson (3-3-2), who defeated Morrison (1-6-5) on a countback after they both finished on the same points. Thompson (5-2-3) and Drane (8-8-1) saw out the top five.

Race and Road Supersport 300 Championship Points

1. Jordy Simpson – 62 Points
2. Tara Morrison – 56 Points
3. Scott Nicholson – 56 Points
4. Hudson Thompson – 53 Points
5. Sam Drane – 51 Points

All detailed ASBK Championship class results for Round One are here…

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Our full report for the WorldSSP Round 1 weekend can be found here…

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Friday practice and Saturday Superpole
WorldSBK

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #11) made it two from two on Friday to top both Free Practice 1 and Free Practice 2 sessions at the beautiful Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit as he fended off Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven #29) and teammate Alvaro Bautista (#19) on the opening day of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship season. The #11 was the only rider in the 1’28s bracket on his way to securing top spot during the Australian Round.

Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team #9) completed the lead quartet of Ducatis as he took P4 with a 1’29.584s set in Free Practice 1. Despite being followed by El Turco, Bulega was able to claim pole position for the second time in Australia in a dramatic Tissot Superpole session.

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) continued to be the rider to beat during the Australian Round as the 2025 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship season’s first competitive session ended with the #11 on pole. He was just under a tenth ahead of rival Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team #1) after the reigning Champion followed last year’s title runner-up on track to set his hot lap during Tissot Superpole at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.

WorldSSP

A sunny afternoon at Phillip Island hosted the FIM Supersport World Championship grid, who sunk their teeth into the 2025 season with several key twists already in the season opening session. Dutch rider Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse #11) went fastest despite not finishing the session, suffering a heavy crash with eight minutes left in the session at Turn 2. The WorldSSP season looks like it will be hard to look away from, as the Tissot Superpole session featured 14 riders within a second of the polesitter.

Second placed Booth-Amos (#69) replicated his results from Free Practice earlier in the day with a P2 finish for his first front row in WorldSSP. Making a late jump up the time sheet, 2017 WorldSSP Champion Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA #94) staked his claim on the rostrum with a 1’32.635s time, his first podium since Round 2’s Race 2, where he also claimed third.

Saturday
WorldSK

WorldSBK Race 1

The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship returned with a bang! Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) blazed around the track in Race 1, followed by Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) in P2 and Alvaro Bautista in P3. Nicolo Bulega capitalised on his Tissot Superpole win, holding off the rest of the grid as he claimed the holeshot. Turn 1 was the closest any rider ended up coming to the Italian sophomore star, finishing with a margin of 4.811s ahead of 2024 World Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu

For his part, Toprak looked more comfortable atop his new BMW M 1000 RR, battling with Alvaro Bautista, Andrea Iannone and Scott Redding (#45) in the laps preceding the mandatory Pit Intervention, to claim P2. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) looked to be similarly growing in confidence with his setup, tenaciously defending his podium spot from persistent overtaking attempts from Scott Redding, Danilo Petrucci and Andrea Iannone.

Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) was composed as ever in Race 1’s return to WorldSBK action. Starting out in P5, he weathered assaults from a resurgent Scott Redding and rival Andrea Iannone to finish P4 and once again be top among the Independent riders in P4.

Scott Redding (MGM BONOVO Racing #45) showed glimpses of his 2021 Ducati-riding form in Race 1, leapfrogging Bautista and Toprak at points to take P3. However, a late move from Petrucci at Turn 1 of Lap 18 narrowly prevented him from claiming the day’s top Independent position.

Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) looked strong to start the contest, claiming P2 exiting the first corner of Lap 1. The Maniac lost much of this early momentum, though, as he appeared to have an issue with his bike in Turn 4 of Lap 2, dropping from P2 to P6 in an instant as he hesitated entering the corner. Later on in the early running, he showed similar signs of a problem with his setup as he ran wide into Turn 1 of Lap 3. Much of his best riding on the day came after the pit stop, where he recuperated positions to finish P6.

“What a way to start the Championship! I’m happy because my feeling was good from the first session of the Monday test. Every time I get on the bike, I know what I can do and what I have to do. I’m just enjoying riding my bike, lap by lap, and it’s an amazing feeling,” explained Bulega.

WorldSBK Race 1 Results

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +4.811s
3. Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +5.108s
4. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +6.813s
5. Scott Redding (MGM BONOVO Racing) +6.986s

WorldSSP Race 1

Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing #62) held off a posse of hungry riders for P1 as he won the Yamaha R9’s inaugural race in the FIM Supersport World Championship. A sunny day in Phillip Island saw a dogfight for the podium positions as five riders brawled at the head of the pack.

Starting from P4, Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team #61) jumped into P1 from the second row for the season’s first holeshot. Behind him, Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing #69) held onto P2 exiting the first corner, while Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA #94) began the race fighting for the second and third positions.

Following the pit stops, the front five bikes developed a gap separating them from the rest of the pack. Manzi, who entered the pits on Lap 9, a lap later than Masia (#51) and Marcel Schroetter (WRP Racing #23), who he would spend the rest of the race battling with for the top of the podium, then took over at the front.

Masia was then given a 3.510s penalty for a Pit Intervention Time Infraction. Masia subsequently fell down the standings to P6, despite crossing the finish line second. On the final lap, at Turn 10, Manzi made a move, pushing Masia wide, although the Spaniard kept P2 on track. Just behind the pair, Schroetter and Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) battled for track position, with Booth-Amos holding Schroetter off to claim P2 once penalties had been applied.

Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse #11) finished P4 despite a 0.855s penalty being applied for a Pit Intervention Time Infraction. Home hero Oli Bayliss (PTR Triumph Factory Racing #32) secured a credible P7 on his Triumph debut.

WorldSSP Race 1 Results

1. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing)
2. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) +0.322s
3. Marcel Schroetter (WRP Racing) +0.480s
4. Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +1.447s
5. Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) +2.513s

Sunday

Superpole Race

2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship runner up Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) dominated once again in the Tissot Superpole Race. Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven) recovered from his disappointing P6 result in race 1, giving Bulega a run for his money before he pulled away.

A chaotic Turn 4 fracas saw Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad Racing Team) and Alvaro Baustista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) run off track, hurting their race placement. Razgatlioglu’s P13 finish spelled the end of his streak of P1 or P2 finishes, stretching all the way back to his return from injury in Aragon in 2024’s Round 10.

Nicolo Bulega had much more competition than in his blowout Race 1 win, however, he still claimed P1 by a 2.3s margin ahead of Andrea Iannone. Iannone was tenacious in his leap into the first corner, jumping up from P6 into P2. He nipped at Bulega’s heels in the first laps of the race, posing the greatest threat of the session. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) rounded out the podium. And while a gap separated him from Bulega and Iannone in the top two spots, he did well to hold P3 following a spirited attack by Scott Redding (MGM Bonovo).

Toprak Razgatlioglu and Alvaro Bautista saw their Superpole sessions squandered as they both ran wide through the gravel and onto the grass in Lap 1’s Turn 4, ruining both their placements. Scott Redding once again found himself in the midst of the action and clashing with the other Independent Ducati machines – this time battling with Danilo Petrucci for P3. As Petrucci pulled away later in the race, the hunter became the hunted as Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team #14) challenged his fellow Englishman for his P4 position. Sam Lowes rose to the occasion and landed his best ever race result in World Superbike. His previous best was P6 in last year’s Race 2 in Assen.

Andrea Locatelli (#55) did what he does best at Phillip Island and secured another strong result, this time a P6 to score four points in the Championship.

Superpole Race Results

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
2. Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven) +2.324s
3. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +4.923s
4. Scott Redding (MGM BONOVO Racing) +5.312s
5. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +5.452s

WorldSBK Race 2

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was untouchable in Oz as he completed his first ever hat-trick. He won with a very comfortable 2.6s margin to cruise past the chequered flag in style. While Bulega was running away with P1, not all the grid enjoyed such a carefree race. 2024 Riders’ Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) appeared to struggle from lights out, being applied a penalty for irresponsible riding after an aggressive overtake on Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team).

Nicolo Bulega was metronomic in his efficiency Down Under. Testing earlier in the week told a story that he would be a strong contender, but no one on the grid could handle the speeds he would bring to the season opening races. He claimed his career-first hat trick with a Race 2 P1, and speeds like these have to be a concern for the grid’s other riders, as they strive to keep up.

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) had a very strong showing in Race 2, fighting his way back from a P11 start after a poor result in the Tissot Superpole Race. Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven) joined the Ducati Factory riders on the rostrum. Having started second on the grid, he weathered the storm of other independent riders hot on his tail to land his second podium of the weekend.

Scott Redding (MGM Bonovo Racing) had another day of constant action, fighting tooth and nail with a swarm of other riders (particularly Danilo Petrucci). The 2024 Top Independent rider and Redding battled throughout the second half of the race after the Pit Intervention, exchanging overtakes. In the end, Petrucci came in P5 behind Redding, as this battle of the Independent Riders will be one to watch this season.

Aussie hero Remy Garner’s weekend did not go to plan, with a DNF in race one lap 11, a DNF in race two lap 16, and a 10th in the superpole race. He will be back next round!

“I’m really happy because this is my first hat-trick in WorldSBK. It’s incredible and an amazing feeling to do it at my favourite track and now I want to go back home to celebrate. I’m very proud of the job my team did. My bike was perfect from Monday until the last lap of Sunday in Race 2. I was able to push every lap and I enjoyed every lap, so thank you so much to them,” Bulega reflected.

WorldSBK Race 2 Results

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
2. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +2.603s
3. Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven) +3.980s
4. Scott Redding (MGM BONOVO Racing) +8.043s
5. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +10.009s

Championship Points

1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 62 points
2. Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 36 points
3. Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven) 35 points
4. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) 31 points
5. Scott Redding (MGM BONOVO Racing) 30 points

WorldSSP Race 2

Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) is now a FIM Supersport World Championship race winner after taking Triumph to the top step of the rostrum at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. The #69 took the British manufacturer’s second win in the Championship as he secured his second podium of the weekend during the Australian Round.

Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) etched his name into the list of FIM Supersport World Championship race winners as he topped the podium for his first ever WorldSSP win at Race 2 in Australia. With his win, Booth-Amos became the fourth rider to win a race in both World Supersport and World Supersport 300. He and Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) traded places from Race 1’s podium, as Manzi led the race for long stretches, but was outpaced on the Gardner Straight by Booth-Amos to give up P1.

Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) avoided much of the chaos at the front of the grid by nature of his poor start to the race. Having started the race in pole position, Bendsneyder fell to P13 only a few turns into Lap 1. He gritted his teeth and climbed back up to round out the rostrum in P3.

Atop the new Yamaha R9, GMT94 Yamaha teammates Michael Rinaldi (#21) and Lucas Mahias had a strong showing in Race 2, especially in the case of Rinaldi, who had not shown the same pace as Mahias in prior races this weekend. Splitting the two Yamaha teammates was Jeremy Alcoba (Kawasaki Racing Team #52), who climbed to a late P4 position. But after his 6.78s Pit Lane Infringement penalty was applied, he ended up P5.

How Did the Aussies Do?

Oli Bayliss represented for the home crowd to clinch P7 again, making it a very successful weekend for the PTR Triumph Factory Racing Team. Harrison Voight (D34G WorldSSP Racing Team #29 Ducati) and Luke Power (MotoZoo Me Air Racing MV Agusta #68) finished the weekend at The Island with Power taking 12th in race one, while Voight unfortunately had a DNF on lap 3. In race two Power went one better with 11th, while Voight finished 14th. Awesome results for the pair…

WorldSSP Race 2 Results

1. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing)
2. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) +0.671s
3. Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +1.125s
4. Michael Rinaldi (GMT94 Yamaha) +3.373s
5. Jeremy Alcoba (Kawasaki WorldSSP Team) +9.467s

Championship Points

1. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) 45 points
2. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) 45 points
3. Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) 29 points
4. Oli Bayliss (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) 18 points
5. Jeremy Alcoba (Kawasaki WorldSSP Team) 17 points

For the full WorldSBK Round One results in all classes for all days, click here...

The post WorldSBK Round 1 | Bulega bags sublime hat-trick appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

A Q&A session with the riders provided the gathered crowd with insight into the mindsets and motivations of those at the pinnacle of the sport. After the Q&A, the riders led fans for the scenic trip across the San Remo bridge to the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, where they made their way around one and a half laps of the oceanside track.

One of the most successful Australians in the sport’s history, Doohan is celebrating 30 years since his first championship victory. On Sunday, he will ride a celebratory lap of the circuit in front of the race day crowds. The current Australian riders across all three international categories were given plenty of encouragement from Homecoming Ride participants.

Local residents and school students lined the roads to cheer for the procession as they made their way across the San Remo Bridge and onto the Circuit. The Qatar Airways Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix 2024 begins on Friday, with the three-day track schedule including a MotoGP sprint race on Saturday.

The post Over 500 riders join heroes for MotoGP Homecoming Ride! appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

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

Download Full Results

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

1. Alex Lowes | Kawasaki
2. Andrea Locatelli | Yamaha | +1.157s
3. Toprak Razgatlioglu | BMW | +1.738s

[Download Full 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 Full Results

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

Download Championship Standings

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 Full Results

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

Download Championship Standings

The post WorldSBK Round One Report | Phillip Island Australia, Lowes magic double, Bulega Stuns! appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

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.

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