WorldSBK gets down to business at Phillip Island &...

WorldSBK 2026

Phillip Island Take a look at – Day One – FP1
February 16, 2026

After a European pre-season disrupted by persistent rain at Jerez and Portimao, situations that noticed groups burn by way of journey budgets relatively than tyres, the paddock has arrived at Phillip Island to one thing way more consultant.

Forecasts for Monday and Tuesday’s closing pre-season take a look at level to dry operating and temperatures nudging past 30 levels, delivering the primary real alternative of 2026 to finish significant long-run work and correctly validate base settings.

Even with near-ideal climate, nonetheless, preparations have been virtually compromised. Delays within the cargo of Pirelli tyres compelled the Dorna WorldSBK Organisation to air freight inventory in for the two-day take a look at. The rest of the freight is anticipated to reach forward of Friday’s opening race classes. Fingers crossed…

WorldSSP – Masia leads opening session

World Supersport riders have been first on monitor, pit exit opening at 0910 for a 110-minute session. Regardless of 25-degree monitor temperatures and negligible wind, a number of early crashes occurred as riders reacquainted themselves with the quick, flowing Island structure.

Jaume Masia topped FP1 with a 1m32.541 aboard the Ducati Panigale V2 run by Orelac Verdnatura.

Oli Bayliss endured a barely awkward begin when his new mechanic rolled the PTR Triumph Avenue Triple 765 RS out dealing with the fallacious course. Fortuitously, Bayliss is aware of which manner Phillip Island runs and shortly settled in, posting a 1m32.885 to go second quickest, forward of Peter Oettl.

WorldSBK – Bulega instantly within the 29s

When Superbike testing commenced at 1110, there was no easing into it. Riders instantly chased monitor time within the prime situations.

Nicolo Bulega was first into the 1m29 bracket, opening with a 1m29.8 earlier than bettering to 1m29.656. A prolonged crimson flag adopted,  initially for Cape Barren Geese on circuit, then once more for an oil spill at flip two from Sam Lowes, halting momentum.

As soon as operating resumed, Bulega picked up the place he left off. A 1m29.754, 1m29.656, 1m29.661, then instantly adopted by a 1m29.875, a 1m29.922 and a 1m29.845 earlier than he briefly returned to the pits. At that stage, he remained the one rider within the 29s, and he was reeling them off in succession with obvious ease.

Yari Montella had been persistently circulating within the low 1m30s earlier than lastly dipping into the 29s late within the session with a 1m29.921.

Bulega then underlined his early authority, producing a 1m29.606 earlier than instantly following that up with a 1m29.451 on his closing lap. Greater than half a second away from Montella in second.

Behind them, the sphere was tightly packed. Simply half a second coated third by way of twelfth. Axel Bassani claimed third with a 1m30.239, whereas Iker Lecuona was twelfth on 1m30.761.

It was a sluggish begin for all of the Yamaha riders, aside from new signing Xavi Vierge. The Honda exile opened his Yamaha account with a 1m30.420.

Miguel Oliveira led the BMW contingent with a 1m30.620.

Jake Dixon was simply behind on 1m30.655, the quickest Honda.

Ducati stuffed the highest 5 locations by way of the velocity lure, Bulega main the way in which on 321 km/h. The primary non-Ducati on the velocity charts was Dixon’s Honda at 318.2, a single click on sooner than Oliveira’s BMW. Vierge was the quickest Yamaha at 314.5 km/h.

Riders will likely be again out later this afternoon for an additional two-hour session. The monitor temperature is already within the mid-30s and might be heading in the direction of the mid-40s later this afternoon.

Following the two-day take a look at, the 2026 Superbike World Championship season formally begins at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit this weekend, February 20–22. Present forecasts point out dry and sunny situations for Friday and Saturday, with a chance of showers on Sunday.

WorldSBK Phillip Island Take a look at Occasions
Day One AM – Feb 16, 2026

1. Nicolo Bulega 1m29.451 – Ducati
2. Yari Montella 1m29.921 – Ducati
3. Axel Bassani 1m30.239 – Bimota
4. Lorenzo Baldassarri 1m30.275 – Ducati
5. Grant Gerloff 1m30.284 – Kawasaki
6. Alex Lowes 1m30.286 – Bimota
7. Álvaro Bautista 1m30.333 – Ducati
8. Xavi Vierge 1m30.420 – Yamaha
9. Sam Lowes 1m30.481 – Ducati
10. Miguel Oliveira 1m30.620 – BMW
11. Jake Dixon 1m30.655 – Honda
12. Iker Lecuona 1m30.761 – Ducati
13. Alberto Surra 1m31.031 – Ducati
14. Tarran Mackenzie 1m31.092 – Ducati
15. Bahattin Sofuoğlu 1m31.116 – Yamaha
16. Stefano Manzi 1m31.343 – Yamaha
17. Andrea Locatelli 1m31.385 – Yamaha
18. Remy Gardner 1m31.454 – Yamaha
19. Danilo Petrucci 1m31.534 – BMW
20. Tetsuta Nagashima 1m31.543 – Honda
21. Ryan Vickers 1m31.548 – Honda
22. Mattia Rato 1m32.849 – Yamaha

2026 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship calendar

……Date…….	Nation	Circuit	WorldSBK	WorldSSP	WorldSPB
20-22 Feb	AUS	Phillip Island GP	X	X
27-29 Mar	POR	Algarve Int’l	X	X	X
17-19 Apr	NED	TT Assen	X	X	X
1-3 Might	HUN	Balaton Park	X	X
15-17 Might	CZE	Most	X	X	X
29-31 Might	ESP	MotorLand Aragon	X	X	X
12-14 Jun	ITA	Misano – Marco Simoncelli	X	X	X
10-12 Jul	UK	Donington Park	X	X
4-6 Sep	FRA	Nevers Magny-Cours	X	X	X
25-27 Sep	ITA	Cremona	X	X	X
11th of September Oct	POR	Estoril	X	X
16-18 Oct	ESP	Jerez – Angel Nieto*	X	X	X

2026 World Superbike Championship Entry Listing

Rider	Bike	Staff
I.Lecuona	Duc	Aruba.It Ducati
N.Bulega	Duc	Aruba.It Ducati
D.Petrucci	BMW	ROKiT BMW Motorrad
M.Oliveira	BMW	ROKiT BMW Motorrad
A.Locatelli	Yam	Pata Maxus Yamaha
X.Vierge	Yam	Pata Maxus Yamaha
Y.Montella	Duc	Barni Spark
A.Bautista	Duc	Barni Spark
A.Lowes	Bim	bimota by Kawasaki
A.Bassani	Bim	bimota by Kawasaki
S.Chantra	Hon	Honda HRC
J.Dixon	Hon	Honda HRC
S.Manzi	Yam	GYTR GRT Yamaha
R.Gardner	Yam	GYTR GRT Yamaha
S.Lowes	Duc	ELF Marc VDS
L.Baldassarri	Duc	Goeleven
T.Mackenzie	Duc	MGM Racing
G.Gerloff	Kaw	Kawasaki WorldSBK
A.Surra	Duc	Motocorsa
M.Rato	Yam	Motoxracing
B.Sofuoglu	Yam	Motoxracing
A.Iannone	Duc	Cainam Racing