First day of Phillip Island WorldSBK testing wraps...

WorldSBK 2026

Phillip Island Check – Day One
February 16, 2026

Nicolo Bulega was once more the primary rider into the 1m29 bracket on Monday afternoon, and as soon as there, he stayed there. The Italian steadily reeled off 29s, and greater than an hour into the second session, he remained the one man to have dipped below 1m30 this afternoon.

Observe situations had shifted barely from the sooner World Supersport outing. Whereas temperatures had approached 45 levels throughout that session, a breeze arrived forward of the second Superbike follow, which took a little bit warmth out of the observe floor.

It was not till inside the ultimate half-hour that Axel Bassani joined Bulega within the 29s, the 26-year-old posting a 1m29.636 on the Bimota.

With lower than ten minutes remaining, Sam Lowes additionally cracked the 30s barrier with a 1m29.907.

Bulega, nonetheless, saved his finest for final. On the ultimate lap of the day, he lowered the benchmark once more to a 1m29.345.  Bulega topped this check final 12 months with a 1m28.680, however the underlying tempo is already evident heading into Tuesday, whereas it stays early days with the up to date V4 R package deal.

Bassani’s 1m29.636 secured him second place on mixed occasions, forward of Sam Lowes.

Yari Montella was fourth on mixed occasions courtesy of his morning 1m29.921, though he may solely handle a 1m30.488 within the hotter afternoon session.

Garrett Gerloff narrowly missed the 29s with a 1m30.015 for the only real Kawasaki entry. That point is already two-tenths faster than his finest from the corresponding two-day check final 12 months.

Alex Lowes rounded out the highest six on day one, forward of Lorenzo Baldassarri and Alvaro Bautista.

Jake Dixon rounded out the highest ten as the highest Honda with a 1m30.492.

Xavi Vierge, who recorded a 1m29.812 at this check final 12 months on the Fireblade, posted a 1m30.420 on the Yamaha to complete simply inside the highest ten on mixed occasions, however failed to enhance within the afternoon session.

Miguel Oliveira logged important mileage as he continues adapting to WorldSBK equipment. The previous MotoGP rider completed the day eleventh total and high BMW.

Remy Gardner was greater than a second slower at present than his finest from the two-day check right here in 2025.

Riders return on Tuesday for an additional pair of two-hour periods earlier than consideration shifts to the opening spherical of the 2026 Superbike World Championship on the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit this weekend, February 20–22. Present forecasts point out dry and sunny situations for Friday and Saturday, with an opportunity of showers on Sunday.

WorldSBK Day One Mixed Instances

WorldSSP

Jaume Masia continued to set the WorldSSP tempo on Monday afternoon.  The 25-year-old Spaniard topped the morning session with a 1m32.541 and likewise topped FP2 however with a time that was three-tenths slower than his morning benchmark on the Ducati Panigale V2 run by Orelac Verdnatura as a consequence of a a lot larger 44-degree observe temperature this afternoon.

Oli Bayliss might need completed third within the afternoon session, however his morning time of 1m32.885 was nonetheless adequate to take second total on mixed occasions forward of Peter Oettl.

Can Oncu was the quickest of the Yamaha YZF-R9 horde in fourth total.

WorldSSP Day One Mixed Instances

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 Could	HUN	Balaton Park	X	X
15-17 Could	CZE	Most	X	X	X
29-31 Could	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
9/11 Oct	POR	Estoril	X	X
16-18 Oct	ESP	Jerez – Angel Nieto*	X	X	X

2026 World Superbike Championship Entry Listing

Rider	Bike	Crew
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