Remy Gardner hampered by injury during P.I. WorldS...

WorldSBK 2026

Phillip Island Take a look at

February 16-17, 2026

The GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Staff accomplished its ultimate pre-season outing on 16–17 February at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, with Remy Gardner persevering with his build-up to the 2026 Superbike World Championship opener on the identical venue this weekend.

For the 27-year-old, the two-day check was much less about chasing a headline lap time and extra about methodically working by a structured programme on the Yamaha R1 as he continues to get well from shoulder accidents the 2021 Moto2 World Champion sustained whereas coaching late final 12 months.

Day 1: Basis work

Gardner logged 61 laps on Monday, specializing in re-establishing rhythm and confidence aboard the R1 relatively than attacking the timesheets. His better of 1m31.350 positioned him twenty first on the mixed order on the finish of day one.

With heat situations typical of Phillip Island in February, the emphasis remained on sustaining constant race tempo and refining base settings relatively than extracting a single low-fuel flyer.

Day 2: Incremental features

Tuesday adopted an identical template, with additional element analysis and set-up refinement aimed squarely on the race weekend. Gardner improved to a 1m30.269, climbing to seventeenth total throughout the 2 days, 1.6 seconds off the benchmark set by Ducati’s Nicolo Bulega.

The close to one-second acquire underlined regular progress, even when outright tempo stays an space to unlock as soon as bodily situation and race depth come absolutely into play. It must also be famous that Gardner was marginally faster on the Yamaha at this test last year.

The quickest Yamaha at this week’s check was the model’s new recruit, Xavi Vierge. The Spaniard’s better of 1m29.812 was adequate for ninth outright. Whereas Gardner was seventeenth, he was solely four-tenths slower than Vierge was on the Manufacturing facility bike.

Remy Gardner – P17 total

“It hasn’t been the best couple of days, however I knew it will be difficult right here. I’m nonetheless struggling a bit bodily, but it surely ought to enhance in the course of the week, so I’m staying assured.

“I’m blissful we had been capable of finalise some work on the setup and take a look at just a few issues forward of the race weekend. We now have two days to get well after which we’ll be again, so let’s keep optimistic.”

With solely a brief turnaround earlier than lights out on Saturday, the main focus now shifts from analysis to execution. For Gardner, a clear run by apply and Superpole will probably be vital at a circuit the place monitor place and tyre administration are decisive over race distance.

The groundwork has been laid; the query now could be how far more the Yamaha bundle can yield when the stopwatch begins to matter and the way Remy himself holds up underneath the rigours of racing.  Early indications are that it could possibly be a tricky weekend for the only real Australian within the subject.

WorldSBK Phillip Island Take a look at Occasions

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