Get ready for an exciting season opener! The 2026 Phillip Island World Superbike event is already shaping up to be a thrilling ride. Nicolo Bulega, the pre-season favorite, has continued his dominance into the first free practice session.
Bulega, riding for Aruba.it Ducati, has been on fire. He topped all four track sessions earlier this week and maintained his speed throughout FP1, except for the initial minutes. What's even more impressive is that his best time came towards the end of a long 12-lap run, leaving his competitors with a lot to think about.
But here's where it gets interesting... Sam Lowes, who finished second in testing for Marc VDS, was once again Bulega's closest rival, but he trailed by a significant half-second margin. Bimota's Axel Bassani secured third place, followed by Yari Montella (Barni), Alex Lowes, and Lorenzo Baldassarri (Goeleven).
Garrett Gerloff was the top Kawasaki rider, finishing seventh. Miguel Oliveira, a WorldSBK rookie, was the fastest BMW rider in ninth, while Xavi Vierge led the Yamaha contingent in 11th position.
Unfortunately, Jake Dixon, who was injured during testing earlier this week, will miss the race. He has undergone surgery for multiple fractures in his left hand and wrist. His HRC teammate, Somkiat Chantra, will also be absent.
In Dixon's absence, wild-card Ryan Vickers stepped up as the leading Honda rider, finishing 15th in FP1.
And this is the part most people miss... With the second practice session scheduled for 4:00-4:45 pm local time, the competition is heating up. Who will challenge Bulega's dominance? Will we see any surprises in the next session?
Stay tuned for more updates and analysis as the 2026 Phillip Island World Superbike event unfolds. Don't miss a moment of the action!
Friday Practice Results (1):
| POS | RIDER | NAT | TEAM | TIME |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Nicolo Bulega | ITA | Aruba.it - Ducati | 1:28.858s |
| 2 | Sam Lowes | GBR | ELF Marc VDS Racing Team | +0.524s |
| 3 | Axel Bassani | ITA | bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team | +0.689s |
| 4 | Yari Montella | ITA | Barni Spark Racing Team | +0.703s |
| 5 | Alex Lowes | GBR | bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team | +0.757s |
| 6 | Lorenzo Baldassarri | ITA | Team Goeleven | +0.811s |
| 7 | Garrett Gerloff | USA | Kawasaki Team | +0.834s |
| 8 | Alvaro Bautista | ESP | Barni Spark Racing Team | +0.852s |
| 9 | Miguel Oliveira | POR | ROKiT BMW Motorrad Team | +0.888s |
| 10 | Iker Lecuona | ESP | Aruba.it - Ducati | +0.901s |
| 11 | Xavi Vierge | ESP | Pata Maxus Yamaha | +0.951s |
| 12 | Danilo Petrucci | ITA | ROKiT BMW Motorrad Team | +1.034s |
| 13 | Tarran Mackenzie | GBR | MGM Optical Express Racing | +1.035s |
| 14 | Alberto Surra | ITA | Motocorsa Ducati | +1.059s |
| 15 | Ryan Vickers | GBR | Honda HRC | +1.455s |
| 16 | Andrea Locatelli | ITA | Pata Maxus Yamaha | +1.561s |
| 17 | Remy Gardner | AUS | GYTR GRT Yamaha Team | +1.696s |
| 18 | Tetsuta Nagashima | JPN | Honda HRC | +1.702s |
| 19 | Stefano Manzi | ITA | GYTR GRT Yamaha Team | +1.719s |
| 20 | Bahattin Sofuoglu | TUR | Motoxracing Team | +2.192s |
| 21 | Mattia Rato | ITA | Motoxracing Team | +2.754s |
Fastest 2026 Phillip Island WorldSBK Test Time:
Nicolo Bulega, Ducati, 1m 28.630s.
Official Phillip Island WorldSBK Records:
Best lap: Nicolo Bulega, Ducati, 1m 27.916 (2024)
Fastest race lap: Nicolo Bulega, Ducati, 1m 28.564 (2024)
Peter, a veteran paddock observer with 20 years of experience, has witnessed the rise and fall of legends like Valentino Rossi. He's also been at the forefront of major stories, such as Suzuki's exit and Marc Marquez's injury struggles. With his expertise, we can expect some insightful commentary and analysis throughout the season.
