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 since the get-go. He topped all four track sessions earlier this week and maintained his speed throughout FP1, leaving his rivals worried. His best time, achieved on the penultimate lap of a 12-lap run, is a clear statement of intent.
But here's where it gets controversial... Sam Lowes, who finished second in testing for Marc VDS, is once again Bulega's closest competitor. However, Lowes is half a second behind, which could indicate a significant gap in performance.
And this is the part most people miss: Bimota's Axel Bassani secured third place, followed by Yari Montella (Barni) and Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team). Garrett Gerloff was the top Kawasaki rider in seventh, while Miguel Oliveira, a WorldSBK rookie, was the fastest BMW rider in ninth. Xavi Vierge led the Yamaha contingent in 11th position.
Unfortunately, Jake Dixon, who was injured during testing earlier this week, will miss the race. Dixon underwent surgery for multiple fractures in his left hand and wrist. His HRC teammate, Somkiat Chantra, will also be absent.
Wild-card Ryan Vickers stepped up as the leading Honda rider, finishing 15th in FP1. The second practice session is scheduled for 4:00-4:45 pm local time.
Here are the Friday practice results for the 2026 Phillip Island World Superbike:
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
The fastest 2026 Phillip Island WorldSBK test time was set by Nicolo Bulega on a Ducati, with a time of 1m 28.630s.
Official Phillip Island WorldSBK records are held by:
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.
So, who do you think will challenge Bulega's dominance? Will we see an unexpected contender rise to the top? Let's discuss in the comments and share your predictions for this exciting season!
