First day of Phillip Island WorldSBK testing wraps up – Report/Results/Images

WorldSBK 2026

Phillip Island Test – Day One
February 16, 2026

Nicolo Bulega was again the first rider into the 1m29 bracket on Monday afternoon, and once there, he stayed there. The Italian steadily reeled off 29s, and more than an hour into the second session, he remained the only man to have dipped under 1m30 this afternoon.

Track conditions had shifted slightly from the earlier World Supersport outing. While temperatures had approached 45 degrees during that session, a breeze arrived ahead of the second Superbike practice, which took a little heat out of the track surface.

It was not until inside the final 30 minutes that Axel Bassani joined Bulega in the 29s, the 26-year-old posting a 1m29.636 on the Bimota.

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

Sam Lowes – Image RbMotoLens

Bulega, however, saved his best for last. On the final lap of the day, he lowered the benchmark again to a 1m29.345.  Bulega topped this test last year with a 1m28.680, but the underlying pace is already evident heading into Tuesday, while it remains early days with the updated V4 R package.

Bassani’s 1m29.636 secured him second place on combined times, ahead of Sam Lowes.

Alex Bassani – Image RbMotoLens

Yari Montella was fourth on combined times courtesy of his morning 1m29.921, although he could only manage a 1m30.488 in the hotter afternoon session.

Garrett Gerloff narrowly missed the 29s with a 1m30.015 for the sole Kawasaki entry. That time is already two-tenths quicker than his best from the corresponding two-day test last year.

Garrett Gerloff – Image RbMotoLens

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

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

Jake Dixon – Image RbMotoLens

Xavi Vierge, who recorded a 1m29.812 at this test last year on the Fireblade, posted a 1m30.420 on the Yamaha to finish just inside the top ten on combined times, but failed to improve in the afternoon session.

Xavi Vierge – Image RbMotoLens

Miguel Oliveira logged significant mileage as he continues adapting to WorldSBK machinery. The former MotoGP rider finished the day 11th overall and top BMW.

Miguel Oliveira – Image RbMotoLens

Remy Gardner was more than a second slower today than his best from the two-day test here in 2025.

Remy Gardner – Image RbMotoLens

Riders return on Tuesday for a further pair of two-hour sessions before attention shifts to the opening round of the 2026 Superbike World Championship at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit this weekend, February 20–22. Current forecasts indicate dry and sunny conditions for Friday and Saturday, with a chance of showers on Sunday.

WorldSBK Day One Combined Times

WorldSSP

Jaume Masia continued to set the WorldSSP pace on Monday afternoon.  The 25-year-old Spaniard topped the morning session with a 1m32.541 and also topped FP2 but with a time that was three-tenths slower than his morning benchmark on the Ducati Panigale V2 run by Orelac Verdnatura due to a much higher 44-degree track temperature this afternoon.

Oli Bayliss might have finished third in the afternoon session, but his morning time of 1m32.885 was still good enough to take second overall on combined times ahead of Peter Oettl.

Can Oncu was the fastest of the Yamaha YZF-R9 horde in fourth overall.

WorldSSP Day One Combined Times

2026 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship calendar

……Date…….	Country	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 May	HUN	Balaton Park	X	X
15-17 May	CZE	Most	X	X	X
29-31 May	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 List

Rider	Bike	Team
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