WorldSBK gets down to business at Phillip Island – FP1 report from day one

WorldSBK 2026

Phillip Island Test – Day One – FP1
February 16, 2026

After a European pre-season disrupted by persistent rain at Jerez and Portimao, conditions that saw teams burn through travel budgets rather than tyres, the paddock has arrived at Phillip Island to something far more representative.

Forecasts for Monday and Tuesday’s final pre-season test point to dry running and temperatures nudging beyond 30 degrees, delivering the first genuine opportunity of 2026 to complete meaningful long-run work and properly validate base settings.

Remy Gardner’s GYTR GRT Yamaha being fettled this morning at Phillip Island – Image TH

Even with near-ideal weather, however, preparations were almost compromised. Delays in the shipment of Pirelli tyres forced the Dorna WorldSBK Organisation to air freight stock in for the two-day test. The remainder of the freight is expected to arrive ahead of Friday’s opening race sessions. Fingers crossed…

Freight delays with the main shipment forced DWO to air freight tyres in for the test – Image TH

WorldSSP – Masia leads opening session

World Supersport riders were first on track, pit exit opening at 0910 for a 110-minute session. Despite 25-degree track temperatures and negligible wind, several early crashes occurred as riders reacquainted themselves with the fast, flowing Island layout.

Perfect conditions but still a few early fallers – Image TH

Jaume Masia topped FP1 with a 1m32.541 aboard the Ducati Panigale V2 run by Orelac Verdnatura.

Check out the size of the header pipe on the Ducati Panigale V2 WorldSSP bike – Image TH

Oli Bayliss endured a slightly awkward start when his new mechanic rolled the PTR Triumph Street Triple 765 RS out facing the wrong direction. Fortunately, Bayliss knows which way Phillip Island runs and quickly settled in, posting a 1m32.885 to go second quickest, ahead of Peter Oettl.

Oli Bayliss second quickest this morning – Image TH

WorldSBK – Bulega immediately in the 29s

When Superbike testing commenced at 1110, there was no easing into it. Riders immediately chased track time in the prime conditions.

Nicolo Bulega – Image RbMotoLens

Nicolo Bulega was first into the 1m29 bracket, opening with a 1m29.8 before improving to 1m29.656. A lengthy red flag followed,  initially for Cape Barren Geese on circuit, then again for an oil spill at turn two from Sam Lowes, halting momentum.

Once running resumed, Bulega picked up where he left off. A 1m29.754, 1m29.656, 1m29.661, then immediately followed by a 1m29.875, a 1m29.922 and a 1m29.845 before he briefly returned to the pits. At that stage, he remained the only rider in the 29s, and he was reeling them off in succession with apparent ease.

Yari Montella – Image RbMotoLens

Yari Montella had been consistently circulating in the low 1m30s before finally dipping into the 29s late in the session with a 1m29.921.

Bulega then underlined his early authority, producing a 1m29.606 before immediately following that up with a 1m29.451 on his final lap. More than half a second clear of Montella in second.

Axel Bassani was third quickest this morning on the Bimota – Image RbMotoLens

Behind them, the field was tightly packed. Just half a second covered third through 12th. Axel Bassani claimed third with a 1m30.239, while Iker Lecuona was 12th on 1m30.761.

Xavi Vierge was fastest Yamaha this morning – Image RbMotoLens

It was a slow start for all the Yamaha riders, apart from new signing Xavi Vierge. The Honda exile opened his Yamaha account with a 1m30.420.

Miguel Oliveira led the BMW contingent with a 1m30.620 – Image RbMotoLens

Miguel Oliveira led the BMW contingent with a 1m30.620.

Jake Dixon was just behind, on 1m30.655, the fastest Honda.

The 2026 V4 R is not a complete clean sheet desing, but it is very different than its predecessor – Image TH

Ducati filled the top five places through the speed trap, Bulega leading the way on 321 km/h. The first non-Ducati on the speed charts was Dixon’s Honda at 318.2, a single click faster than Oliveira’s BMW. Vierge was the fastest Yamaha at 314.5 km/h.

Yamaha men slowest down the chute – Image TH

Riders will be back out later this afternoon for another two-hour session. The track temperature is already in the mid-30s and could be heading towards the mid-40s later this afternoon.

The double-sided swingarm of the new V4 R – Image TH

Following the two-day test, the 2026 Superbike World Championship season officially begins at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit this weekend, February 20–22. Current forecasts indicate dry and sunny conditions for Friday and Saturday, with a possibility of showers on Sunday.

WorldSBK Phillip Island Test Times
Day One AM – Feb 16, 2026

1. Nicolo Bulega 1m29.451 – Ducati
2. Yari Montella 1m29.921 – Ducati
3. Axel Bassani 1m30.239 – Bimota
4. Lorenzo Baldassarri 1m30.275 – Ducati
5. Grant Gerloff 1m30.284 – Kawasaki
6. Alex Lowes 1m30.286 – Bimota
7. Álvaro Bautista 1m30.333 – Ducati
8. Xavi Vierge 1m30.420 – Yamaha
9. Sam Lowes 1m30.481 – Ducati
10. Miguel Oliveira 1m30.620 – BMW
11. Jake Dixon 1m30.655 – Honda
12. Iker Lecuona 1m30.761 – Ducati
13. Alberto Surra 1m31.031 – Ducati
14. Tarran Mackenzie 1m31.092 – Ducati
15. Battahin Sofuoglu 1m31.116 – Yamaha
16. Stefano Manzi 1m31.343 – Yamaha
17. Andrea Locatelli 1m31.385 – Yamaha
18. Remy Gardner 1m31.454 – Yamaha
19. Danilo Petrucci 1m31.534 – BMW
20. Tetsuta Nagashima 1m31.543 – Honda
21. Ryan Vickers 1m31.548 – Honda
22. Mattia Rato 1m32.849 – Yamaha

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