Remy Gardner hampered by injury during P.I. WorldSBK Testing

WorldSBK 2026
Phillip Island Test
February 16-17, 2026

The GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team completed its final pre-season outing on 16–17 February at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, with Remy Gardner continuing his build-up to the 2026 Superbike World Championship opener at the same venue this weekend.

For the 27-year-old, the two-day test was less about chasing a headline lap time and more about methodically working through a structured programme on the Yamaha R1 as he continues to recover from shoulder injuries the 2021 Moto2 World Champion sustained while training late last year.

Remy Gardner at Phillip Island this week – Image RbMotoLens
Day 1: Foundation work

Gardner logged 61 laps on Monday, focusing on re-establishing rhythm and confidence aboard the R1 rather than attacking the timesheets. His best of 1m31.350 placed him 21st on the combined order at the end of day one.

With warm conditions typical of Phillip Island in February, the emphasis remained on maintaining consistent race pace and refining base settings rather than extracting a single low-fuel flyer.

Remy Gardner at Phillip Island this week – Image RbMotoLens
Day 2: Incremental gains

Tuesday followed a similar template, with further component evaluation and set-up refinement aimed squarely at the race weekend. Gardner improved to a 1m30.269, climbing to 17th overall across the two days, 1.6 seconds off the benchmark set by Ducati’s Nicolo Bulega.

The near one-second gain underlined steady progress, even if outright pace remains an area to unlock once physical condition and race intensity come fully into play. It should also be noted that Gardner was marginally faster on the Yamaha at this test last year.

The fastest Yamaha at this week’s test was the brand’s new recruit, Xavi Vierge. The Spaniard’s best of 1m29.812 was good enough for ninth outright. While Gardner was 17th, he was only four-tenths slower than Vierge was on the Factory bike.

Remy Gardner at Phillip Island this week – Image RbMotoLens
Remy Gardner – P17 overall

“It hasn’t been the easiest couple of days, but I knew it would be tricky here. I’m still struggling a bit physically, but it should improve during the week, so I’m staying confident.

“I’m happy we were able to finalise some work on the setup and try a few things ahead of the race weekend. We now have two days to recover and then we’ll be back, so let’s stay positive.”

Remy Gardner heading down the main straight at Phillip Island this week – Image RbMotoLens

With only a short turnaround before lights out on Saturday, the focus now shifts from evaluation to execution. For Gardner, a clean run through practice and Superpole will be critical at a circuit where track position and tyre management are decisive over race distance.

The groundwork has been laid; the question now is how much more the Yamaha package can yield when the stopwatch starts to matter and how Remy himself holds up under the rigours of racing.  Early indications are that it could be a tough weekend for the sole Australian in the field.

Remy Gardner at Phillip Island this week – Image RbMotoLens

WorldSBK Phillip Island Test Times

Pos
Rider
Nat
Bike
Time

1
BULEGA Nicolo
ITA
Ducati Panigale V4R
1’28.630

2
LOWES Sam
GBR
Ducati Panigale V4R
+0.666

3
BALDASSARRI Lorenzo
ITA
Ducati Panigale V4R
+0.698

4
MONTELLA Yari
ITA
Ducati Panigale V4R
+0.721

5
BASSANI Axel
ITA
bimota KB998 Rimini
+0.743

6
LOWES Alex
GBR
bimota KB998 Rimini
+0.945

7
OLIVEIRA Miguel
POR
BMW M 1000 RR
+1.046

8
LECUONA Iker
ESP
Ducati Panigale V4R
+1.139

9
VIERGE Xavi
ESP
Yamaha YZF R1
+1.182

10
GERLOFF Garrett
USA
Kawasaki ZX-10RR
+1.193

11
BAUTISTA Alvaro
ESP
Ducati Panigale V4R
+1.231

12
PETRUCCI Danilo
ITA
BMW M 1000 RR
+1.276

13
MACKENZIE Tarran
GBR
Ducati Panigale V4R
+1.327

14
SURRA Alberto
ITA
Ducati Panigale V4R
+1.339

15
MANZI Stefano
ITA
Yamaha YZF R1
+1.480

16
LOCATELLI Andrea
ITA
Yamaha YZF R1
+1.575

17
GARDNER Remy
AUS
Yamaha YZF R1
+1.639

18
VICKERS Ryan
GBR
Honda CBR1000RR-R SP
+1.816

19
DIXON Jake
GBR
Honda CBR1000RR-R SP
+1.862

20
NAGASHIMA Tetsuta
JPN
Honda CBR1000RR-R SP
+1.883

21
SOFUOGLU Bahattin
TUR
Yamaha YZF R1
+2.110

22
RATO Mattia
ITA
Yamaha YZF R1
+3.342

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