Round One – Phillip Island – Day One
SW-Motech Superbike
Many ASBK riders failed to improve in the markedly warmer afternoon conditions at Phillip Island as track temperatures climbed beyond 40-degrees.
Anthony West’s final lap from FP1 remained the benchmark across the opening day. His 1m31.492 stood unchallenged through FP2 as the DesmoSport Ducati recruit struggled to secure a clear lap in isolation during the hotter afternoon session.
Anthony West’s FP1 1m31.492 remained the benchmark as track temperatures soared beyond 40°C at Phillip Island – Image RbMotoLens
McMartin Racing’s Harrison Voight reduced West’s margin to a scant five-thousandths of a second and again displayed strong, repeatable pace on the V4 R.
Harrison Voight closed to within five-thousandths of West on Friday afternoon – Image RbMotoLens
Teammate and defending champion Josh Waters methodically built speed throughout the day, also dipping into the 1m31s as the session progressed.
Defending champion Josh Waters steadily built speed and dropped into the 1m31s late in the day – Image RbMotoLens
Jonathan Nahlous reinforced that his form at Sydney Motorsport Park was no one-off. The YRT youngster was the leading Yamaha rider and the only other competitor to circulate in the 1m31 bracket.
Jonathan Nahlous was the leading Yamaha rider and the only other competitor in the 1m31 bracket – Image RbMotoLens
However, the top eight are pretty tight and covered by only a second, with Jack Favelle in fifth on 1m32.304, narrowly edging Cru Halliday and Jacob Roulstone. A scant four-hundredths of a second covered that fifth-through-seventh spread.
Cru Halliday is normally a master of Phillip Island but is yet to really hit his straps – Image RbMotoLens
Mike Jones was eighth quickest, four-tenths off his young team-mate, and a tenth clear of ninth-placed Cam Dunker, while Glenn Allerton rounded out the top ten ahead of John Lytras and rookie Marcus Hamod.
Australian Superbike competitors will be on track again on Saturday morning at 0805 for their sole 30-minute qualifying session before fronting up for their opening 11-lap contest of the weekend right on midday. The final two bouts are slated for 0945 on Sunday morning, followed by race three at 1340.
SW-Motech Superbike Combined FP1/FP2
Pos
Rider
Bike
F.Lap
1
Anthony WEST (QLD)
Ducati V4R
1m31.492
2
Harrison VOIGHT (QLD)
Ducati V4R
1m31.497
3
Josh WATERS (VIC)
Ducati V4R
1m31.880
4
Jonathan NAHLOUS (NSW)
Yamaha YZF-R1
1m31.971
5
Jack FAVELLE (NSW)
Yamaha YZF-R1
1m32.304
6
Cru HALLIDAY (NSW)
Ducati V4R
1m32.318
7
Jacob ROULSTONE (NSW)
Honda CBR RR
1m32.341
8
Mike JONES (QLD)
Yamaha YZF-R1
1m32.402
9
Cameron DUNKER (NSW)
Yamaha YZF-R1
1m32.571
10
Glenn ALLERTON (NSW)
Ducati V4R
1m32.870
11
John LYTRAS (QLD)
Yamaha YZF-R1
1m32.894
12
Marcus HAMOD (NSW)
Honda CBR RR
1m33.276
13
Brendan WILSON (VIC)
Yamaha YZF-R1
1m35.118
14
Ty LYNCH (SA)
Yamaha YZF-R1
1m35.199
15
Josh NEWMAN (NSW)
Ducati V4R
1m35.379
16
Luca DURNING (QLD)
Ducati V4R
1m35.674
17
Adam SENIOR (WA)
Yamaha YZF-R1
1m36.643
18
John QUINN (VIC)
Yamaha YZF-R1
1m37.219
19
Charles HOLDING (SA)
Yamaha YZF-R1
1m37.498
20
Matthew RINDEL (VIC
Yamaha YZF-R1
1m37.657
21
Luke JONES (VIC)
Yamaha YZF-R1
1m37.953
22
Michael KEMP (SA)
Yamaha YZF-R1
1m38.928
23
Ross HUDSON (WA)
Yamaha YZF-R1
1m39.338
24
Mitchell CARR (WA)
Honda CBR RR
1m42.031
Kawasaki Supersport
It was Hayden Nelson who emerged on top for BCperformance Kawasaki, the Australian edging Italian Roberto Tamburini by the narrowest of margins to secure pole position.
Hayden Nelson put the NG spec BC Performance Kawasaki ZX-6R on pole – Image RbMotoLens
Nelson’s 1m35.129 on the NG-specification ZX-6R was enough to deny Tamburini’s Supersport-spec Yamaha YZF-R6, but the benchmark was notably 1.3 seconds shy of the lap record set here last year by Archie McDonald.
The top two in ASBK Supersport Qualifying today at Phillip Island – Image RbMotoLens
The front row is separated by just 0.07-seconds, with Tom Edwards making it two Kawasakis at the sharp end.
Tom Edwards rounded out the front row – Image RbMotoLens
Olly Simpson heads row two on the NG spec DesmoSport Ducati V2 and looks likely to be well in the podium fight.
Olly Simpson also demonstrated podium pace – Image RbMotoLens
The closeness of the leading quartet underlines how finely poised this category remains despite the mixed NG and traditional Supersport machinery, but clearly, there is more speed to come.
Jake Farnsworth was almost half a second further behind in fifth – Image RbMotoLens
Jake Farnsworth was almost half a second further behind in fifth, ahead of Tom Toparis and youngsters Marianos Nikolis, Will Nassif and Sam Drane, while Josh Soderland rounded out the top ten ahead of Scott Nicholson and Valentino Knezovic. That latter trio is more than three seconds slower than Nelson’s pole time, highlighting a clear split between the leading contenders and the remainder of the field heading into the races.
Ryan Yanko got some frequent flyer miles – Image RbMotoLens
The opening Supersport race for the season is scheduled for 0925 on Saturday morning, which is then followed by race two at 1335 Saturday afternoon, while the third and final ten-lap contest of the weekend is slated for 1125 on Sunday.
Kawasaki Supersport Qualifying Results
Pos
Rider
Class
Bike
Time
1
Hayden NELSON (NSW)
NG
Kawasaki ZX6R
1m35.129
2
Roberto TAMBURRINI (ITA)
SS
Yamaha YZF-R6
+0.071
3
Tom EDWARDS (NSW)
NG
Kawasaki ZX6R
+0.074
4
Olly SIMPSON (SA)
NG
Ducati V2
+0.171
5
Jake FARNSWORTH (NSW)
SS
Yamaha YZF-R6
+0.634
6
Tom TOPARIS (NSW)
NG
Ducati V2
+0.818
7
Marianos NIKOLIS (NSW)
SS
Yamaha YZF-R6
+1.191
8
Will NASSIF (NSW)
SS
Yamaha YZF-R6
+1.861
9
Sam DRANE (NSW)
SS
Yamaha YZF-R6
+2.907
10
Josh SODERLAND (NSW)
SS
Yamaha YZF-R6
+3.143
11
Scott NICHOLSON (VIC)
SS
Yamaha YZF-R6
+3.299
12
Valentino KNEZOVIC (NSW)
SS
Yamaha YZF-R6
+3.315
13
Sam PEZZETTA (SA)
SS
Yamaha YZF-R6
+3.445
14
Ghage PLOWMAN (SA)
SS
Yamaha YZF-R6
+3.761
15
Jordy SIMPSON (SA)
SS
Yamaha YZF-R6
+4.311
16
Haydn FORDYCE (QLD)
SS
Yamaha YZF-R6
+5.764
17
Lauchy WILLIAMS (WA)
SS
Yamaha YZF-R6
+6.712
18
Oliver SHORT (VIC)
SS
Yamaha YZF-R6
+6.733
19
Tianhao ZHAO (VIC)
SS
Yamaha YZF-R6
+7.993
20
Brock QUINLAN (SA)
SS
Yamaha YZF-R6
+9.045
21
Anthony CHIODO (NSW)
SS
Honda CBR RR
+9.365
Road & Race Supersport 300
The battle for top spot in the SS300 category was an interstate tussle between young Western Australian Orlando Peovitis (Kawasaki) and South Australian Tara Morrison (Kawasaki). In the end, it was the Sandgroper that edged out the Croweater while Jordy Simpson (Yamaha) made it three South Australians on the front row.
Western Australian Orlando Peovitis (Kawasaki) – Image RbMotoLens
Road & Race Supersport 300 Qualifying Results
Pos
Rider
Bike
Time
1
Orlando PEOVITIS (WA)
Kawasaki Ninja
1m48.591
2
Tara MORRISON (SA)
Kawasaki Ninja
+0.123
3
Jordy SIMPSON (SA)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+0.243
4
Tyler KING (VIC)
Kawasaki Ninja
+0.263
5
Riley NAUTA (QLD)
Kawasaki Ninja
+0.490
6
David COWARD (TAS)
Kawasaki Ninja
+0.608
7
Toby JAMES (VIC)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+0.773
8
Matthew RITTER (VIC)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+1.004
9
Tom NICOLSON (VIC)
Kawasaki Ninja
+1.110
10
Lincoln KNIGHT (NSW)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+1.178
11
Phoenix O’BRIEN (VIC)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+1.230
12
Jake SENIOR (VIC)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+1.439
13
Nixon FROST (VIC)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+1.469
14
Seth DELLOW (SA)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+1.545
15
Rossi McADAM (WA)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+1.561
16
Jai RUSSO (NSW)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+1.727
17
Taishi KATADA (JAP)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+2.116
18
Zac RUSSO (NSW)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+2.468
19
Alvin WU (NZ)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+2.673
20
Mitchell CARTWRIGHT (NSW)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+2.756
21
Alexander CODEY (NSW)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+2.968
22
Krue KNIGHT (VIC)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+3.242
23
Flynn JACOBS (SA)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+3.253
24
Ethan DELLOW (SA)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+3.878
25
Harriet GRACE (VIC)
Kawasaki Ninja
+4.590
26
Lachlan BRINKMAN (NSW)
Kawasaki Ninja
+5.118
27
Yaofei LIU (VIC)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+6.020
28
Abbie CAMERON (WA)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+8.608
29
Jason GRICE (NSW)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+10.574
30
Miles NICHOLAS (NSW)
Kawasaki Ninja
+11.082
31
Adam JORDAN (NSW)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+12.867
Road & Race Supersport 300 Race One
Road & Race Supersport 300 Race One – Image RbMotoLens
Riley Nauta took the early advantage when the opening eight-lap Supersport bout of the season got underway late on Friday afternoon at Phillip Island. Trailing the diminutive youngster closely were Tara Morrison, Tyler King, Jordy Simpson, Matthew Ritter, Phoenix O’Brien and poleman Orlando Peovitis. Nauta kept the challengers at bay as the top six started to stretch away from the field as the race approached the halfway mark.
Road & Race Supersport 300 Race One – Image RbMotoLens
Tyler King moved to the fore with three laps to run as Tara Morrison then relegated Nauta further back to third. Tara Morrison then took her turn up front, Riley Nauta moved back up to second, Phoenix O’Brien was now third, while Jordy Simpson had pushed Tyler King back to fifth just ahead of Orlando Peovitis. Then Nauta was back in the lead, then King again, then Nauta…
Road & Race Supersport 300 Race One – Image RbMotoLens
Matthew Ritter had been running in seventh place, 12-seconds behind the top six, but was black-flagged for a technical problem on the penultimate lap.
Matthew Ritter was black-flagged for a technical problem on the penultimate lap – Image RbMotoLens
Jai Russo crashed out on the final lap at turn four.
Road & Race Supersport 300 Race One – Image RbMotoLens
At the last lap board, Riley Nauta had the biggest lead of the race, eight-tenths of a second. Tyler King was in second and Jordy Simpson third.
Nauta extended his lead on the final run around the back of the circuit to take the chequered flag 1.85 seconds clear of Tyler King, who crossed the line side by side with Jordy Simpson, Phoenix O’Brien, Orlando Peovitis and Tara Morrison in an almost photo finish.
Road & Race Supersport 300 Race One – Riley Nauta – Image RbMotoLens
That lead sextet took the flag 15-seconds clear of seventh placed Jake Senior, who had Rossi McAdam, Lincoln Knight, Tom Nicolson, Seth Dellow, Toby James, David Coward and Nixon Frost in close company.
Orlando Peovitis may have finished fifth but his pole time and fastest lap of the race shows he has the speed but perhaps has a little more racecraft to learn before he maximises his potential.
Road & Race Supersport 300 Race One Podium – Riley Nauta on top ahead of Tyler King and Jordan Simpson – Image RbMotoLens
The second SS300 race is slated to get underway at 0850 on Saturday morning before the third and final bout of the opening round at 0910 on Sunday morning.
Road & Race Supersport 300 Race One Results
Pos
Rider
Bike
Time
1
Riley NAUTA (QLD)
Kawasaki Ninja
14m44.881
2
Tyler KING (VIC)
Kawasaki Ninja
+1.850
3
Jordy SIMPSON (SA)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+1.927
4
Phoenix O’BRIEN (VIC)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+1.937
5
Orlando PEOVITIS (WA)
Kawasaki Ninja
+2.023
6
Tara MORRISON (SA)
Kawasaki Ninja
+2.062
7
Jake SENIOR (VIC)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+15.189
8
Rossi McADAM (WA)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+15.200
9
Lincoln KNIGHT (NSW)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+15.244
10
Tom NICOLSON (VIC)
Kawasaki Ninja
+15.350
11
Seth DELLOW (SA)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+15.353
12
Toby JAMES (VIC)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+15.557
13
David COWARD (TAS)
Kawasaki Ninja
+15.860
14
Nixon FROST (VIC)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+16.005
15
Alexander CODEY (NSW)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+17.229
16
Krue KNIGHT (VIC)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+21.879
17
Ethan DELLOW (SA)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+23.472
18
Zac RUSSO (NSW)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+34.593
19
Harriet GRACE (VIC)
Kawasaki Ninja
+34.806
20
Flynn JACOBS (SA)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+35.304
21
Alvin WU (NZ)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+35.304
22
Mitchell CARTWRIGHT (NSW)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+35.369
23
Yaofei LIU (VIC)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+57.226
24
Lachlan BRINKMAN (NSW)
Kawasaki Ninja
+57.346
25
Abbie CAMERON (WA)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+57.362
26
Jason GRICE (NSW)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+1m19.451
27
Miles NICHOLAS (NSW)
Kawasaki Ninja
+1m33.954
28
Adam JORDAN (NSW)
Yamaha YZF-R3
+1m35.355
DNF
Matthew RITTER (VIC)
Yamaha YZF-R3
DNF
Jai RUSSO (NSW)
Yamaha YZF-R3
DNF
Taishi KATADA (JAP)
Yamaha YZF-R3
2026 ASBK Provisional Calendar
2026 ASBK PROVISIONAL CALENDAR
Round One
February 20-22
Phillip Island, VIC (WorldSBK)
Round Two
March 27-28
Sydney Motorsport Park, NSW
Round Three
May 1-3
The Bend, SA
Round Four
May 29-31
Morgan Park, QLD
Round Five
June 26-28
Queensland Raceway, QLD