Nicolo Bulega, 2026 Australian WorldSBK, parc ferme. Credit: Gold and Goose.
Nicolo Bulega, 2026 Australian WorldSBK, parc ferme. Credit: Gold and Goose.
© Gold & Goose

2026 Australian WorldSBK LIVE: Race 1 Reaction from Phillip Island

Live coverage from Race 1 at the Australian WorldSBK at Phillip Island, the opening round of the 2026 season.

Race 1 at the 2026 Australian WorldSBK is due to start at 16:00 local time. 

Nicolo Bulega starts on pole position after a commanding performance in Superpole this morning. The Italian was fastest by over 0.4 seconds as he took his third straight Phillip Island pole, and has topped every session so far this weekend. A victory in Race 1 will be Bulega's fifth in World Superbike at Phillip Island having won all three races last year as well as Race 1 in 2024.

Sam Lowes has been the closest challenger to the Italian for most of the weekend, but was beaten to second place by Yari Montella in Superpole. Lowes will start third.

Axel Bassani and Alex Lowes have both been on good form for Bimota this weekend and will both start from the second row, Lowes fourth ahead of Bassani in fifth. Danilo Petrucci joins them on the second row in sixth as he lines up for his BMW debut.

It will also be Miguel Oliveira's BMW debut, but a crash on his first lap of Superpole left the Portuguese rider without a lap time and so he'll start last.

It was not a great first Superpole of the year for Iker Lecuona, either, the new Ducati factory rider qualifying 13th, last of the Ducati riders and over a second behind his teammate at the front.

The field is at its expected strength of 21 riders this weekend, but boosted by a wildcard appearance for Ryan Vickers with HRC. Jake Dixon is absent for Honda after breaking his wrist on Tuesday; he underwent surgery yesterday.

21 Feb 2026
12:08
Bassani "had to lose a lot of time" with Lowes penalty

Axel Bassani has complained about the timing of the penalty he received for contact with Sam Lowes during Race 1 at Phillip Island.

Bassani had to relinquish a gap of around one second over Lowes in order to serve the penalty he gained for making contact with the Marc VDS Ducati rider at turn four.

The Italian went on to finish fourth, but was unhappy afterwards with the timing of the penalty.

Full story here.

Axel Bassani, Sam Lowes, 2026 Australian WorldSBK. Credit: Gold and Goose.
Axel Bassani, Sam Lowes, 2026 Australian WorldSBK. Credit: Gold and Goose.
© Gold & Goose
11:49
Bulega-Baldassarri similarities?

Nicolo Bulega has pointed out some similarities in his own racing career to that of Lorenzo Baldassarri after the Go Eleven rider scored his first WorldSBK podium in Race 1.

Baldassarri finished third, just beating Axel Bassani to the bottom step of the podium.

Full story here.

Lorenzo Baldassarri, Nicolo Bulega, 2026 Phillip Island WorldSBK test. Credit: Gold and Goose.
Lorenzo Baldassarri, Nicolo Bulega, 2026 Phillip Island WorldSBK test. Credit: Gold and Goose.
© Gold & Goose
11:41
Oliveira: "Electronic issue" prevented me from rejoining Superpole

An electronic issue with his BMW M1000 RR after it was repaired following his turn two crash prevented Miguel Oliveira from setting a time in Superpole, he revealed after Race 1.

Oliveira went on to finish eighth in Race 1, but admitted afterwards that the Superpole crash will affect his whole weekend.

Full story here.

Miguel Oliveira, 2026 Australian WorldSBK, media day. Credit: Gold and Goose.
Miguel Oliveira, 2026 Australian WorldSBK, media day. Credit: Gold and Goose.
© Gold & Goose
11:02
Montella: Race 1 podium "like a dream for everybody"

Yari Montella says his podium in Race 1 at the Australian WorldSBK, which came in the first race after  rookie season that left him 18th in the championship, was "like a dream for everybody" as he paid tribute to the work done by himself and the Barni Ducati team over the winter.

Full story here.

Yari Montella, 2026 Australian WorldSBK. Credit: Gold and Goose.
Yari Montella, 2026 Australian WorldSBK. Credit: Gold and Goose.
© Gold & Goose
10:32
Bulega: Winning "never easy" in WorldSBK

Speaking after his Race 1 win today, Nicolo Bulega said it's "never easy" to win in WorldSBK. 

His fifth Phillip Island win was also his 21st in total, equalling Max Biaggi.

Full story here.

05:53
Standings

2026 Australian WorldSBK - Championship stanidngs after Race 1

05:46
Results

2026 Australian WorldSBK - Race 1 Result

05:34
Bulega wins Race 1

Nicolo Bulega takes victory in WorldSBK Race 1 at Phillip Island. He's unbeaten in his last four starts there now.

Behind, its maiden WorldSBK podiums for both Montella and Baldassarri, Bassani just missing out in fourth.

Sam Lowes holds onto fifth, then its Lecuona, Alex Lowes, Oliveira from the back of the grid to eighth, then Surra and Petrucci complete the top-10.

05:32
Lap 21/22

Bulega leads onto the final lap, he has 4.5s over Montella who himself is comfortable in third.

Bassani now right on Baldassarri's tail, and Sam Lowes has dropped off that battle.

05:31

Vierge has been taken to the medical centre after his crash.

05:29
Podium positions closing up

Not only is Bassani closing in on Baldassarri, but Montella's gap over the Go Eleven Ducati is back under two seconds. Montella probably safe with 3 to go, but Bassani now only 0.6s behind Baldassarri.

05:27
Bassani on the move

Bassani now within a second of Baldassarri. He's kind of taking Sam Lowes with him but it's Bassani with the better pace at the moment it seems.

05:26
Vierge OUT

Vierge has crashed out at turn three. He's ended up at turn four, and the bike is destroyed. He's been able to walk away.

05:25
Lap 16/22

Bassani and Lowes continue battling for fourth; Lecuona now past Alex Lowes at Lukey Heights - impressive move from the Ducati rider.

05:22
Battle for fourth

Bassani can't close in on Baldassarri, but Lowes is increasing the pressure behind.

Alex Lowes is now out of that battle for fifth, and has Lecuona closing in behind him.

05:20
Lap 13/22

Bulega now over 3s clear out front, almost four actually.

Montella increasingly secure in second, he now has 5s over Baldassarri, who in turn continues to have around 1.3s over Bassani.

05:19
Manzi OUT

Stefano Manzi has retired. Seems like a technical thing rather than a crash.

05:18
Sam Lowes 5th

Sam Lowes up to fifth, passing Alex Lowes at turn one to begin lap 12.

05:16
Lap 10/22

The battle for third is staying together but they're not closing in on Baldassarri despite Bassani now heading that group. Sam Lowes still unable to find a way through on his brother.

05:14
Lap 9/22

Bassani now up to fourth past his teammate. Baldassarri now 1.3 seconds clear of that group in third place.

05:13
Lap 8/22

Alex Lowes dropping back a bit now. Bassani and Sam Lowes behind look much stronger at this stage. Vierge and Lecuona not too far behind, either.

Bulega 2.9s clear at the front now, fastest lap for him that time.

05:10
Lap 6/22

Bulega now two seconds clear at the front, Montella two seconds clear of Baldassarri.

Lowes sort of going with the Go Eleven Ducati, and Bassani has re-passed Sam Lowes at turn one for fifth. Not a lot of speed in the Marc VDS Ducati compared to the Go Eleven bike, it seems.

05:09
Lowes back up to 5th

Bassani has let Sam Lowes through to fifth after the move at turn four, that was an order from the stewards. Lowes' pace seems to be improving now, anyway, and can probably get himself back into the podium battle.

05:07
Lap 4/22

1.3s now for Bulega over Montella, whose gap over Lowes is the same as that in front of him.

Baldassarri after making this an all-Ducati podium as he passes Alex Lowes into turn one. Bimota 4-5 now with Bassani right with Lowes and Baldassarri in fifth.

05:05
Lap 3/22

Bulega now over a second out front. 

Battles behind have included Sam Lowes getting pushed back, he's sixth now in front of Surra, having just been passed fairly brutally by Bassani at turn four.