Race 2 at the 2026 Australian WorldSBK is due to start at 16:00 local time.
Nicolo Bulega will start from pole position for this weekend's second full-length race after winning the Superpole earlier today. Bulega won Race 1 from pole position, and has only been beaten in one session this weekend, when Sam Lowes set the fastest time in Warm Up.
Lowes himself will start fifth after the Superpole Race. Next to Bulega on the front row will be the Bimota duo of Axel Bassani and Alex Lowes after they delivered the KB998's first double-podium in the Superpole Race.
Yari Montella will start fourth this afternoon after suffering more than the other front runners with the light rainfall in the 10-lapper that saw him drop from the lead to off the podium.
Miguel Oliveira will come from the back of the grid after not setting a time in Superpole, and having suffered a technical problem in the Superpole Race that saw him drop from ninth to 18th on the last lap earlier today. The Portuguese got up to eighth over 22 laps yesterday, and will need a third strong recovery this afternoon to salvage his weekend.
We have our expected quota of 21 riders due to line up for Race 2 despite a big crash at turn three for Xavi Vierge yesterday. The Spaniard was taken to the medical centre after the crash but was declared fit. He was 19th-fastest in Warm Up this morning and missed the Superpole Race for a technical issue that prevented him from getting to the grid.
Miguel Oliveira says a gear shift issue was behind his late drop through the field in the Superpole Race.
Oliveira had been running inside the top-nine after coming from the back of the grid, but dropped to 18th on the last lap. He said after Race 2 that the problem began developing on the penultimate lap.
Full story here.
Nicolo Bulega reached a major milestone with his Race 2 victory at Phillip Island, which move dhim onto 23 wins in total in WorldSBK.
Full story here.
Danilo Petrucci says he found the visibility in Race 2 "really scary" at Phillip Island.
Miguel Oliveira shared his teammates opinion, adding the conditions were "borderline dangerous".
Full story here.
Sam Lowes has sustained multiple injuries after his crash at turn three in Race 2.
The British rider has sustained wrist, hand, and foot injuries.
Full story here.
It's a clean sweep in Australia for Nicolo Bulega, he wins Race 2. Bassani second, Bautista third.
Mackenzie and Locatelli round out the top-five, Petrucci takes sixth after a penultimate lap pass on Lecuona.
Oliveira also passed Lecuona for seventh on the last lap, Lecuona ends eighth ahead of Baldassarri, and Gerloff who complete the top-10.
Bulega leads onto the final lap, 12s ahead of Bassani. Bautista still there in third, then Mackenzie and Locatelli in fourth and fifth, but Locatelli has Lecuona and Petrucci closing in - probably not enough time for them to get there, though.
Petrucci now on the charge. He's got clear of Oliveira after battling at the back end of the top 10 for about 10 laps. He's now pressuring Lecuona for sixth.
And there goes that battle - Lowes down at turn one, just spins the rear out.
Mackenzie should be clear in fourth now, 5-second gap behind to Locatelli.
Four to go now and the battle for fourth is on between Mackenzie and Alex Lowes.
Conditions are clearing a bit but it's not going to dry before the end with five to go, still very wet.
Sam Lowes has been taken to the medical centre for a check-up after his turn three crash.
Well if you wanted a bit of drama you have it here: Montella is out at Lukey Heights. Off-throttle high-side for the Italian and his second podium is gone. Bautista up to third now, Bassani second.
Xavi Vierge has crashed out at turn two. He's been the fastest Yamaha rider this week by a mile but he's scored no points.
We have a battle in the top-six again: Mackenzie is back within a second of Bautista for fourth.
5s from Bulega to Montella, 5s from Montella to Bassani, 6s from Bassani to Bautista. Not the closest of races, but still 12 to go.
Bautista has cleared Lowes and is up to fourth but is now 6.7s behind Bassani.
Vickers has retired.
That Lowes crash means Bassani now has 6s in hand over Alex Lowes for third place. But Bautista had just passed Mackenzie and is on the back of the second Bimota. A quick pass from Bautista could allow him to get to Bassani.
Sam Lowes has crashed at turn three. He's up and okay, but the bike is not so okay.
Over 3s now for Bulega. Doesn't seem much different to the dry for him apart from the lap time.
Main battle at the moment is Mackenzie vs Bautista for 6th. They've completely dropped Locatelli.
2s now for Bulega over Montella, who has the same now over Sam Lowes.
Mackenzie now past Locatelli for 6th, the Italian's early progress has somewhat stalled.
Baldassarri has been given a double long lap penalty for a jump start.
Lowes up to third now past Bassani at turn four on lap three. He's 1.8s behind Montella now.
Bulega continues to lead from Montella. Bassani continuing to hold third from Sam Lowes.
Alex Lowes alone in fifth but Locatelli looks like he's closing. Mackenzie passed Bautista on that lap for P7.
Bulega 1.6s clear at the front at the end of lap two, then it's Montella and Bassani.
Montella now second, passed Bassani into turn one.
Locatelli also making progress - P7 now from 15th, just passed Bautista into turn four.