02:49
The first 1m 29 of the afternoon
The first 1m 29s lap of the afternoon is in, and it's by Sam's brother Alex, who puts Bimota at the top.
Nicolo Bulega, 2026 Phillip Island WorldSBK Test (Gold&Goose).
© Gold & Goose
WorldSBK Phillip Island testing LIVE - Day 2: Can anyone beat Bulega?
Live updates from the final day of the Official 2026 Phillip Island WorldSBK Test.
KEY MOMENTS:
- Honda rookie star Jake Dixon fractures his wrist.
- Nicolo Bulega breaks into the 1m 28s in FP3.
- Axel Bassani puts Bimota on top for most of FP4.
- .. But Bulega saves his best for last.
The WorldSBK pre-season concludes with the second and final day of testing at Phillip Island in Australia.
Reigning title runner-up Nicolo Bulega reinforced his favourite tag by setting the pace in both sessions on day one, finishing with a best time of 1m 29.345s.
That put the Aruba.it Ducati rider 0.291s clear of Bimota’s Axel Bassani, with Sam Lowes in third for Marc VDS Ducati.
The full grid is testing down under ahead of this weekend’s season opener – with the exception of injured HRC rookie Somkiat Chantra and Andrea Iannone, whose proposed ‘Cainem Racing’ project is yet to materialise.
The Tuesday track schedule again alternates between WorldSBK and WSS, with each class getting two sessions.
Tuesday schedule (local time):
09:10-11:10 – WorldSBK Free Practice 3
13:40-15:40 – WorldSBK Free Practice 4
17 Feb 2026
02:48
Sam Lowes sets the early pace
Sam Lowes continues to set the early pace with a 1m 30.067s, but the top 13 riders were all in the 1m 29s this morning.
02:47
Bulega and Bassani are now the only riders still in the pits.
02:45
Once again, Nicolo Bulega is content to remain in the pits during the opening minutes, while Sam Lowes leads the way with a mid 1m 30s.
02:40
FP4 begins at the Phillip Island WorldSBK test
Here we go... The fourth and final WorldSBK session at the 2026 Phillip Island test is underway.
The lap time to beat is Nicolo Bulega's 1m 28.880s from this morning's FP3, which put the Aruba.it Ducati title favourite almost half-a-second clear of next best Yari Montella (Barni Ducati) and Axel Bassani (Bimota).
00:17
Phillip Island WorldSBK Test Results: End of FP3
2026 Phillip Island World Superbike Test - Results: Day 2 (End of FP3)
00:03
Broken wrist for Jake Dixon at Phillip Island WorldSBK test
Bad news for Jake Dixon as WorldSBK announces that he "suffered a fractured left wrist and an elbow contusion" in his morning accident at the Phillip Island test and "will now undergo further medical checks."
Honda has confirmed that the injury rules the Englishman out of this weekend's season opener and means both HRC riders will be absent, with team-mate and fellow rookie Somkiat Chantra still recovering from a training injury.
Stefano Manzi - who also brought out red flags on the final morning, after an accident at Turn 2 - has been declared fit to continue.
Jake Dixon, 2026 Phillip Island WorldSBK Test (Gold&Goose).
Jake Dixon, 2026 Phillip Island WorldSBK Test (Gold&Goose).
23:48
Top 10
The current top ten: Nicolo Bulega, Axel Bassani, Sam Lowes, Lorenzo Baldassarri, Yari Montella, Miguel Oliveira, Xavi Vierge, Alex Lowes, Alvaro Bautista, Alberto Surra.
23:44
Big progress by Miguel Oliveira
While Dixon is sidelined, fellow star rookie Miguel Oliveira has made big progress, slotting into sixth on the timesheets with a 1m 29.676s.
The factory BMW rider has gone almost one second faster than on Monday.
23:42
Jake Dixon hasn't returned
With half-an-hour of FP3 remaining, Jake Dixon still hasn't set a lap time after crashing on his first flying lap of the day and is said to be undergoing medical checks.
Let's hope the Moto2 race winner and 2026 WorldSBK rookie can return for the final (FP4) afternoon session.
Jake Dixon, 2026 Phillip Island WorldSBK Test (Gold&Goose).
© Gold & Goose
23:30
Bulega into the '28s
Yes we can, Bulega sets all four sectors 'red' for a 1m 28.880s. The Ducati rider is now 0.493s ahead of Bassani.
23:29
Red flags to Red sectors
After a brief red flag period following a crash for Stefano Manzi, Nicolo Bulega is back out and setting red sectors, could we see the first 1m 28s?
23:24
A Yamaha in the 1m 29s
New Yamaha rider Xavi Vierge joins the 1m 29s club with the fifth fastest lap time, but over 0.7s from Bulega.
23:20
Bulega's next target
Nicolo Bulega's next target will be the 1m 28.824s for pole position a year ago, then his fastest lap record of 1m 28.564s. He'll need quite a step to challenge his all-time lap record of 1m 27.916s, but never say never...
23:11
Phillip Island WorldSBK test: FP3 Results - Hour 1
Full results at the halfway stage of FP3...
2026 Phillip Island World Superbike Test - Results: Day 2 (FP3, Hour 1)
23:00
Bulega breaks clear with best lap of the test
But not for long. Nicolo Bulega breaks clear with a 1m 29.086s on his 12th lap of the day. That puts the Aruba Ducati favourite 0.287s ahead of Bassani.
22:58
Lorenzo Baldassarri joins the P1 battle
There are now four riders covered by 0.04s with Lorenzo Baldassarri jumping into 4th place with a 1m 29.413s.
22:57
Lorenzo Baldassarri joins the P1 battle
There are now four riders covered by 0.04s with Lorenzo Baldassarri jumping into 4th place with a 1m 29.413s.
22:57
Lorenzo Baldassarri joins the P1 battle
There are now four riders covered by 0.04s with Lorenzo Baldassarri jumping into 4th place with a 1m 29.413s.
22:57
Lorenzo Baldassarri joins the P1 battle
There are now four riders covered by 0.04s with Lorenzo Baldassarri jumping into 4th place with a 1m 29.413s.
22:55
Bulega and Sam Lowes are back in the 1m 29s, they both need to find less than 0.04s to beat Bassani's best lap of the day so far.
22:50
Bimotas back out
Test leader Axel Bassani and team-mate Alex Lowes head back on track, with the Englishman a useful target for the Italian to chase just ahead... or maybe not, Bastianini immediately pits again.
Meanwhile, Nicolo Bulega and Sam Lowes, between the Bimotas on the timesheets, re-join the action.
22:47
Fastest for each brand
It's currently a Ducati and Bimota sweep of the top seven...
1. Axel Bassani, Bimota, 1m 29.373s.
2. Nicolo Bulega, Ducati, 1m 29.406s.
8. Xavi Vierge, Yamaha, 1m 30.131s.
10. Garrett Gerloff, Kawasaki, 1m 30.309s.
11. Danilo Petrucci, BMW, 1m 30.407s
18. Tetsuta Nagashima, Honda, 1m 31.634s.
22:44
All 22 riders have now been on track, although Jake Dixon is yet to set a lap time after his earlier fall.
22:38
Bassani stays fastest
Well, well! Bulega's run finishes, and he was left 0.033s behind Bassani.
Top six: Axel Bassani, Nicolo Bulega, Sam Lowes, Alex Lowes, Iker Lecuona, Alvaro Bautista.