Tayla Relph

It was excitement from the beginning for the first Free Practice session of the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship. Just 1 second covered the top 15 riders after the conclusion of Free Practice 1, proving we are in for a real treat for the Grand Ridge Brewery Australian Round.

After a short 96 days, the MOTUM FIM World Superbike Championship has fired back up for the Grand Ridge Brewery Australian Round. First to light up the season was World Supersport, who took to the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit at 10.30am (AEDST) for their 45-minute Free Practice 1 session.

The engines have started, spectators are flowing in, the Paddock Show is live, and the teams and riders are ready, which can only mean one thing. The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, 2023 season starts NOW!

In less than 24 hours time, the lights will officially go green for the first time at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit for a season opener spectacular. The hype has been building over the past few months; teams have launched their 2023 livery, a new benchmark pace has been set, the titanic trio has been shaken up, and some new faces are making their way to the top of the timesheets.

The 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is ready to excite and delight for a massive three-days at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. But before the lights can go out for the season to commence, a number of riders decided to take their skills to the water with the pro’s of Island Surfboards! 

As the minutes closed in on the final Free Practice session at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, it was the reigning World Champion Alvaro Bautista [Aruba.It Racing – Ducati] who set the pace for the weekend to come.

If the World Supersport Official Test is anything to go by, the ensuing pack will be fighting to keep with Nicolo Bulega [Aruba.It Racing – Ducati] who didn’t put a foot wrong throughout the two-day test at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.

Nicolo Bulega [Aruba.It Racing WorldSSP Team] has set the benchmark high in WorldSSP on the conclusion of their third Free Practice session for the Official Test, with Stefano Manzi [Ten Kate Racing Yamaha] and Can Oncu [Kawasaki Puccetti Racing] following closely behind.

Australian rider Remy Gardner is settling in nicely to life as a WorldSBK rider in the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team. The Australian Official Test has proved positive for the 2021 Moto2 World Champion, who has been in hot contention in the Independent times.

Day 2 of the Official Test got underway this morning, with World Superbikes first out on track at 9.10am (AEDST) to commence today’s proceedings with a two-hour FP1 session.