The first day of the 2023 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, Grand Ridge Brewery Australian Round has come to a close and it was the reigning World Champion who leads the way on Day 1, but it was the Independent riders who were truly on the charge.

A clear championship fight is forming between Italian rivals Stefano Manzi [Ten Kate Racing Yamaha] and Nicolo Bulega [Aruba.it Racing – Ducati], and while Manzi was on top in Free Practice 1, it was Bulega who took the final honours in Free Practice 2 and the combined.

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.