Italian veteran Marco Melandri has scored a resounding win in the opening race of the 2018 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship at Phillip Island.

Frenchman Lucas Mahias (Yamaha) came out on top in a tense World Supersport Superpole qualifying session at Phillip Island this afternoon, and will lead the field away in tomorrow’s 18-lap race.

Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes has stormed to his 43rd career pole position in world superbike competition at Phillip Island this afternoon.

The heading has an historical ring to it, but it’s not world superbike legend Troy Bayliss who has started the 2018 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship weekend at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in winning form, but instead his teenage son Oli.

Italian Lorenzo Savadori has turned the WorldSBK form guide on its head by slotting his Aprilia into top spot during practice for round one of the 2018 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.

Defending champion Josh Waters will begin the 2018 Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) from pole position after coming up trumps in a damp 20-minute qualifying session at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit this afternoon.