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.

Italian Aprilia rider Lorenzo Savadori has produced the first shock of the 2018 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship by setting the fastest time in the second practice session at Phillip Island’s season-opening Yamaha Finance round.

A late flying lap by Italian Marco Melandri saw him set the fastest time in the opening practice session for the Yamaha Finance round of the 2018 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship at Phillip Island.

Australia’s Phillip Island Grand Circuit kicks off the year’s World Superbike action today with back to back practices and qualifying across all classes, and 15 races scheduled across Saturday and Sunday in the weekend’s Yamaha Finance round.

On the eve of his title defence, three-time WorldSBK champion Jonathan Rea and Australian wife Tatia speak about their life in Melbourne and Phillip Island, as well as their thoughts on the last three years as part of the Kawasaki factory team.

It’s like he has never left. He may be 48 years old, but three-time world superbike champion Troy Bayliss made a sensational return to the professional road racing ranks at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit this afternoon.