Bulega takes command on the opening day of the 2025 season.
Phillip Island, Australia
The opening day of the 2025 WorldSBK season at Phillip Island was nearly flawless. Under a brilliant blue sky and a track temperature of 35°C, teams and riders enjoyed ideal conditions to fine-tune their setups for the season opener.
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) dominated both 45-minute sessions, completing 36 laps on the 4.445km circuit and posting a best lap of 1’28.790. His performance set a clear benchmark for the day.
The session wrapped up with Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven) finishing as the second fastest—though he was over four-tenths of a second behind Bulega. Meanwhile, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), despite suffering a minor low-speed crash at Turn 4 during Free Practice 2, still managed to secure the third-fastest time.
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), the reigning World Champion and the only non-Ducati rider in the top five, also crashed at Turn 4. It’s been a challenging winter for him, with a fractured right index finger limiting his time on the newly homologated 2025 BMW M 1000 RR.
The 2025 season also marks bimota’s return to the WorldSBK grid. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) ended the day ninth fastest, having completed 40 laps. Additionally, Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) impressed by finishing eighth—recalling his double Supersport race wins in Australia last year—while his teammate Danilo Petrucci posted the fourth-fastest time.
P1 – Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
“I had a really good day today. We managed to make some small improvements from testing, which is promising. Tomorrow, with higher track temperatures expected, we’ll need to decide whether to tweak the bike or adjust my riding style. Testing gives you confidence, but racing is a whole different challenge—with flag-to-flag racing and all the pit-stop details to manage. I’m positioned deep in the pitlane among a lot of mechanics, so there’s definitely more to consider.”
P2 – Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven)
“Today’s conditions were a bit tougher than during testing. Even though it was sunny, the asphalt lost grip, and the heat made the bike’s performance drop—a lot more sliding and rear spin made it challenging. Overall, we held our performance steady compared to testing. Nicolo and I are nearly neck and neck, which is encouraging. We’ll look to make a few more adjustments to take our setup to the next level.”
P3 – Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
“Friday was a very positive start to the season. I felt great on the bike as we had already dialed in our race setup during testing. Today was about refining those small details that make riding enjoyable. The higher track temperatures in the afternoon presented a new challenge, and we struggled a bit with rear grip at maximum lean. Still, our pace was solid. Nicolo may be a step ahead, but I’m building my confidence and feeling good on the bike.”
P5 – Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
“First off, my hand is fine. When I saw I was veering into the grass, I quickly jumped off because my hands and fingers are critical. We have three races here, and every detail matters. There was a moment when the engine braking suddenly released—I’m not sure why—and I lost the front end instantly. We’re committed to finding the right setup for the race, but it’s not easy since the bike just isn’t behaving like it did last year. With the new chassis, it’s not turning, stopping, or gripping as expected. I’m aiming for a top-five finish because top three isn’t realistic right now. It’s been a tough day, but I’m hopeful that we can improve tomorrow.”
Combined Results after FP2
1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’28.790s
2. Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven) +0.406s
3. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.725s
4. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.794s
5. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.809s
6. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) +0.949s
Bendsneyder celebrates his inaugural career pole position.
At Tissot Superpole, Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) suffered a heavy crash at Turn 2 that cut his session short—but not before he recorded the fastest lap of the day to claim the first pole position of his WorldSSP career. Following the crash, he’ll undergo a medical review before warm-up, as he sustained an injury to the fifth toe of his right foot.
In a notable achievement, Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) earned his first-ever front row start after a standout performance. Although he missed pole by just 0.189 seconds, it marks Triumph’s first front row appearance since Qatar 2016.
Adding to the front-row excitement, Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA) qualified third, meaning three different manufacturers will be represented at the front. This weekend also marks the debut of the Yamaha YZF R9 in the Supersport class.
P1 – Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse)
“At the end of Superpole, I was pushing to improve my time. That’s when I lost the rear and had a big high-side at Turn 2. Thankfully, I’m okay, though I’ll need a medical check tomorrow morning because of an injury to my fifth toe. Despite the crash, I’m really pleased we achieved the first row with a pole position—that’s been my goal. Now, the key is to get a good night’s sleep and be ready for tomorrow. The flag-to-flag race will be a new challenge for me. We even did a race simulation during testing—it felt a bit unusual, but exciting nonetheless. My focus is to keep pushing and stay at the front.”
Superpole Results
1. Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) 1’32.310s
2. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) +0.189s
3. Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA) +0.325s
4. Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) +0.334s
5. Valentin Debise (Renzi Corse) +0.414s
6. Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) +0.455s
Official WorldSBK Press Release
