The Australian event marked the start of the new era of WorldSBK and delivered incredible races and unforgettable moments.
The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship began in style at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, whose legendary layout did not disappoint. It's a first that will be remembered for a long time thanks to breathtaking overtakes, dream starts and much more. With Australia's Round Grand Ridge Brewery now in the history books, let's take a look at some of the highs and lows that have emerged from the 2024 opening.
ALEX LOWES BACK AT THE TOP: first victories since 2020 for the Kawasaki star
With Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) effectively becoming KRT leader and changing team principal to work with Pere Riba, all eyes were on the #22 to see how he would perform in Australia. The answer ? Almost perfectly. Third on the grid, he prepared well for Race 1 and finished fourth, and on Sunday he was back on top. Almost four years after his last victory, he won the Tissot Superpole Race and followed up with Race 2, taking the lead on the final lap thanks to a daring overtake on Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) at Lukey Heights .
BULEGA SHINES: a first pole and a victory
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) approached the Australian Round with full confidence, having dominated the majority of the test days. The No. 11 took pole for the Tissot Superpole session with a time of 1'27.916, the first officially under 1'28 at Phillip Island. He managed to convert this into a victory in Race 1 despite falling back in the first half of the race, using his pace well around the mandatory pit stop window to fight for victory. He earned two more top-five finishes on Sunday, with “Bulegas” showing he will be around in 2024.
IANNONE IS BACK: as if he had never been absent
After four years of absence from competition, it is possible to think that someone has lost their speed. Not Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven). Like Bulega, the Italian was quick in testing but, as the old adage goes, tests are tests and the race is the race. The round arrived and Iannone's rhythm was still there. He provisionally took pole position before taking second place on the grid and securing a first podium in Race 1. A problem during the Superpole Race caused him to be demoted, but in Race 2 he was beaten to return to fourth place.
WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED: Locatelli and Razgatlioglu retire in Race 2
It was a strong weekend for Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha), fighting for victory in all three races. However, while attempting to pass Alex Lowes at Turn 4 on the final lap of Race 2, he went wide and crashed from third place. A disappointing end to a stunning weekend for “Loka”. His former teammate, Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), had a good first BMW weekend. A podium finish in the Superpole Race was the highlight, but he was fighting for the podium in Race 2 before an engine problem forced him to retire.
WEEKENDS TO FORGET: difficult for many drivers…
Jonathan Rea's move to the Pata Prometeon Yamaha team and debut was highly anticipated, but it turned into a damp squib. He finished 11th in Superpole and Superpole Race, and that was as good as it gets. Race 2 ended when he crashed at turn 11, before letting it be known that he was fine. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) celebrated his birthday on the track but wanted to do better. The local hero retired from Race 1 but finished sixth in the Superpole Race, before taking 12th in Race 2; he was last on the grid for the restart of the race after coming into contact with Rea's bike during his fall, before remounting. Honda's difficulties continued with Team HRC and Xavi Virginie, the Spaniard being unable to do better than tenth in Race 1. Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) left Australia as the lowest ranked BMW driver .
A NEW ERA HAS BEGUN – Book your tickets now for the MOTUL French Round here
