The first day of World Superbike testing at Phillip Island was marked by Ducati dominance and some notable incidents. With the track finally dry, the Italian brand placed four bikes in the top five, with Nicolò Bulega standing out as the fastest, followed by Andrea Iannone and Toprak Razgatlioglu. Ryan Vickers’ debut also caught the eye as he took eighth place in his first experience in Australia.
Razgatlioglu crashed heavily in FP1, forcing the team to carry out repairs before the rider returned to the track in FP2, where he set the third best time. Jonathan Rea, on the other hand, wasn’t as lucky, being sidelined for the first round after a crash that caused multiple fractures to his left foot. Before the crash, the Yamaha rider had been performing quietly, finishing only 15th.
The Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team used the day to fine-tune their bikes for the new season, with Alex Lowes the team’s best rider in sixth. Honda showed signs of adaptation, with Xavi Vierge taking ninth place, while Iker Lecuona struggled physically and finished 22nd. Kawasaki managed to get a rider into the top 10, with Garrett Gerloff finishing tenth.
With the first round of the championship imminent, the initial tests indicate a competitive season, with Ducati as the main favorites. BMW and Yamaha face challenges, especially with the physical problems of their main riders. The second day of testing will be crucial for final fine-tuning before the official start of the races.
Cruising into race week with a 1’28.765s and 71 laps packed in!
— WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) February 17, 2025#WorldSBK pic.twitter.com/Qi5dB11voe
