In the years 2022 and 2023, the top three riders in World Superbike (WSBK) – Alvaro Bautista, Toprak Razgatlioglu, and Jonathan Rea – dominated the competition, winning almost every race. Out of 72 races, only one race was won by a non-“big three” rider. While it wasn’t necessarily boring, the consistent success of these riders established a predictable pattern. However, the recent off-season has brought significant changes to the formula. In the first weekend of the new WSBK season at Phillip Island, none of the “big three” riders won any of the races. This could potentially signal a new era for WSBK, deviating from the familiar dominance of the top riders.
The weekend at Phillip Island saw a shift in the usual hierarchy of WSBK. The results of the races were as follows:
Saturday main race: 1. Bulega (Ducati), 2. Locatelli (Yamaha), 3. Iannone (Ducati)
Sunday sprint race: 1. A Lowes (Kawasaki), 2. Locatelli (Yamaha), 3. Razgatlioglu (BMW)
Sunday main race: 1. A Lowes (Kawasaki), 2. Bautsita (Ducati), 3. Petrucci (Ducati)
The current championship standings after the weekend are as follows:
1 Alex Lowes – 50
2 Nicolo Bulega – 41
3 Andrea Locatelli – 29
4 Andrea Iannone – 29
5 Alvaro Bautista – 27
Alvaro Bautista, who is now in his second stint as a Ducati WSBK rider, has established himself as a dominant force in the series. Despite a challenging pre-season due to an injury, Bautista has been consistently successful at Phillip Island, winning eight out of nine races there. However, in the recent races, Bautista faced tough competition from his teammates Nicolo Bulega and Sam Lowes, and even crashed while attempting to overtake Axel Bassani. While Bautista may have faced setbacks, he expressed appreciation for the new competitive balance in WSBK.
Andrea Iannone, a satellite Ducati rider for Go Eleven, made a remarkable comeback at Phillip Island. Despite a four-year doping ban, Iannone showcased his talent and led several laps during the races. Although he missed out on a win due to a sudden grip drop-off and a resulting crash, Iannone expressed satisfaction with his performance and remained positive about the season.
Nicolo Bulega, a former prospect in Valentino Rossi’s VR46 Academy, had a strong debut as a Ducati works rider in WSBK. He showcased impressive lap times during pre-season testing and secured pole position on his debut. While some may argue that his debut win was fortunate due to the pitstop rule, Bulega’s performance throughout the weekend indicated his potential as a frontrunner. Despite struggling with poor starts, Bulega’s speed and skill make him a formidable competitor.
Toprak Razgatlioglu, who made a shock move from Yamaha to BMW, demonstrated his adaptability and talent at Phillip Island. Although he faced a time penalty in the first race and an engine failure in the third race, Razgatlioglu consistently performed well. His competitiveness on the straights and ability to adapt to a different bike highlight his potential as a top rider for BMW.
Jonathan Rea, who switched from Kawasaki to Yamaha, had a challenging start to the season. Dealing with the aftermath of a crash during pre-season testing and facing issues during pitstops, Rea struggled to find his usual speed on the Yamaha R1. He was outperformed by his teammate Andrea Locatelli and expressed frustration with rear chatter issues. However, it is expected that Rea will improve as he adapts to the new bike.
Overall, the weekend at Phillip Island showcased a more competitive and exciting WSBK. With a closer pack of riders and impressive performances from Yamaha, Kawasaki, BMW, and Ducati, the season holds the promise of thrilling races and the potential for an unforgettable championship battle.