BIG NAMES JOINING STACKED AUSSIE SUPERBIKE FIELD
BIG NAMES JOINING STACKED AUSSIE SUPERBIKE FIELD
AN INTRIGUING SEASON AWAITS, WITH AN INJECTION OF YOUTH TO TAKE ON THE SEASONED VETERANS
Since 1989, the Australian Superbike Championship( ASBK) has been delivering superb entertainment as the nation’ s flagship circuit racing category, with some of the most intense battles and jaw-dropping finishes belonging to Phillip Island where the sweeping curves and long main straight are tailor-made for pure sporting theatre. Mind you, that’ s the universal feeling for all motorcycle competition at Phillip Island, from MotoGP right through to state and club-level clashes!
Phillip Island’ s unquestionably a beacon for the best racing on the planet, which is why round one of the 2026 ASBK Championship at Phillip Island again promises to deliver action aplenty – with the anticipation heightened following a huge injection of young talent into the full-time Superbike ranks after a busy off-season.
Even allowing for the fact that some riders and teams will be solidifying their 2026 racing plans at the last minute, as it stands nine of last year’ s top 11 Superbike riders will be on the grid across this weekend’ s three races, in addition to newcomers like former Moto3 rider Jacob Roulstone( Honda), Harrison Voight( Ducati) and 2023 Australian Supersport 300 champion Marcus Hamod( Honda). Both Voight and Hamod have made previous ASBK Superbike appearances – Voight is a former winner at Phillip Island, as well as holding the current lap record of 1:30.790 – but Roulstone is a different kettle of fish: he’ s starting from scratch.
Roulstone’ s last major meeting at Phillip Island ended in heartbreak when he crashed out of second place in the 2025 Moto3 world championship race, but now he’ s taking on a new challenge as he returns to domestic competition for the first time since 2019.
If rookie status alone doesn’ t come with its own set of challenges, awaiting the newcomers is also a throng of established Superbike stars, led by five-time and defending champion Josh Waters( Ducati) as well as Mike Jones( Yamaha), Anthony West( Ducati), Cameron Dunker( Yamaha), Glenn Allerton( Ducati), Jonathan Nahlous( Yamaha), John Lytras( Yamaha), Jack Favelle( Yamaha) and Cru Halliday( Ducati).
Jones, who pushed Waters all the way to the final round in 2025, and the tireless veteran Allerton are also multiple Superbike champions, while West( change of team and machinery), Dunker( change of team) and Nahlous( change of team) all arrive at Phillip Island with a fresh outlook. Former Australian Supersport champion Nahlous already looks to have gone to another level in 2026 after a sizzling pre-season, while West, the reigning Superbike No. 3, is returning to a circuit where he was a rousing last-start winner – which was his first Superbike victory.
Mind you, a reality check for everyone could come in the form of Waters, who’ s been explosive at Phillip Island over the last three years, delivering one towering performance after another.
Based on that dynamic form, Waters is tipped to start his championship defence in style – but if the Mildura missile isn’ t quite at his best he’ ll feel the heat from the strongest Aussie Superbike roster in recent memory. It’ s going to be a spicy affair: the battle lines are well and truly drawn as the 38th season of ASBK action gets underway at Phillip Island.
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