Anthony West has made a vibrant start to his new career as a Ducati rider in the Penrite Australian Superbike Championship presented by Pirelli (ASBK), topping Friday practice in sublime conditions at Phillip Island.
Five months after the 44-year-old signed off from the last Phillip Island ASBK round with a maiden SW-Motech Superbike victory on a Yamaha, he’s continued his affinity with the 4.448km circuit – but now with more confidence than ever on the DesmoSport Ducati.
That will provide plenty of food for thought for his Superbike opposition, although he was pushed all the way in practice by Harrison Voght (McMartin Racing Ducati) with just 0.005s separating the duo after the two 30-minute sessions.
Defending five-time champion Josh Waters (McMartin Racing Ducati) was third fastest on a circuit where he’s been dominant in recent times.
Hayden Nelson (BCperformance Kawasaki) and visiting Italian Roberto Tamburini (Addicted to Track Yamaha) topped qualifying in the Kawasaki-backed Supersport and Supersport Next Gen classes, while teen Riley Nauta (Champions Ride Days Kawasaki) uncorked a sizzling final lap to win a ripping Race and Road Supersport 300 opener.
The ASBK action will continue tomorrow – qualifying for Superbike and then one race apiece in all three classes – while in World Supersport Oli Bayliss (Triumph) has given himself an almighty chance to win his first race in the category after qualifying in second.
Bayliss’ fellow Aussie Remy Gardner (Yamaha) will also be front and centre in World Superbike race one, so plenty to cheer about for local fans.
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- SW-MOTECH SUPERBIKE:
West certainly enjoyed his first official day in the Ducati bunker, with his best lap 1:31.492 in opening practice – one of four riders in the 91-second bracket alongside Voight, Waters and new Yamaha Racing Team signing Jonathan Nahlous.
“We had a good start to the weekend,” said West. “It’s our first time as a team working together under the pressure of a race weekend and everyone is really working together unreal.
“Track conditions changed a lot for FP2 and I was missing some rear grip to keep moving forward and missed some opportunities, but we learnt more and it gives me a lot of confidence heading into tomorrow.”
Jack Favelle (Addicted to Track Yamaha) was fifth fastest in practice from Cru Halliday (Stop and Seal Ducati), rookie Jacob Roulstone (Honda), Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team), Cameron Dunker (Blue Marlin Pools Racing Yamaha) and Glenn Allerton (Superbike Advocates Racing Ducati).
Marcus Hamod (Honda) crashed at turn 11 in FP1 and sat out the balance of the day, but he’s expected to line up for qualifying early on Saturday morning – where milder track conditions should make for some rapid lap times.
- KAWASAKI SUPERSPORT/SUPERSPORT NEXT GEN:
Nelson and Tamburini will lead the 21-rider field away in the combined and Kawasaki-backed Supersport and Supersport Next Gen race, with Tom Edwards alongside them on the second BCperformance Kawasaki.
Olly Simpson (DesmoSport Ducati) made up for lost time after electrical gremlins in practice to qualify in fourth from Jake Farnsworth (Yamaha) and Tom Toparis (Stop and Seal Ducati).
Behind lurks a gaggle of young guns and experienced riders, which sets the scene for a gripping race one at 9:25am on Saturday.
- RACE AND ROAD SUPERSPORT 300:
If the first race ASBK race of the season – Race and Road Supersport 300 – has set the tone for the season, we’re in for a treat!
It was a beauty, with a leading pack of six constantly trading blows in the eight-lapper: Nauta, Tara Morrison (Kawasaki), Jordy Simpson (Yamaha), Tyler King (Yamaha), Phoenix O’Brien (Yamaha) and polesitter Orlando Peovitis (Kawasaki).
Nauta held the top spot for most of the time, albeit with wafer-thin margins, but then broke ranks on the final lap to win by nearly two seconds ahead of King, Simpson, O’Brien, Peovitis and Morrison.
A total of 28 riders saw the finish line, with race two at 8:50am on Saturday.
For more information on the 2026 Penrite Australian Superbike Championship presented by Pirelli: