DID YOU MISS IT? Australia delivers a phenomenal season-opener as 2025 kicks off in style
Phillip Island is a sensational location to start the year and that was the case once again this season with some fierce fighting and dramatic moments throughout
More than 120 days had passed between Race 2 of last year’s Spanish Round and this year’s Australian Round in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship as the 2025 season got underway with a visit to the incredibly beautiful Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. The three days of track action all had some unforgettable moments as the season started with some unmissable drama. Watch some of the best moments in the clips at the top of this page!
PRACTICE DRAMA ON DAY 1: Razgatlioglu crashes on The Island
Friday’s action kicked off with two practice sessions as teams and riders optimised their packages for the round. It wasn’t an easy start for Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) – the reigning Champion had also endured a tricky test leading up to the round – after ‘El Turco’ crashed during FP1 at Turn 4. It was a lowside fall and, while the damage was very small to the bike, it cost him valuable track time as he searched for big gains.
THE FIRST RACE DAY: Razgatlioglu stalks Bulega, van der Mark’s high-speed Race 1 crash
The action started with Tissot Superpole when Razgatlioglu followed Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) to get a reference for a hot lap after Bulega’s blistering pace all weekend. It worked as he set the second fastest time, but it wasn’t enough to overhaul the #11 as he claimed the first pole of the season. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was looking strong as he followed his teammate around in the top ten, but the Dutchman suffered a high-speed crash at Turn 1 as he lost control of his M 1000 RR at Doohan Corner before he tumbled through the gravel. The Dutchman was unhurt after the crash.
SUNDAY’S DRAMATIC FINAL DAY: Superpole Race chaos, Razgatlioglu’s Race 2 retirement
The 10-lap Tissot Superpole Race is always full of elbow-out action throughout the whole race and Australia was no different. It all started on Lap 1 at Turn 4 when both Razgatlioglu and Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) ran wide and into the gravel trap at the start of a chaotic race. Before were able to continue the race, with Razgatlioglu fighting back to finish 13th while Bautista was 19th after he crashed at Turn 6 later on. In Race 2, Bautista completed a remarkable comeback to finish second after starting from P11, but Razgatlioglu’s woes continued; he was forced to retire with a technical issue on his machine. After Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) claimed a hat-trick, the #1 sits 42 points back from last year’s runner-up.
WHAT’S NEXT: a trip to Portimao awaits
From the stunning coastline of Melbourne to… the stunning coastline of the Algarve region in Portugal, as WorldSBK heads to the rollercoaster Autodromo Internacional do Algarve on the 28th-30th March. A venue that always provides plenty of drama thanks to its undulating layout and challenging design. It’s had races decided by the smallest of margins after incredible battles and 2025 will provide more of the same.
DON’T MISS OUT! Get your tickets for the Pirelli Portuguese Round right HERE!
