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The 2025 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is here. Between Race 2 at Jerez in October 2024 and FP1 beginning at the stunning Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, 125 days will have passed. Plenty of winter tests have been completed, a lot impacted by rain, including two days at the Australian circuit itself. With that now in the books, data evaluated, parts confirmed, and base setups worked on, it all starts at the Australian Round. Will Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) start his title defence with victory or will Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) repeat his 2024 success on ‘The Island’? Or, perhaps, a surprise is in store… buckle up for what’s going to be a rollercoaster ride at one of motorcycle racing’s most legendary venues.

DUCATI THE FAVOURITES… BUT CAN RAZGATLIOGLU TAKE VICTORY? A big battle in store

Based on testing at Phillip Island, it appears Ducati are the favourites, particularly in the hands of Bulega, who was both fast and consistent across both days of testing. Of course, a flag-to-flag race – as it will be in Race 1 and Race 2 – can create an upset, but ‘Bulegas’ will be aiming to repeat his 2024 success and add more wins to his tally. Both Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) and Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven) were close behind him in testing, as was teammate Alvaro Bautista. It looks as though Ducati are the favourites with several bikes in contention, but Razgatlioglu was close behind too. The #1 will want to start his title defence with a win at a circuit he’s only won at once, in 2020 for Yamaha, so will ‘El Turco’ be able to take his second win at Phillip Island? Scott Redding (MGM BONOVO Racing) last raced on Ducati machinery in Australia in 2020 and took three podiums. Perhaps a return to the Panigale V4 R will present similar results for the #45.

THE CHASING PACK: it looks close Down Under

Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) has become a bit of a Phillip Island maestro, with three of his four wins coming in Australia, and a Bimota victory would come 25 years after the Italian brand’s last win, which was at Phillip Island with Anthony Gobert. Although they appear to be just behind the lead group, the Brit will be aiming to use his experience of the circuit to put himself in the fight for victory. Teammate Bassani appears to have made a step with the softer tyres too, so perhaps he'll be in the mix come race day. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) was just ahead of the Bimota duo on Day 2 of the Australian test as he aims to lead Yamaha’s charge, with both Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) and his teammate, Dominique Aegerter, quick at Phillip Island in 2024.

ROOKIES AIMING TO IMPRESS: debuts in store for Montella, Vickers, Sofuoglu and Zaidi

Four rookies will start their first WorldSBK weekend in Australia, with Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) perhaps the headline name. A race winner here in WorldSSP on three occasions, he’ll hope his experience can help secure a good result. Ryan Vickers (Motocorsa Racing) will visit for the first time and, after impressing on Day 1 of the test and taking second in the wet in FP4, could perhaps be doing a little rain dance as the weekend approaches. Bahattin Sofuoglu (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) heads into the round after surgery on a broken collarbone but was competitive in testing and will be the second rider to race in WorldSSP300, WorldSSP and WorldSBK. Zaqhwan Zaidi (PETRONAS MIE Honda Racing Team) is really on the backfoot heading into his rookie season, however, after completing just one out lap across the winter – in the rain at Phillip Island on Tuesday, before he crashed on his first flying lap at Turn 4.

HONDA’S TARGET, GERLOFF’S KAWASAKI RACE DEBUT: lots to look forward to in Australia

Honda appear to have had a strong pre-season in the hands of Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) and teammate Iker Lecuona, although the latter is still recovering from injuries he sustained in training. After ending 2024 on a high, they’ll both be hoping to continue where they left off and testing suggests they’re in a similar place while Tarran Mackenzie (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda) will be aiming to join that battle. Elsewhere, Australia will be the race debut for Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) on the Kawasaki ZX-10RR after the #31 has looked quick throughout testing, Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) returns for a second season with the Marc VDS Ducati squad and Tito Rabat (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) will race on the Yamaha R1 for the first time after previously riding Ducati and Kawasaki machinery.

GRID CHANGES: Rea ruled out, Nagashima wildcards

Six-time Champion Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha) will miss the season-opening round after he sustained multiple fractures to his left foot in testing on Monday in Australia, with the Ulsterman ruled unfit for Round 1. In the Honda camp, test rider Tetsuta Nagashima (Honda HRC) will race at Phillip Island as he did last season, coming in for a wildcard appearance and aiming to repeat his point-scoring feat.

CAN IT GET ANY CLOSER? WorldSBK in 2025 starts now – get ahead of the game by reading the Official Programme HERE and watch it all LIVE and UNINTERRUPTED using the WorldSBK VideoPass!