2024 World Superbikes season kicks off at Phillip Island this weekend
The world-famous Phillip Island circuit will play host to the first rounds of the 2024 WorldSBK and ASBK championshipsThe Superbike World Championship is set to take over the iconic Phillip Island circuit this weekend, as the world’s best go head-to-head for the first time in 2024.
While testing is currently taking place at the Island, official proceedings will kick off on Friday, with WorldSBK (Superbike) free practice and World SSP (Supersport) superpole.
Saturday will see the SBK superpole, as well as the first racing action of the year with Race 1 for both SBK and SSP. And the party will wrap up on Sunday with the second races for each category.
In addition to the SBK and SSP world championship classes, the Island will also play host to the first round of the Australian Superbike Championship, with reining champ Troy Herfoss swapping his Honda for a Ducati. It is unclear if Herfoss will race the whole season, with the New South Welshman recently signing on to race the King of the Baggers series in America with Indian Motorcycle.
The first round of the WorldSBK series will be interesting due to some major rule changes and significant team swaps for the SBK class in the off-season.
There are new weight limit rules, new concession and superconcession rules, and a reduction in fuel capacity to 21-litres.
As for rider news, the biggest off-season story was the signing of 2021 champion Toprak Razgatlioglu by the factory BMW outfit, while six-time champion Jonathan Rea left Kawasaki for the Pata Prometeon Yamaha squad.
In addition, former MotoGP race winner Andrea Iannone will make his SBK debut on a Ducati Panigale V4R, while Moto2 rider Sam Lowes returns to SBK with the ELF Marc VDS Racing Team.
Spaniard Alvaro Bautista is the back-to-back reigning champ and will looking to add a third title aboard his Ducati Panigale V4R.
Australia’s sole representative in the premier class will be Moto2 world champion Remy Gardner, who will ride a Yamaha YZF R1. The son of former 500cc world champion Wayne Gardner finished ninth in 2023.
Tickets for the Australian WorldSBK round are now on sale with all the action set to take place from February 23-25 at Phillip Island, Victoria.
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