ASBK 2026
Round Four – Morgan Park – Friday
John Lytras sprung the Friday surprise at Morgan Park, topping ASBK Superbike practice on a damp opening day where several title contenders chose discretion over risk.
Rain had left the Warwick circuit wet for the start of Friday’s program, and while the worst of the weather stayed away as the day progressed, the track never really came to the riders. Mist hung around the venue at stages, and the lack of wind meant the surface was slow to clean up, making the day as much about judgment and risk management as outright pace.
Only Mike Jones and Yamaha Racing Team teammate Jonathan Nahlous ventured out in the opening Superbike session. Jones completed 20 laps and set a 1m24.552, while Nahlous also logged useful wet mileage as most of the field elected to wait for better conditions.
The second session began at 1330, but the surface remained wet enough to keep numbers low, with only seven riders recording laps. Lytras made the most of the opportunity, setting a 1m22.474 on his 14th and final lap of the 30-minute session. That time would ultimately stand as the fastest Superbike lap of the day.
Simpson quickest in FP3
FP3 brought a larger but still far-from-complete field onto the circuit. Drizzle was recorded during the session, with an air temperature of 13.6 degrees and a damp track at 15.2 degrees; nine riders took part.
Simpson, again stepping into the DesmoSport Ducati Superbike seat while Anthony West continues to recover from the right-hand injury suffered at The Bend, was the standout late in the day. The South Australian topped FP3 with a 1m22.907 and backed that up with further laps of 1m22.930 and 1m22.911, showing useful consistency on the V4 R in conditions that remained far from straightforward.
Jones was second in FP3 on a 1m23.414, with Lytras third in that session on 1m24.446 and Nahlous fourth on 1m25.551. Cameron Dunker, Jack Favelle, Ty Lynch, Glenn Allerton and Joshua Newman also appeared in the final session.
On combined times, Lytras led the way from Simpson, Nahlous and Jones. Dunker was fifth overall, followed by Lynch, Favelle and Luca Durning, while Allerton, Cru Halliday and Newman rounded out the 11 riders to record Superbike lap times across the day.
Front-runners keep their powder dry
Several of the biggest championship players chose not to turn a wheel on Friday. Championship leader Harrison Voight and defending champion Josh Waters both stayed parked, as did Marcus Hamod. With the 2026 ASBK season already at its second-last round, that leaves Saturday morning’s FP4 session carrying extra weight for those who sat out the opening day.
Voight came into Morgan Park with an 11-point lead over McMartin Racing Ducati team-mate Waters, while Jacob Roulstone is absent due to overseas Moto2 commitments. That puts even more focus on the Waters-Voight intra-team contest, particularly at a venue where Waters finally broke through for a Morgan Park win last year after the circuit had previously been one of his more stubborn hurdles.
Jones is another rider with every reason to be watched closely from here. The Queenslander has been below his own lofty standards so far in 2026, but Morgan Park has regularly been one of his strongest venues, and his FP1 mileage suggested he was prepared to gather information even when conditions were well short of ideal.
Saturday looms large
Superbike riders are due back on track at 1005 on Saturday for FP4, followed by qualifying from 1320. The first of Sunday’s two 16-lap Superbike races is scheduled for 1125, with the final race of the weekend slated for 1440.
Friday did not provide a clean read on dry pace, and the current Morgan Park Superbike qualifying record remains a distant 1m12.079, set by Jones in 2023. But it did produce one clear message: Lytras has already banked the lap everyone else is chasing, while several of the title players now have just one practice session to find their way into the weekend.
Continue further down the page for the times from all classes, followed by a gallery of images from Rob Mott.
Superbike Friday Practice Times Combined
 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Pos
|
Rider | Bike | Time |
|
1
|
J Lytras
|
Yam
|
1m22.474
|
|
2
|
O Simpson
|
Duc
|
1m22.907
|
|
3
|
J Nahlous
|
Yam
|
1m22.959
|
|
4
|
M Jones
|
Yam
|
1m23.414
|
|
5
|
C Dunker
|
Yam
|
1m26.630
|
|
6
|
T Lynch
|
Yam
|
1m26.808
|
|
7
|
J Favelle
|
Yam
|
1m27.210
|
|
8
|
L Durning
|
Duc
|
1m27.984
|
|
9
|
G Allerton
|
Duc
|
1m32.001
|
|
10
|
C Halliday
|
Duc
|
1m39.543
|
|
11
|
J Newman
|
Duc
|
1m41.357
|
Supersport / Next Gen
Tom Edwards set the Friday benchmark in Kawasaki Supersport / Next Gen, the BCperformance Kawasaki rider topping the combined practice order with a 1m23.335 as the mixed Supersport and Next Gen field worked through a cold, damp opening day at Morgan Park.
Edwards’ effort also gave him early bragging rights over Next Gen championship leader and team-mate Hayden Nelson, who was fourth overall on a 1m25.390. Between them sat Olly Simpson, second quickest on the DesmoSport Ducati V2 with a 1m24.478, and Jake Farnsworth, who was the leading Supersport rider with a 1m24.612 on his Yamaha YZF-R6.
Farnsworth came into the round as the form rider in Supersport and again looked sharp in difficult conditions, while Josh Soderland was the next best Supersport runner in sixth overall on a 1m26.649. Tom Toparis, one of the key Next Gen riders needing a clean run after a costly first half of the season, was fifth overall on a 1m26.352 aboard the Stop and Seal Ducati V2.
With no Supersport rider in the field having previously won at Morgan Park, Sunday’s races are set to add a new name to the class record book. Friday’s times suggest Farnsworth has started that chase in good shape, while Edwards has put the early pressure on the Next Gen title fight.
Supersport / Next Gen Practice Times Combined
|
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Pos
|
Class
|
Rider
|
Bike
|
Time
|
|
1
|
NG
|
T Edwards
|
Kaw
|
1m23.335
|
|
2
|
NG
|
O Simpson
|
Duc
|
1m24.478
|
|
3
|
SS
|
J Farnsworth
|
Yam
|
1m24.612
|
|
4
|
NG
|
H Nelson
|
Kaw
|
1m25.390
|
|
5
|
NG
|
T Toparis
|
Duc
|
1m26.352
|
|
6
|
SS
|
J Soderland
|
Yam
|
1m26.649
|
|
7
|
NG
|
E Leeson
|
Duc
|
1m27.415
|
|
8
|
SS
|
J Simpson
|
Yam
|
1m27.443
|
|
9
|
SS
|
G Plowman
|
Yam
|
1m28.175
|
|
10
|
SS
|
F Jacobs
|
Yam
|
1m28.883
|
|
11
|
SS
|
V Knezovic
|
Yam
|
1m30.518
|
|
12
|
SS
|
S Pezzetta
|
Yam
|
1m32.935
|
|
13
|
SS
|
L Williams
|
Yam
|
1m41.185
|
Supersport 300
Seth Dellow led the Race and Road Supersport 300 field on combined Friday times, the Yamaha rider’s 1m30.772 standing clear of the rest as the small-capacity class negotiated a damp Morgan Park surface.
Phoenix O’Brien was second on a 1m32.303, with Riley Nauta third on a 1m33.288. Tara Morrison was only 0.011s behind Nauta in fourth, while Matthew Ritter completed the top five on a 1m33.371, leaving that group tightly packed once Dellow’s early marker was removed from the equation.
The championship picture adds extra interest to the weekend. Tyler King arrived at Morgan Park with the points lead and the best consistency record in the class, but Friday placed him seventh on combined times with a 1m34.522. Nauta, fresh from two wins at The Bend and second in the championship, was immediately among the front group, while Morrison also opened strongly after coming into the round level on points with Orlando Peovitis for third.
Morgan Park’s stop-start nature and emphasis on corner speed can make Supersport 300 particularly difficult to predict, and Friday did little to suggest this weekend will be any different. Dellow has the headline lap, but the pack behind is close enough for the racing to quickly become messy.
Supersport 300 Practice Times Combined
|
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Pos
|
Rider | Bike | TIme |
|
1
|
S Dellow
|
Yam
|
1m30.772
|
|
2
|
P O’Brien
|
Yam
|
1m32.303
|
|
3
|
R Nauta
|
Kaw
|
1m33.288
|
|
4
|
T Morrison
|
Kaw
|
1m33.299
|
|
5
|
M Ritter
|
Kaw
|
1m33.371
|
|
6
|
J Senior
|
Yam
|
1m33.702
|
|
7
|
T King
|
Kaw
|
1m34.522
|
|
8
|
J Simpson
|
Yam
|
1m34.893
|
|
9
|
Z Russo
|
Yam
|
1m35.041
|
|
10
|
E Dellow
|
Yam
|
1m35.123
|
|
11
|
T Nicolson
|
Kaw
|
1m35.946
|
|
12
|
K Knight
|
Yam
|
1m36.290
|
|
13
|
O Peovitis
|
Kaw
|
1m36.464
|
|
14
|
M Nicholas
|
Kaw
|
1m37.875
|
|
15
|
R McAdam
|
Yam
|
1m37.987
|
|
16
|
O Lewis
|
Yam
|
1m37.991
|
|
17
|
N Lazos
|
Yam
|
1m39.091
|
|
18
|
M Cartwright
|
Yam
|
1m39.834
|
|
19
|
C Lewis
|
Yam
|
1m44.386
|
|
20
|
R McAdam
|
Yam
|
1m47.919
|
R3 Cup
Oscar Lewis opened the Yamaha BLU CRU R3 Cup weekend fastest, leading the combined practice times with a 1m31.095. Ethan Dellow was second on a 1m31.480, with Connor Lewis third on a 1m32.317.
The result gives Oscar an encouraging start after arriving at Morgan Park with a narrow championship lead over younger brother Connor. Dellow’s pace between the pair, however, suggests the Lewis brothers will not have things their own way once the racing begins.
Matthew Ritter was fourth quickest on a 1m32.810, ahead of Jordy Simpson on a 1m33.333. Simpson came into the round third in the standings and will need to find a little more on Saturday if he is to stay in touch with the front of the R3 Cup fight.
The final practice session was held on a drying track, but the day was not without incident. Seth Dellow crashed at Turn 1 early in FP3 and returned to pit lane, while Ethan Dellow also went down at Turn 1 after the chequered flag, with both riders reported as up.
R3 Cup Practice Times Combined
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Pos
|
Rider |
Bike
|
Time |
|
1
|
O Lewis
|
Yam
|
1m31.095
|
|
2
|
E Dellow
|
Yam
|
1m31.480
|
|
3
|
C Lewis
|
Yam
|
1m32.317
|
|
4
|
M Ritter
|
Yam
|
1m32.810
|
|
5
|
J Simpson
|
Yam
|
1m33.333
|
|
6
|
Z Russo
|
Yam
|
1m35.675
|
|
7
|
K Knight
|
Yam
|
1m35.682
|
|
8
|
N Frost
|
Yam
|
1m36.539
|
|
9
|
S Dellow
|
Yam
|
1m37.458
|
|
10
|
R McAdam
|
Yam
|
1m38.970
|
|
11
|
N Lazos
|
Yam
|
1m39.025
|
|
12
|
M Cartwright
|
Yam
|
1m39.742
|
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup
Thomas Cameron underlined his Oceania Junior Cup form by topping Friday’s combined practice times at Morgan Park, the championship leader setting a 1m45.050 on the Yamaha YZF-R15.
Lucas Hyslop was second on a 1m45.816, with Callum Campbell third on a 1m45.867. That kept Campbell, one of Cameron’s main championship rivals, right in the early conversation, while Kael Brien was fourth on a 1m46.211 despite a Turn 1 crash in FP3 from which he was reported as up.
Liam Fookes completed the top five on a 1m46.634, just ahead of Patrick Lucchitti on a 1m46.653. Lucchitti’s position was notable given he came into the round fourth in the Australian Junior Road Racing Championship and continues to look comfortable in his rookie OJC campaign.
The junior class is rarely settled by practice times, and Morgan Park’s compact layout should only increase the usual slipstreaming and position-swapping once the racing starts. Cameron has the early marker, but the spread across the lead group suggests he will have company.
bLU cRU Oceania Junior Cup Practice Times Combined
|
|||
|
Pos
|
Rider
|
Bike | TIme |
|
1
|
T Cameron
|
Yam
|
1m45.050
|
|
2
|
L Hyslop
|
Yam
|
1m45.816
|
|
3
|
C Campbell
|
Yam
|
1m45.867
|
|
4
|
K Brien
|
Yam
|
1m46.211
|
|
5
|
L Fookes
|
Yam
|
1m46.634
|
|
6
|
P Lucchitti
|
Yam
|
1m46.653
|
|
7
|
R McKenna
|
Yam
|
1m46.916
|
|
8
|
L Darling
|
Yam
|
1m47.094
|
|
9
|
J Lazar
|
Yam
|
1m47.316
|
|
10
|
R Plumb
|
Yam
|
1m47.656
|
|
11
|
C Nichols
|
Yam
|
1m48.161
|
|
12
|
J Fletcher
|
Yam
|
1m48.847
|
|
13
|
X Dellow
|
Yam
|
1m48.917
|
|
14
|
L Birkle
|
Yam
|
1m50.270
|
|
15
|
M Harrison
|
Yam
|
1m50.432
|
|
16
|
C Stephens
|
Yam
|
1m50.812
|
|
17
|
R McKenna
|
Yam
|
1m54.703
|
|
18
|
T Luccchtti
|
Yam
|
1m58.558
|
|
19
|
S Harrison
|
Yam
|
2m04.767
|
Superbike Masters
Superbike Masters returned at Morgan Park with Period 6 and, for the first time, Period 7 machinery in the mix, although Friday’s running was limited to a two-rider affair.
John Burns led the day on his Period 7 Kawasaki ZX-9R, his 1m39.446 from earlier practice standing as the best Masters lap of Friday.
Phil Allen was second overall and fastest of the Period 6 riders, improving late in the day to a 1m41.105 on the Ducati 851.
The category again races for the Darren Lark Superbike Masters Cup Perpetual Trophy, honouring the late Darren Lark’s contribution to the class and the riders who keep the historic superbike scene alive.
Allen topped FP3 itself, but Burns’ earlier lap gave him the overnight advantage. With three six-lap races still to come, the weekend should provide a clearer picture once the older machinery gets a more representative run in race conditions.
Superbike Masters Practice Times Combined
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Pos
|
Rider | Bike | Time |
|
1
|
J Burns
|
Kaw
|
1m39.446
|
|
2
|
P Allen
|
Duc
|
1m41.105
|
Friday Images by RbMotoLens
2026 ASBK Calendar
|
||
| 2026 ASBK PROVISIONAL CALENDAR | ||
| Round One | February 20-22 | Phillip Island, VIC (WorldSBK) |
| Round Two | March 27-28 | Sydney Motorsport Park, NSW |
| Round Three | May 1-3 | The Bend, SA |
| Round Four | May 29-31 | Morgan Park, QLD |
| Round Five | June 26-28 | Queensland Raceway, QLD |
