Phillip Island WorldSBK preview, entry lists and schedule

WorldSBK 2023

The Grand Ridge Brewery Australian Round features three World Superbike races (two 22-lap races and a 10-lap Tissot Superpole Race), with World Supersport returning with two 18-lap races. Along with this, ASBK will hit the track with 9 races in total over the February 24-26 weekend.

Spectators will get their first taste of the 2023 season when on track action gets underway at 0850 on Friday.

GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK rookies Remy Gardner and Dominique Aegerter will get their first official World Superbike weekend underway at 1130 on Friday.

The triple treat of contenders always near the top consists of reigning World Champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), 2021 World Champion Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK), and six-time World Champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK). Their team-mates, Michael Rinaldi, Andrea Locatelli and Alex Lowes don’t go half bad either!

And of course, in a milestone that we are sure needs no introduction – spectators are in for a real Aussie treat as they witness the lights go out for Remy Gardner’s maiden WorldSBK race start. It has been a long seven-year drought since Australia last had a full time rider in World Superbikes. There is no denying the impact Remy Gardner will have as the 2021 Moto2 World Champion steps into the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team.

The BMW charge will likely be headed by Scott Redding although on pre-season testing form Loris Baz could prove the sharpest tool in BMW’s magazine. New recruit Garrett Gerloff looks to be making a successful transition to the BMW M 1000 RR, and will Dutchman Michael van der Mark come back to the fore..?

Honda have been putting in a huge effort to get back on the podium in WorldSBK and they are oh so close… Will they make the final jump forward that allows MotoGP exiles Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge to challenge for wins..?

Axel Bassani showed impressive pace at times last year and can’t be discounted, or will Danilo Petrucci spring a surprise and beat him for Ducati privateer bragging rights..?

And then of course we have Tom Sykes returning to WorldSBK… Pre-season testing form has not been great for the #66 but Phillip Island is a circuit Sykes knows well and he might be able to mount a surprise attack on the established contenders.

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Phillip Island WorldSBK event schedule

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Riders with * will only compete in European rounds