Strap in for a wild ride as Phillip Island kicks off the 2019 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship.
From 22 to 24 February the island is set to launch the new three-race world supers format at the Yamaha Finance round.
Just to spice up the life of the WorldSBK boys, organisers have added a 10-lap Sunday midday sprint, adding to the traditional 2×22 lap races on Saturday and Sunday at 3pm.
The three battles will be a highlight of the 13-strong production race agenda on the 4.445km island circuit. World superbikes will be backed by world supersport and the launch of the 2019 national championships for Australian superbike, supersport and supersport 300.
The world superbike sprint will deliver an exciting new frontier for teams, racers and spectators. Riders will go flat out from start to finish, guaranteeing bar-banging action of the highest order.
Reigning world champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki) isn’t afraid of the argy-bargy and he’ll be one of the riders pushing hard at the front. Alongside him will be riders such as WorldSBK rookie Alvaro Bautista (Ducati), Chaz Davies (Ducati), Tom Sykes (BMW), Leon Haslam (Kawasaki), Marco Melandri (Yamaha), Michael van der Mark (Yamaha), Alex Lowes (Yamaha and Leon Camier (Honda).
Aussie superbike champion Troy Herfoss (Honda) will also be competing as a wildcard and is eyeing off some big international scalps.
The 22-lap races will also be intriguing as tyre conservation and tactics come into the mix. Long or short, the WorldSBK races will be sensational, with Ducati and BMW also debuting new high-revving four-cylinder machines to add even more intrigue. Honda has also re-committed to WorldSBK with a factory-backed team.
It all adds up to a crackerjack weekend – and season – of WorldSBK racing!
Meanwhile, the 18-lap world supersport race will be held at 1:15pm on Sunday with local Goulburn rider Tom Toparis representing the Aussies as a wildcard entry on his Yamaha.
For more information, schedule and tickets, head to www.worldsbk.com.au or visit Ticketek.
