WSBK Superbike, Phillip Island Test D1: Bulega dominates with Ducati in Australia, Rea is already injured

Rea out, to miss World Championship opener

The clouds are gathering for Jonathan Rhea, who flew violently at Turn 2 in the morning. The six-time world champion has multiple fractures to his left foot, an injury that will prevent him from competing in the opening round of the World Championship this weekend, also at Phillip Island. Last year, the nightmare began here, with a violent highside during testing reproduced in the race. The year 2025 has started even worse. And to think that in his Kawasaki days, the rollercoaster of Victoria was one of his hunting grounds.

Toprak Razgatlioglu raises his head

In the morning he landed hard ( Here are some pictures of the accident ) by completing only two laps. The world champion returned to the track in the afternoon session, completing 34 laps, so he is more or less physically fit. The BMW stopped half a second behind the uncontrollable Ducati #11, which is not a bad result considering the events of the day. We remind you that the M 1000 RR is obliged to race with the standard frame, because the prototype chassis used last year was not homologated, and last November the International Motorcycling Federation banned its use, despite what the German racing department thought.

Very good Andrea Iannone

El Turco was also preceded by the other Ducati ofAndrea Iannone, who finished four tenths behind the factory rider. At Phillip Island, the Abruzzese made a strong return to MotoGP and will also play an absolute leading role with the Panigale V4 of the Go Eleven team. It is difficult to predict whether he will be able to follow Bulega, who proved untouchable last year here, both in Superpole and in Race 1. But it could be a great all-Italian showdown in Saturday's first round, which will be held over 100 laps but, for safety reasons, will involve a mandatory pit stop to change tires. Ducati also made its voice heard with Danilo Petrucci, another great performer of the Victoria roller coaster, author of the fourth time in front of Alvaro Bautista.

The Mystery of Superbike Fuel Flow

The fuel flow limitation is the big new regulation for 2025. It serves to balance the performances between the six brands on the track. The starting value has been set at 47 kg/hour but each time the technical stewards will establish the limit more precisely, communicating it to the teams one hour before the start. For today's two sessions, however, the imposed value was much higher: 49,1 kg/hour in the first session, 48,7/hour in the second, due to ideal temperature conditions: temperature in the first session 16,5 °C, atmospheric pressure 1022,7 millibars and 58% humidity. In the second, the values ​​were 18,2 °C with an atmospheric pressure of 1021,2 millibars and humidity of 57%. So today, engines have been running with a normal amount of fuel, thus avoiding the risk of lean carburetion, with the consequent risks of overheating and therefore reliability.

WSBK Phillip Island J1 test: times

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Paul Gozzi

Superbike Australia Superbike Australia