Australian Free Practice 3

Started 242 days, 1 hour, 35 minutes ago

Date & Time
Sat 21st February 2026 Local
Sat 21st February 2026 12:00am UTC

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League
SBK

Season
2026

Round
Round 1

Status
FT

Location

Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit

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Event Statistics

Description

The championship tension rises at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit as the riders prepare for the third and final Free Practice session of the Australian opening round. This 20-minute morning sprint serves as the final opportunity for teams to perfect their qualifying setups before the high-stakes Tissot Superpole session. With the track temperature typically lower in the morning, the focus will be on extracting maximum one-lap speed and testing the softest tire compounds available. All eyes remain on whether anyone can find a way to challenge the dominant pace established during the opening day of the season.

Reports

Result List

Result Description

Nicolo Bulega continued his perfect start to the 2026 season, topping the Free Practice 3 session to remain undefeated across every timed session so far in Australia. The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati rider found even more speed in the cooler morning conditions, clocking a blistering 1:28.273. His time was more than three-tenths clear of his nearest rival, further solidifying his position as the heavy favorite for pole position.

The session saw a late charge from Sam Lowes, who propelled his ELF Marc VDS Racing Team Ducati into second place during the final minutes. Lowes managed to edge out the impressive Axel Bassani, who once again put the new Bimota KB998 into the top three. The Bimota project continues to turn heads in its debut weekend, with Bassani’s teammate Alex Lowes finishing just 0.020s behind in fourth, ensuring both Bimota machines were firmly entrenched at the front of the field.