The stage is set: fields locked in for 2026 ASBK Championship opener
After a pre-season full of intrigue, the 2026 Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) powers into life at Phillip Island from February 20-22 with stacked fields across the four classes: SW-Motech Superbike, Kawasaki Supersport/Supersport Next Gen and Race and Road Supersport 300.
With entries now closed for round one, 77 ASBK riders will share the spotlight with – as has become a staple on the local calendar – the WorldSBK and WorldSSP classes as the first battle lines are drawn in the 2026 season.
For the Phillip Island entry lists across all classes, click here.
The Superbike field is brimming with elite talent, in what is undoubtedly the most impressive line-up in recent memory.
The star power runs deep, from clinical hard-nosed professionals like defending champion Josh Waters (McMartin Racing Ducati), Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team), Anthony West (DesmoSport Ducati), Glenn Allerton (Superbike Advocates Racing Ducati) and Cru Halliday (Stop and Seal Ducati) to young high-flyers such as Cameron Dunker (Blue Marlin Pools East Racing Yamaha), Jonathan Nahlous (Yamaha Racing Team) and Jack Favelle (Addicted to Track Yamaha), and then the new wave of full-timers: Harrison Voight (McMartin Racing Ducati), Jacob Roulstone (Honda), Marcus Hamod (Honda) and Josh Newman (Superbike Advocates Racing Ducati).
The 24 Superbike riders will contest three 11-lap races, with one on Saturday and two on Sunday.
Defending SW-Motech Superbike champion Josh Waters
The dynamics in Supersport are just as spicy, with fresh faces such as Marianos Nikolis (Yamaha), Scott Nicholson (TeamBWR Yamaha), Valentino Knezovic (Addicted to Track Yamaha), Jordy Simpson (Yamaha), Sam Drane (Yamaha) and visiting international Roberto Tamburini (Addicted to Track Yamaha) taking on incumbents such as Jake Farnsworth (Yamaha) and Will Nassif (Yamaha). With last year’s top two, Jack Mahaffy and Archie McDonald, moving on, the 2026 Supersport title is certainly wide open.
Meanwhile, Olly Simpson (DesmoSport Ducati), Hayden Nelson (BCperformance Kawasaki), Tom Edwards (BCperformance Kawasaki) and Ryan Yanko (Stop and Seal Ducati) have all switched to the Supersport Next Gen class in 2026 to join Tom Toparis (Stop and Seal Ducati) in what is shaping as a roll-of-the-dice affair.
Olly Simpson is switching to Supersport Next Gen in 2026
Twenty-three riders will compete in the combined Supersport/Supersport Next Gen races, while 30 will line up in Supersport 300 including Jordy Simpson (Yamaha), Tyler King (Kawasaki), Tara Morrison (Kawasaki) and Riley Nauta (Champions Ride Days Kawasaki) against a gaggle of feisty teens moving up from the BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup and riders from New Zealand and Japan.
Riley Nauta will be looking to carry his strong Supersport 300 form at the end of 2025 into the 2026 opener
Standy for a full preview of Phillip Island as the 2026 ASBK Championship kicks off in earnest – the last one in the traditional ‘winter’ format before the all-new ASBK summer calendar is inauguarated later this year.
To purchase tickets for the ASBK and WorldSBK round at Phillip Island from February 20-22, click here.
Images: Russell Colvin
