JJ Nahlous and Harrison Voight have produced perfectly executed race-winning performances in round one of the 2027 Shannons Australian Superbike Championship presented by Pirelli (ASBK) at Phillip Island today.

In front of another huge crowd farewelling the iconic circuit as a MotoGP venue, Nahlous (Yamaha Racing Team) won his maiden SW-Motech Superbike race in the opening 11-lap lapper on a drying track, and this afternoon Voight took maximum advantage of his AMX Superstores pole position to score an all-the-way win on his McMartin Racing Ducati.

Cameron Dunker (Blue Marlin Pools East Racing Yamaha) was also enterprising with a 2-3 scorecard – race two after a colossal battle with Stop and Seal Ducati’s Cru Halliday.

Race three will be held at 9am on Sunday, with the ASBK cohort then passing the Phillip Island baton to the three world championship classes.

Related: Voight edges out Dunker for ASBK pole position at Phillip Island
Related: Shannons ASBK round one results and standings

A maiden SW-Motech Superbike victory for Nahlous

SW-Motech race one
On a drying track which saw a majority of the top brass opt for slicks (except for Honda’s Jacob Roulstone), Nahlous made a spectacular start from the third row of the grid, weathered an early challenge from Dunker, and then rode out of his skin in the second half of the race to join an illustrious list of Aussie Superbike winners.

“I’m really lost for words, as I didn’t expect that one,” said Nahlous, who qualified in eighth position. “But obviously it was the best possible outcome, and I’d like to thank everyone for their support in helping me get here. This is a very proud moment in my career.”

Dunker was second, followed by fast-finishing Voight who passed Halliday on the final lap after upping his speed in the second half of the race – although Halliday still owned the fastest lap (1:33.779) on his Panigale V4 R.

Glenn Allerton (Superbike Advocates Ducati) was fifth from Josh Waters (DesmoSport Ducati), John Lytras (Addicted to Track Yamaha) and Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team), while Jack Favelle (Apex Racing Team Honda) was fifth across the line before being excluded for failing to have appropriately marked tyres.

That bumped up New Zealander Morgan McLaren-Wood (Blue Marlin Pools East Racing Yamaha) and Roulstone into the top 10.

Race one action with Nahlous (#20) leading Dunker (#3), Allerton (#14) and Favelle (#33)

SW-Motech race two
A flawless all-the-way win for Voight, who immediately pinned his ears back – he set the fastest lap of the race (1:31.611) on lap two – and then went into management mode.

It was the defending champion’s seventh Superbike victory, and it came ahead of Halliday and Dunker who went at it hammer and tongs over the last four laps in an electrifying battle for silver and bronze.

“After race one, that was a great comeback,” said Voight. “The conditions were again challenging but I’m a lot happier that I’ve got a win on the board.

“I was determined to get out front and push hard, and I was then able to hold the advantage to the line.”

Voight (#1), Dunker (#3), Halliday (#65) and Allerton (#14) blast over Lukey Heights

Voight won by nearly two seconds over Halliday, who in turn was just 0.04 seconds ahead of Dunker after their intense sparring went to the wire.

Allerton, Nahlous and Roulstone completed the top six in a race where rain-bearing clouds were circling – it was officially declared a wet race – but never became a factor.

Lytras was seventh from Jones, Waters and Favelle.

After two races, Voight leads the championship on 44pts from Nahlous (41pts), Dunker (38pts), Halliday (37pts) and Allerton (33pts).

Images: RbMotoLens