Image: Supplied.

Phillip Island’s opening round of the 2024 Motul Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) saw Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing Ducati) and Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) split race victories, as Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) claimed a pair of WorldSSP race wins.

Bulega made WorldSBK history in race one by becoming the first rider to win on their WorldSBK debut since teammate Alvaro Bautista in 2019. He led an all-Italian podium, with Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) and Andrea Iannone (Team GoEleven) completing the rostrum – the latter marking his return to competitive action by leading the race and taking third place.

Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) doubled up on WorldSBK victories on Sunday to end a four-year drought, winning the Superpole race before earning victory in a red-flagged race two.

The race-winning move came on the final lap at turn nine when the British ace stormed around the outside of Bautista at Lukey Heights, defeating the reigning champion as Petrucci closed out the podium in third. Lowes leaves Australia with a nine-point advantage over Bulega in the championship standings.

Montella made it two from two in WorldSSP, taking a maximum 50-point haul home. He defeated Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) and Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) in Saturday’s opener, before doubling up to win over Schroetter and pole-sitter Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) in race two.

The WorldSBK championship now heads to Catalunya, Spain, for round two, scheduled on 22-24 March.

Image: Supplied.

Detailed results