The 2026 FIM Supersport World Championship campaign is officially underway! The Australian Round saw the WorldSSP field battle it out in the season's inaugural Tissot Superpole session, with Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) claiming the first pole position. This marks his second career pole in WorldSSP, securing a front-row start on Saturday. The front row is completed by home hero Oli Bayliss (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) in second place and Valentin Debise (ZXMOTO Factory Evan Bros Racing) in third, marking a strong debut for the new Chinese manufacturer.
Masia's Performance: The Spanish rookie dominated the Superpole session with a 1'32.115s lap time, showcasing his potential as a title contender. Bayliss, the local favorite, set a hot lap after hot lap, securing P2 with a time of 1'32.287s, his first WorldSSP front-row start.
Debise's Strong Debut: Valentin Debise impressed with a 1'32.439s time, placing him in P3 and solidifying ZXMOTO's entry into the WorldSSP. The new Chinese manufacturer is making a strong start.
Oncu's Speed: Can Oncu, who looked faster during testing, had to settle for P4, just 0.335s off the pace. Tom Booth-Amos, running as part of a Triumph one-two, suffered a highside crash in Turn 11, ending his session and placing him in P5.
Adaptability: Albert Arenas, who started the session in P5, improved to P7 with a 1'32.673s time, securing a third-row start for his first WorldSSP race. Matteo Ferrari, a former MotoE rider, finished in P8 with a 1'32.710s time.
Turn 11 Challenges: Three riders, including Mattia Casadei, crashed in the high-speed Turn 11, with Casadei's 1'32.827s time holding him in P10. Oliver Konig, who faced a tech issue earlier, crashed in Turn 11 but was cleared to continue.
The Top Six: The top six positions from the Tissot Superpole session are as follows:
1. Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) - 1'32.115s
2. Oli Bayliss (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) - 1'32.287s
3. Valentin Debise (ZXMOTO Factory Evan Bros Racing) - 1'32.439s
4. Can Oncu (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) - 1'32.450s
5. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) - 1'32.554s
6. Philipp Oettl (Feel Racing WorldSSP Team) - 1'32.617s
Don't miss the first race of the WorldSSP season on Saturday! Tune in live or OnDemand with the WorldSBK VideoPass to witness the action unfold!
