The SBK field was out on track for a first 40-minute practice at 11.45am local time (CET+10). Tarran Mackenzie worked with his technicians to identify a solid base setup for his CBR1000RR-R, also using the data collected during the official test that concluded at the same track just days ago. A best of 1’31.459 for the British rider saw him place twenty-second at the session’s end. Team-mate Zaqhwan Zaidi, who makes his WorldSBK debut this weekend, used these initial practices to get to grips with his new bike and a track he has never seen before now. Making his first laps around this tricky circuit during free practice, 17 laps in all, the Malaysian recorded a best reference of 1’37.039.

The duo was back in action during the afternoon, exploiting a second practice, which ran in hotter conditions with respect to FP1 (air temp. 21°C, track temp. 34°C). Both Mackenzie and Zaidi were able to make progress during the course of the session and improve on their best times of the morning. A quickest time of 1’31.445 for British rider Tarran meant that he consolidated twenty-second place, while rookie Zaqhwan was able to shave just over a second and a half off his earlier time to finish twenty-third with a 1’35.407.

The PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team will return to the track tomorrow for a final practice, followed by the Superpole qualifying session and, at 4pm local time (CET+10), by the first of the weekend’s 20-lap races. As was the case in 2024, the weekend’s long races will take place under flag-to-flag conditions, which means that riders will have to pit and make a mandatory tyre change mid-race.

Tarran Mackenzie

“The first practice essentially saw us reset and restart on the back of what we’d done in testing. We had a plan to make changes to the front end of the bike for FP2, and I think these are of benefit, but I only got about six laps in as we had a small issue. Hopefully we can have a smooth day tomorrow and I can get some good laps under my belt. I think the setup changes we made for this afternoon can be positive for me, so the plan is to build on that and have a good first race.”

Zaqhwan Zaidi

“My first ever SBK practice was tough of course. I missed the test and so was straight out today trying to set fast times. But I believe we can improve lap by lap, and session by session. I’m not satisfied with the lap times yet, but there’s already been improvement between FP1 and FP2. I need to work to understand the bike, the tyres, my crew chief’s work method – many things - but if my team and I continue working well together then I’m confident we can take some good steps. Phillip Island is also new to me – it’s a unique track and not an easy one to interpret. So there’s a lot to learn, but I’ll get there. I need track time, and in the meantime, I am doing my best to enjoy the moment.”