Just a few days before the SBK season gets underway at Phillip Island, the tests that should have kicked off the week will now comprise a one-day session for SSP, with the riders on track on Monday, while SBK giants Bautista, Toprak and Rea will be out on Tuesday.

Logistical problems behind the change

This is not the first time that logistical problems have impacted on the plans of teams and organisers, the 2022 MotoGP weekend in Argentina - reduced to just two days - just one example. At what is its only non-European event, SBK will have one day less on track due to the aforementioned issues. The SBK and SSP classes were originally meant to share the two days, with alternate sessions, while it has now been announced that only SSP will take to the track on Monday while SBK will have to wait until Tuesday. There is also the matter of new asphalt, which might mean that a mid-race tyre change is on the cards. Here below, the new test schedule:

MONDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2024

Official WorldSSP test

09:10 – 13:10 WorldSSP official test – Free practice 1

13:40 – 17:40 WorldSSP official test – Free practice 2

TUESDAY 20 FEBRUARY 2024

Official WorldSBK test

09:10 – 13:10 WorldSBK official test – Free practice 1

13:40 – 17:40 WorldSBK official test – Free practice 2