Can Öncü will head up the second row of the grid for tomorrow’s opening FIM Supersport World Championship race of 2026 at Phillip Island after a strong Superpole performance in Australia on Friday.
Near perfect conditions welcomed riders to the iconic Grand Prix circuit on Friday, with the sun beaming down on Phillip Island.
Moving to the Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing squad for the new season after finishing runner-up with the R9 in 2025, Öncü was keen to make a mark and was among the top group throughout the Friday afternoon session. Finishing fourth in FP1, the target was to secure a place on the first two rows in the afternoon’s Superpole session. A red flag shortly after the Turkish rider headed out on new tyres didn’t help his cause, but a strong second row start puts him in a favourable position for Saturday’s first race.
Joining the WorldSSP grid for the first time in Australia with the new-look AS BLU CRU Racing Team, Albert Arenas enjoyed a strong Friday to place fifth in Free Practice. The 2020 Moto3 World Champion was sat in third place halfway through the Superpole session, but with disruptions after the red flag he’d fall to seventh to head row three.
Roberto Garcia will start 11th for GMT94 Yamaha with team-mate Lucas Mahias in 13th. The second Pata Yamaha Ten Kate R9 of Yuki Okamoto lines up 24th for the first race of the year.
Indonesian star Aldi Satya Mahendra (AS BLU CRU Racing) will start last after a series of technical problems prevented him from setting a time during the Superpole session.
Lights go out for the first race of the year at 14:30 AEDT on Saturday.
FREE PRACTICE 1 RESULTS
SUPERPOLE RESULTS
Can Öncü (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) – 4th (1’32.450)
“It is not a bad start for us, I think. We have to be positive as the Phillip Island circuit is very different, and you need some slipstream in the straight! I am quite happy with the job we did, I did every lap on my own and we were working towards the race throughout as this will be the first race for a few years with no pit stops here. We are heading in the right direction and I am looking forward to my first race with my new team.”
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