Jonathan Rea struggles to 17th on Yamaha debut in opening World Superbike race of season in Australia

It was a disastrous beginning to the season for the six-time champion, who has struggled with the R1 at Phillip Island throughout practice and qualifying with rear chatter and vibration issues.

The 37-year-old, who replaced 2021 champion Toprak Razgatlioglu in the factory Yamaha squad after buying his way out of the final year of his Kawasaki contract to make the move last year, was 38 seconds down on sensational race winner Nicolo Bulega.

World Supersport champion and pole man Bulega triumphed on his Superbike race debut on the Aruba.it Ducati from Rea’s Yamaha team-mate Andrea Locatelli.

Former MotoGP frontrunner Andrea Iannone, also competing in his first World Superbike race, rounded out an all-Italian podium on the Team Go Eleven Ducati.

Razgatlioglu crossed the line in fourth place as he made his debut on the ROKiT BMW but the Turkish ace dropped to fifth in the results after receiving a 1.225s penalty for a Pit Intervention Time infringement during his pit-stop to change tyres.

Reigning champion Alvaro Bautista could only manage 15th after an early crash dropped him out of contention as he battled for the top three.

The Spaniard has struggled on the Panigale throughout pre-season testing, with Bautista finding it difficult to adapt to new weight restrictions introduced for 2024, which have added around 6kg to his Panigale V4R.

Bulega shattered the lap record to secure pole position in a dream start to his Superbike career, lapping in 1m 27.916s to claim the top spot ahead of Iannone by two tenths of a second, with Kawasaki’s Alex Lowes completing the front row.

Rea was 11th as the Ulsterman lined up on the fourth row, almost a second off Bulega’s blistering record lap.

It was Iannone, back in action after four years away from racing, who grabbed the early lead before Lowes swept past at the Hayshed to hit the front.

Lowes completed the opening lap in first place but dropped to second as Iannone moved back ahead at Turn 1.

Bautista had fought his way through to battle for the top three after qualifying ninth but a crash at Turn 10 on the fourth lap thwarted his chances.

The leading group swapped places before beginning to make their compulsory pit-stops for a rear tyre change between laps nine to 11.

The decision was taken on safety grounds due to new asphalt on the track, which was causing higher levels of tyre degradation.

Iannone, Bulega, Lowes, Razgatlioglu, Rea and Bautista were among the first to come in after nine laps, with Bulega nosing ahead going into the second part of the 20-lap race.

Rea’s cause was not helped when he lost a huge 22 seconds during his pit stop due to an unforeseen issue.

Bulega had taken the lead from Iannone on lap seven and he continued to hold away after his pit-stop, closing out a fairy tale victory unchallenged by 2.280s from Locatelli, who battled his way into the runner-up spot from sixth place after making his pit-stop on lap 11.

Iannone impressed in third, only three tenths behind Locatelli, while Briton Lowes clinched fourth for Kawasaki after Razgatlioglu’s time penalty dropped the Turkish rider one place to fifth.

Dominique Aegerter (GRT Yamaha) finished sixth.

Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW), Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Ducati), Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) and Xavi Vierge (Honda) were the top 10.

Axel Bassani, making his Kawasaki debut after replacing Rea in the team, was 12th behind Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW).

Bassani lost ground after receiving a Long Lap penalty for a collision with Remy Gardner.

Former Moto2 rider Sam Lowes was 13th on his World Superbike debut on the Marc VDS Ducati, while Bautista rallied to bag a point in 15th following his crash.

British duo Tarran Mackenzie (MIE Racing Honda) and Bradley Ray (Motoxracing Yamaha) were 19th and 21st respectively. Ray had earlier crashed out in the first half of the race.

The Superpole race will take place at 02:00 GMT on Sunday with race two at 05:00 GMT.

Results: World Superbike Race 1