New Ducati WorldSBK team “further along than we anticipated” ahead of first race

The Superbike Advocates team is ahead of schedule in preparation for its first WorldSBK season, Tommy Bridewell thinks.

The Australian team, which has competed in previous seasons in the Australian Superbike Championship, was due to expand into the BSB championship this year, but has skipped that step and moved straight to World Superbike for the 2026 season in a move that was announced ahead of the opening round of the season at Phillip Island.

Last week’s Portimao test on 9–10 March was the first chance for Bridewell and the Superbike Advocates team to get on-track since the announcement. They took the opportunity to reveal their livery on the first day, and Bridewell was the only WorldSBK rider to set a lap time on the second day. 

The 2023 BSB champion was left with a positive impression of the bike and the position he and the team are in after the test, although he recognises there is still much to work on before their first race of the season at Portimao on 27–29 March.

“The feeling on the bike is absolutely fantastic, even considering that the conditions have been challenging to say the least,” said Bridewell, speaking to WorldSBK.com.

“We were working on a lot of electronic stuff; they are practically brand-new bikes. There are some calibrations and a lot of electronics work to be done. 

“For me, we’re in a really, really great position with our project. The team and the whole infrastructure have really come alive. 

“I think we’re a lot further along than we had maybe initially anticipated, so it feels great to be a part of that.”

Thinking about the 2026 season as a whole, Bridewell added: “I think the objective for this upcoming 2026 season for me is to enjoy it and build throughout the course of the year. 

“I feel that we are capable of having a great season. I feel we’re capable of doing a great job.

“We need to be realistic at the same time, though; we just need to maintain our focus on building progressively every week.”