By Kent Gray
Three Kiwis feature in a bulging-at-the-seams grid unveiled to contest the opening round of the new summer-centric Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK) at Phillip Island next month.
Whanganui’s Luca Durning, Morgan McLaren-Wood from Cambridge and Wellingtonian Richard Markham-Barrett are among 29 riders named for what will be a fascinating supporting act to MotoGP’s controversial signoff at the famous Victorian circuit from October 23-25.
After a rookie season full of learning at DesmoSport Ducati, Durning (#18) will be back on his beloved BMW M 1000RR for Apex Racing Team, alongside Victorian Jack Favelle on a Honda CBR1000RR-R.
Markham-Barrett (#19) will also campaign a BMW – the S 1000 R – for Addicted to Track alongside regular ASBK front-runner John Lytras (Yamaha YZF-R1) at the much-anticipated Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix weekend.
McLaren-Wood (#99), meanwhile, will pilot a Yamaha YZF-R1 for Blue Martin Pools East Racing alongside NSW’s Cameron Dunker, one of the most exciting prospects in Australasian road-racing.
The ride comes as rich reward after McLaren-Wood impressed with 12th and 7th places during a wildcard ride for MotoGo Yamaha Racing at ASBK’s 2026 season finale at Queensland Raceway in June, the latter flirting with the podium in a wild ride in the wet.
The ASBK “2027” season opener (in Oct 2026) will include three, 11-lap races (two on Saturday and one on Sunday) before the season moves on to The Bend (November 13-15, 2026), One Raceway (December 4-6, 2026), Queensland Raceway (January 15-17, 2027), and back to Phillip Island (February 19-21, 2027) before the season finale at Sydney Motorsport Park (March 19-20, 2027).
The return to Phillip Island in February is a double billing with WorldSBK while the Sydney season decider will be played out under lights.
The switch to a summer calendar is expected to see more internationals and Aussie expatriates join the paddock as the 2027 championship advances giving its now unique place in the calendar, enabling riders to build up to other championships around the world.
Queensland’s Harrison Voight will defend his title but there is intrigue in the McMartin Racing garage with his team-mate last season, five-time ASBK champ Josh Waters, switching allegiance to DesmoSport Ducati. The shock move after five years with McMartin Racing will no doubt hog the headlines in the lead-up to Phillip Island as the Victorian chases a sixth title on the latest evolution of the Panigale V4 R.
Three-time champion Mike Jones and Jonathan Nahlous return for Yamaha Racing Team while Lytras, Favelle and Marcus Hamod (Unitek Racing Yamaha) will also be out to land some early blows in their new pastures, while the talented Jacob Roulstone returns to ASBK on a Honda – where he won on debut at Phillip Island earlier this year.
Elsewhere, 18-year-old Jayden Martin (Yamaha) represents a new breed of ASBK aspirants while Japan’s Kota Higuchi (Suzuki), like the Kiwi trio, will be keen on upsetting the Aussies.
Check out the full opening round entry list here