Nahlous nails Phillip Island ASBK Summer Series opener

Yamaha rider takes authoritative Race 1 victory in dicey conditions

Jonathan Nahlous has opened his 2026 ASBK campaign in perfect fashion, mastering the tricky conditions at Phillip Island to claim a commanding victory in Race 1 after a dramatic and fast-changing contest at the front.

Harrison Voight launched superbly from pole position to grab the holeshot at the start, while Jack Favelle also fired away strongly before Allerton used his confidence in the damp conditions to briefly hit the front.

By lap two, however, Nahlous had hit the lead. The Yamaha rider briefly ran wide at Honda Corner but gathered it up and retook the position just a few corners later, underlining the confidence and speed he had in the mixed conditions.

A lap later, Nahlous had begun to break things up at the front. He led fellow Yamaha rider Cameron Dunker by around a second, with Glenn Allerton, Favelle and Cru Halliday all in the battle behind. Voight, having started from from pole, had slipped to sixth, just ahead of DesmoSport Ducati rival Josh Waters.

Dunker then began to apply serious pressure. By lap four he had closed right onto the back of Nahlous and was tucked in behind the race leader as they charged into turn one. On lap five, Dunker had a look down the front straight and momentarily drew alongside, but he could not complete the move and had to slot back in behind.

Behind them, the fight for the minor placings was beginning to intensify. Allerton, Voight and Halliday were locked together in a fierce scrap, with Voight forcing his way through at turn 10 in a decisive move. That still left him with close to three seconds to make up on Favelle, who was holding third on the Honda.

By lap six, Nahlous was once again stretching the field. He pulled another second clear of Dunker at the front, while Voight began to light up the timing screens behind them. With clean air ahead, the Ducati rider was flying and setting his personal best lap as he homed in on Favelle.

Voight’s charge continued on lap seven when he blasted past Favelle on the straight to move into third. Ducati’s much-discussed 500rpm rev penalty mattered little in that moment as Voight surged by with authority. He then set off after Dunker, although the gap to second remained significant.

At the front, Nahlous remained untouchable. By lap nine he again set the fastest lap of the race and extended his margin to around three seconds, continuing to look completely at ease as others struggled for grip and rhythm.

The battle for the final podium place took another turn on lap 10 when Halliday produced the fastest lap of the race to that point and surged into third ahead of Voight, who had got caught up in some backmarker traffic. Favelle was still right there as well, turning the podium fight into a thrilling three-rider contest.

In the closing stages, though, Nahlous stayed calm and clinical. He sliced through lapped traffic without fuss and completed to seal an impressive win. It was a statement performance from the young Yamaha rider and an ideal way to begin the season alongside new rider coach Troy Herfoss.

Dunker rode a strong and composed race to secure second, finishing 2.843 seconds behind the winner. Voight recovered late to snatch third, edging Halliday by just 0.316s in a tight finish for the final podium place.

Favelle capped off an excellent ride in fifth ahead of Allerton and Waters, while John Lytras was eighth. Mike Jones and Morgan McLaren-Wood completed the top 10. Further back, Jacob Roulstone, Joshua Newman and Broc Pearson finished 11th, 12th and 13th respectively.

2026 PHILLIP ISLAND ASBK RACE 1