TARA MORRISON | A wild ride at the Island

There are some tracks that feel special the moment you arrive. For me, that place is always Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. Maybe it’s the ocean views, the fast-flowing corners, or the history that seems to live in every part of the track. Once you’ve ridden at full speed here, you understand why it’s called the home of Australian motorcycle racing.

For the ASBK opening round, Cam and I arrived on Thursday and dived straight into the usual prep. The van doors opened, the bikes came out, and we set up the pit shed, checked gear and caught up with familiar faces I hadn’t seen since the end of last season. Somewhere in between, we found a few quiet corners for photos with Wussell and knocked out the new season’s headshots before focusing fully on racing.

We began the weekend using a suspension set-up I’d tested at Phillip Island a few weeks earlier. It had performed well in warm conditions and Friday’s first practice confirmed it, finishing second fastest. With a tight SS300 program – one practice Friday morning, qualifying Friday afternoon, Race 1 later that day, Race 2 Saturday morning and Race 3 Sunday – we had to be efficient and methodical. Every session counts and there’s little room for error.

Qualifying was tactical, as always. I headed out alone to avoid traffic. When a pack formed behind me, I took the long-lap penalty at Turn 4, letting them pass for a perfect slipstream. It worked and I secured P2 on the grid – another front-row start at Phillip Island and one that I was really proud of.

Race 1 on Friday was an eight-lap sprint. I grabbed the holeshot into Turn 1, a thrill unlike any other with the grandstands full and the pack charging behind. I spent most of the race battling inside the top three, swapping positions constantly and using the slipstream strategically. Every lap felt like a high-speed chess match, balancing aggression with precision. I crossed the line sixth – tight racing with all the front riders within fractions of a second and every overtaking move demanding absolute focus.

Race 2 on Saturday morning followed a similar pattern. Once again, I was in the thick of the lead group, carefully positioning myself for the final laps. SS300 racing is brutal, especially at a place like Phillip Island where the draft can make or break a move. I finished ninth, just 0.3 seconds from the win – heartbreakingly close, but also motivating. After Race 2, we had learned from our mistakes and knew that the gearing needed to change for Sunday. It’s always a gamble at the Island, but as Steve Martin told me last year, you have to go with your gut. That gearing change had worked brilliantly then and I was excited to see it pull off again.

Between races I visited the WorldSBK paddock for a fan meet-and-greet. Talking with supporters, signing autographs and seeing their excitement for the sport is always a highlight. I remember joking with fans that my weekend “hadn’t started yet” and that Sunday would tell the real story. The atmosphere in the paddock, the buzz from the grandstands and the smell of the track all added to the intensity of the weekend.

Overnight the weather shifted, bringing rain across the circuit. Race 3 was initially declared dry, so I rolled out on our planned set-up. My team had quietly pushed my spare wet bike into pitlane just in case. I was adamant it wouldn’t rain – expecting just a few splatters on the visor – but I was wrong. During the sighting lap, the rain intensified, soaking the track and forcing a red flag for a proper wet race.

I jumped onto the wet bike, nervous but excited. The start went perfectly and I immediately joined the fight at the front. After some early position swapping, I settled into a rhythm. Each lap the bike felt incredible and the gap steadily grew, lap by lap. By the finish, I crossed the line more than three seconds ahead – a margin almost unheard of in SS300 racing. It was the kind of ride where everything aligns: bike, team, conditions and focus.

Standing on the top step, celebrating with fans flooding the paddock, was unforgettable. Steve called it an incredible wet-weather ride and a strong start to the season. For me, it was simply one of those weekends where everything clicked – the team made the right calls, the bike felt perfect and the support from the crowd was unreal.

We left Phillip Island sitting third in the championship as we now head to Sydney Motorsport Park for round two. If the opening round is anything to go by, the 2026 season is going to be a wild ride. And honestly… I can’t wait to get back out there.