Nagashima in the points in SBK Race 1 at Phillip Island
Nagashima and the Honda HRC Test Team complete a good WorldSBK race 1 at Phillip Island in fourteenth position
Honda test rider Tetsuta Nagashima and the Honda HRC Test Team are at the Phillip Island Circuit in Australia this weekend, participating as a one-event entry in the inaugural round of the 2025 Superbike World Championship season.
On Saturday morning, a third practice session afforded the Japanese rider a final opportunity to prepare his CBR1000RR-R bike ahead of Superpole. Setting his fastest time of the weekend so far (1’30.825), Nagashima placed twentieth overall in the combined practice standings.
Back on track for the Superpole, which ran in hotter conditions with respect to the practice sessions (air 33°C, track 40°C), Tetsuta put in a best time of 1’30.989 to qualify nineteenth for the subsequent Superbike race.
Gaining ground in the early stages of Race 1, the test rider lapped consistently and wisely to climb up inside the points zone by lap five. Nagashima was lying fourteenth when he came into the pits on lap eleven to switch his tyres. Finding himself in the same position on his return to the track, the Japanese rider did well to fend off his closest competition and hold fourteenth to the line, scoring two championship points in the process.
Tetsuta Nagashima P14
“It was a tough race due to the hot conditions. The bike was okay, I just needed to adapt to it, and it was a little difficult, but each time I am able to better understand where we need to improve for the future. The goal was to race without mistakes and collect data for the future. It was a productive day because I was able to understand many things that are impossible to grasp when I’m riding alone during testing. Tomorrow, we will try to make a few changes and see if I can improve both my feeling and the bike’s setup.”
Full Race 1 Results Courtesy of DWO
