Scott enjoys superb 2025 opener weekend at Phillip Island
MGM Bonovo Racing made a brilliant start to the World Superbike season with Scott Redding. This weekend, the 2025 WSBK action kicked off after two days of testing at the beginning of this week at the popular Phillip Island circuit in Australia. Scott Redding and his newly formed MGM Bonovo Racing team worked their way up to the top on their new Ducati Panigale V4R in the first few sessions.
Although Friday began with some technical difficulties for the British rider, he was able to improve his lap times and placement from the first to the second free practice session. On Saturday morning, Redding managed to go even faster in FP3 and reduced his Friday best time to a 1´29.500. From FP1 to the free practice three, Redding worked his way up from 15th to eighth place. In what was already a hot Superpole session, he grabbed a strong sixth position and therefore started from the second row in the first main race this afternoon.
When the lights at the start went out for first time of the year, Redding quickly found his way forward and after a few laps was even fighting among the top three. After 10 laps, he completed the mandatory tire change. Following the successful pit stop, the MGM Bonovo Racing rider rejoined in fourth place, had to give up one position in the remaining laps, but finished the first race of the season in an impressive fifth.
Saturday quote…
«Today was fine. I was really excited, and it was so nice to be back fighting at the front. At one point I thought I was leading the race because Niccolo was so far ahead but just fighting for a podium position on my first race back with Ducati has been amazing. The team has been phenomenal. We had a difficult day yesterday, there was a lot of pressure in Qualifying today to get it right and in the race, I wanted to really do my best and show my potential. When I could feel the podium, I wanted it, but I think I didn’t have enough today. I had some nice battles. Being able to overtake people again and race the way I was racing; I was having a lot of fun. I was pushing a lot because in a moment they are a bit faster than me, so I was trying to learn in that moment. It was nice, good clean racing.»
A sunny Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit provided riders, teams and fans with the perfect backdrop for even more great racing on Sunday, especially from the MGM Bonovo Racing team with Scott Redding, who delivered a fabulous first race Sunday of 2025.
Redding started Superpole Race at midday in Australia from sixth on the second row. Although he briefly lost two places in the starting scrum, he was already in fifth place by the end of the first lap and gained another position shortly afterwards. The British rider then rode fourth place solidly to the finish line with strong times over the remaining nine laps.
The 32-year-old then led the second row for the second main race. In the first five laps, Redding again made a rocket start and initially fought for a place on the podium until he had to give up a position on lap six. After a pit stop after lap nine that was too quick, he came back to fourth place after just a few kilometers but received a penalty of 2.905 seconds. With further strong lap times in the second half of the race, the Brit was able to gain a lead and came in fourth despite a 2.905 second time penalty.
After an impressive start, Scott can now take a short break, as the World Superbike will not return to the racetrack until the end of March. The second of 12 rounds this season will take place from March 28th to 30th at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal.
Sunday quote…
«My Sunday was good, honestly. I just wanted that podium so badly. Battling with Danilo (Petrucci) in Superpole Race, but I was still missing a few things with the bike with the used tyres and also electronic/combined setup. Honestly, we just started to feel really good with the bike here at the test. Now we have learned a lot and at a race weekend, it’s difficult. But it’s fantastic to be back fighting at the front and I feel I am where I should be. I had a lot of fun. In the second race this afternoon, I said OK, I’ll find a red bike and I do everything to stay on there. I had a great start and didn’t want to let go. But they were just faster than me. I just did the best I could and coming away with three top 5 results, we can be really happy.»