Superbikes Advocates reveal livery ahead of WorldSBK debut

Superbike Advocates, the Australian-owned team that made a surprise announcement to enter the 2026 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK), have unveiled the livery for their Ducati Panigale V4R ahead of their racing debut. The multi-national nature of Superbike Advocates is reflected in the livery that includes references to Australia, the UK and Italy.

Previously competing in the Australian Superbike Championship (ASBK), Superbike Advocates announced their intention to enter WorldSBK on the eve of this year’s season-opening Australian round. While the squad did not race at Phillip Island, they will make their debut at Portimao in March, with 2023 British Superbike Champion, Tommy Bridewell, in the saddle.

Bridewell has ridden a handful of WorldSBK rounds previously, but only as a replacement rider or wildcard entry. At Imola and Jerez in 2019, Bridewell’s best finish was tenth, while his most recent starts, at Donington Park and Aragon in 2025, saw the Brit deliver a best of 18th.

At the two-day Portimao private test in early March, Bridewell cut his first laps for Superbike Advocates, riding on both days to gather as much data as possible. He closed the test with a best time of 1m42.665s, which translated to twelfth fastest amongst the participating riders.

“The feeling on the bike is absolutely fantastic, even considering the conditions have been challenging to say the least,” Bridewell said, referring to very wet conditions on Day 2. “We were working on a lot of electronic stuff; they are practically brand-new bikes. There are some calibrations and a lot of electronics work to be done.

“For me, we’re in a really, really great position with our project. The team and the whole infrastructure have really come alive. I think we’re a lot further along than we had maybe initially anticipated, so it feels great to be a part of that.”

To run the team, Superbike Advocates have drawn on some experienced personnel, including former TT winner Alan Jackson and Technical Director Mick Shanley, who has history in MotoGP and WorldSBK.

Moving from ASBK to WorldSBK is obviously a huge leap, so the team are realistic about their 2026 aspirations. Results are secondaery; first and foremost, the team want to establish a positive trajectory across the season.

“I think the objective for this season for me is to enjoy it and build throughout the year,” Bridewell elaborated. “I feel we’re capable of doing a great job. We need to be realistic at the same time, though. We just need to maintain our focus on building progressively every week.”

The Portuguese WorldSBK round is scheduled for 27-29 March, 2026 at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve (Portimao), Portugal.