Xavi Cardelús Scores First 2026 WSS Points with P14 at Phillip Island

Andorran rider Xavi Cardelús earned his first points of the 2026 World Supersport Championship with a 14th-place finish in Sunday's Race 2 at Phillip Island, Australia, leaving him 16th in the provisional standings after a debut weekend marked by variable weather and tyre challenges.

In the damp-to-dry Race 2, the Cerba Yamaha Racing Team gambled by keeping Cardelús on wet tyres for the full distance while others pitted for slicks. The strategy paid off initially, lifting him to sixth with three laps to go, but rapid degradation on the drying track cost him eight places in the closing stages, securing two points. "It was a strange race that came down to one decision, and in the end it didn't go our way," Cardelús said. "Seeing the final result shows we didn't quite get it right, but we had to take a risk and make a call, and that's what we did." He noted the choice kept him competitive for most of the race.

Saturday's Race 1 saw Cardelús start 17th on the sixth row after a qualifying lap of 1:33.126 in a session where 19 riders were within one second of pole-sitter Jaume Masià. He gained three positions on the opening lap to join the third chasing group, reaching as high as 10th to 12th before midway. Rear tyre wear then eroded his pace, dropping him out of contention for 11th and ending with a 16th-place finish, scoreless. "This isn't the result or Yamaha debut we wanted, but we knew it was possible given pre-event testing here," he said. Cardelús felt comfortable early on but struggled to push aggressively once he lost the group's slipstream.

He matched his Friday practice best of 1:33.101 in the morning warm-up, one second behind leader Can Öncü. A minor Friday practice crash left him with a bruised elbow but no lasting effects, though he cited limited rear grip as a confidence drain.

Cardelús described the overall weekend as below expectations yet aligned with testing form. The team will analyse data ahead of the Portimão round on March 29.