Xavier Curmi in action in the Asia-Pacific Championships.  File photo by Noel Rowsell

14-YEAR-OLD Xavier Curmi (Wallacia) has continued his wonderful start to the Yamaha R3 Blu Cru Asia-Pacific Championship, grabbing a fifth place finish in the opening race of the 2026 Australian Superbike (ASBK) round at The Bend, SA.

Surging from 10th to 5th in the closing stages of the race gave Xavier great momentum and belief for Race Two but the team’s hope were dashed on lap seven when Xavier was hit from behind by another rider and forced out of the contest.

Xavier still finished ranked 11th for the Round and is now ranked 8th for the Series, although he will not unfortunately be able to follow the program to the Asian rounds.

Although finishing 5th and 3rd in the two races behind Next GEN bikes and close rival Valentino Knezovic (Race 1), Jake Farnsworth (Glenhaven) continued his winning run in the Kawasaki Supersport class, with one first and one second resulting in shared Round points with Valenino. Jake maintained his two-point Series lead over Valentino, suggesting there will be more thrilling action between the two riders in the remainder of the Series.

JJ Nahlous (Glenwood) grabbed a podium spot in the second race of the SW-Motech Superbike category, following a 5th placing in Race One and now sits in 7th place for the Series, ahead of Jack Favelle (Cattai) in 9th.

In four-wheel action, 17 drivers contested the four races of the accompanying Radical Cup Australia, with Isaac McNeill taking the Round points, ahead of Peter Paddon in second and Christopher Perini in third.