World Superbike rookie Andrea Iannone, taking part in his first race start since 2019, got off to a great start and took the lead from Nicolo Brega.
However, it was reigning world champion Alvaro Bautista who had the best start, moving from ninth to second by turn one.
However, both Ducati riders were soon overtaken by Alex Laws, but Iannone straightened up at the start of the second lap.
Toprak Razgatlioglu wasted no time in his battle with Bautista, slipstreaming out into turn one.
A terrible lap three for Bautista saw him rise from fourth to 10th, but contact with Sam Lowes was the main reason for his sudden decline.
Heading in the opposite direction was his teammate Brega, who moved into third place after a late move from Razgatlioglu.
Then, the big moment came on lap four when Bautista, trying to recover, crashed at Turn 10. Bradley Ray was the next driver to fall after Remy Gardner and Bautista.
After six laps, Brega finally overtook Iannone and led a Superbike race for the first time in his career.
When the pit window opened, the top quarter of Brega, Iannone, Laws and Razgatlioglu all pitted, while the others left.
The top four left the pit lane in the same position, but Iannone's late out lap left him behind Lowes and Razgatlioglu, with Brega increasing his advantage.
The minimum pit time required for each rider was 1 minute and 2 seconds, and Razgatlioglu was given a penalty for exiting too early.
Razgatlioglu was given a 1.2 second time penalty, giving Brega a lead of more than three seconds for the first time with eight laps remaining.
Andrea Locatelli's blistering pace allowed him to pass Iannone, Lowes and Razgatlioglu, but it was too much to close the gap to Brega.
| 2024 World Superbike Phillip Island, Australia – Race (1) Results | ||||
| position | rider | nut | team | time |
| 1 | Nicolo Brega | it is | Aruba.It Racing Ducati | 20 laps |
| 2 | Andrea Locatelli | it is | Pata Yamaha Prometheon World SBK | +2.280 seconds |
| 3 | Andrea Iannone | it is | Go Eleven Ducati | +2.630 seconds |
| Four | Alex Laws | GBR | Kawasaki Racing Team World SBK | +4.728 seconds |
| Five | Toprak Razgatriol | Tours | ROKIT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team | +5.706 seconds |
| 6 | Dominic Eggerter | SWI | GYTR GRT Yamaha World SBK Team | +8.333 seconds |
| 7 | michael van der mark | NED | ROKIT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team | +8.647 seconds |
| 8 | Danilo Petrucci | it is | verni spark racing team | +9.965 seconds |
| 9 | Garrett Geroff | united states of america | bonobo action bmw | +11.699 seconds |
| Ten | xavi vierge | spa | Team HRC World SBK | +12.423 seconds |
| 11 | scott redding | GBR | bonobo action bmw | +14.413 seconds |
| 12 | axel bassani | it is | Kawasaki Racing Team World SBK | +16.668 seconds |
| 13 | sam lowes | GBR | Mark VDS Ducati | +18.388 seconds |
| 14 | Michael Ruben Rinaldi | spa | motocorsa ducati | +23.560 seconds |
| 15 | Alvaro Bautista | spa | Aruba.It Racing Ducati | +32.741 seconds |
| 16 | Philip Ettle | gel | GMT94 Yamaha | +35.580 seconds |
| 17 | Jonathan Ray | GBR | Pata Yamaha Prometheon World SBK | +37.949 seconds |
| 18 | Tito Rabat | spa | Pucchetti Kawasaki | +39.427 seconds |
| 19 | Taran Mackenzie | GBR | Petronas Mie Honda | +54.890 seconds |
| 20 | Adam Norodin | Maru | Petronas Mie Honda | +57.202 seconds |
| twenty one | bradley ray | GBR | Motoxracing Yamaha WorldSBK Team | +58.642 seconds |
| twenty two | Remy Gardner | Australia | GYTR GRT Yamaha World SBK Team | DNF |
