Ducati Switch Sparks Dominant PSBK Opener

Access Plus Racing opened its 2026 Philippine Superbike Championship (PSBK) campaign the only way it knows how — with a pair of dominant 1–2 finishes at the Batangas Racing Circuit (BRC). But the result came after the team made a surprise late bike change just before the weekend began.

The team focused on developing its new 7th-generation Ducati Panigale V4 leading up to the race weekend. Timothy Joseph “TJ” Alberto and younger brother Troy Alberto spent Thursday and Friday testing the new machine around the 3.700 km circuit as Access Plus Racing worked through setup and development ahead of its planned race debut.

By Saturday, the team shifted its attention to the Ducati Panigale V2, which they were also campaigning in the newly introduced Supersport 600 (SS600) class that same weekend. Despite producing less power than the Panigale V4, the lighter V2 immediately impressed with its pace around BRC. The bike proved so competitive that Access Plus Racing ultimately decided to enter it in the premier SBK1000 category instead, allowing the team to preserve the new Panigale V4 while development continues ahead of Round 2 next month.

The decision paid off instantly.

TJ Alberto secured pole position on Saturday with a 1:37.436 lap, while younger brother Troy Alberto qualified just 0.174 secs behind in P2 to put both Access Plus Racing riders at the front of the grid.

When the lights went out for Race 1 on Sunday, Troy got the better launch and swept into the lead heading into Turn 1. TJ remained close behind as the Alberto brothers quickly broke away from the rest of the field. Troy controlled the race through the opening laps before TJ gradually began reeling him in midway through the race.

The reigning 5-time PSBK champion eventually made his move on the main straight on lap 8 and never looked back, steadily opening a gap to claim the first victory of the 2026 season. Troy crossed the line in 2nd, just 0.423 secs behind, giving Access Plus Racing a dominant 1–2 finish.

Race 2 initially looked set to produce another intense battle between the brothers. This time, TJ held onto the lead off the start, though Troy remained firmly in attack mode right behind him. However, the race was red-flagged on lap 4, temporarily halting the fight at the front.

Following the restart, both riders suffered slower getaways, but Troy managed to emerge in the lead while TJ dropped back to P4. The older Alberto wasted little time working his way back through the field and was already back into P2 by the end of the lap.

By then, Troy had stretched his advantage to nearly 4 seconds. TJ responded by steadily closing the gap over the following laps. With two laps remaining, the Alberto brothers fought for the lead and swapped positions several times before TJ ultimately came out on top to secure his second victory of the weekend.

Troy crossed the finish line behind his older brother, completing another 1–2 finish and giving TJ an early advantage in his bid for a 6th consecutive PSBK Rider of the Year crown.

Another highlight of the weekend was the return of Team Principal and former Philippine Superbike champion Toti Alberto, who joined the grid for the first time in several years. Competing in the Masters Class, he secured 2nd place finishes in both races.

Access Plus Racing now turns its attention to Round 2 of the championship on June 6–7 at Clark International Speedway, where the team is expected to finally debut the new 7th-generation Panigale V4 in full race trim.

TJ Alberto, #77: “This opening race weekend was really more of a shakedown for the whole team. We spent the first few days developing the new 7th-generation Panigale V4 in preparation for the coming rounds. By Friday, we had already completed most of our work on the superbike and switched our focus to the supersport machine. The Panigale V2 immediately impressed us with its pace, and we eventually decided to race it in both the SS600 and SBK1000 classes. I’m seriously impressed with this new generation of Ducati machinery and I’m looking forward to Clark and stronger competition in the next rounds.”

Troy Alberto, #69: “It was a really fun way to start the season. We came into the weekend mainly focused on testing and development, so to come away with two 1–2 finishes was a great result for the whole team. The Panigale V2 was very impressive and we were able to be competitive immediately. Overall, I’m happy with the pace we showed and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do once the new Panigale V4 is fully ready.”

Toti Alberto (Team Principal): “Overall, it was a very positive start to the season for the whole team. But we know the level of competition will continue to rise as more riders join the championship in the coming rounds, and we still have a lot of work ahead as we continue developing the new Panigale V4. It was also a very enjoyable weekend for me personally, getting the chance to return to the grid and race alongside TJ and Troy again.”

Access Plus Racing is sponsored by Ducati Philippines, Shell Advance, Brembo, Öhlins Racing, Sprint Filter, Macbeth, DID Chains, Aella, Motoworld, Capit Performance, LV8 – Elevate, Extreme Components, and Rudy Project.

For more info and the latest updates about the team, follow www.facebook.com/AccessPlusRacingPH/, www.facebook.com/TjAlberto7/, and www.facebook.com/TroyAlberto9Official.