ZXMOTO Factory Evan Bros Racing marked its historic debut in the FIM Supersport World Championship at Phillip Island with a milestone first points finish, while a mix of on-track misfortune and unpredictable weather shaped a bittersweet opening round for the team across Race 1 and Race 2.

The team's first taste of WorldSSP racing on Saturday delivered a landmark moment, as Federico Caricasulo secured ZXMOTO's first ever championship points with a hard-fought 14th-place finish in Race 1. The Italian rider made a strong start, gaining a position on the opening lap, and maintained a consistent pace throughout the 18-lap contest. Breaking into the points zone in the final quarter of the race, he sealed P14 on the last lap to claim two crucial points for the new team, while also racking up valuable race kilometres with the new bike to build further development.

For Valentin Debise, Race 1 was a story of unfulfilled potential. The Frenchman translated impressive practice pace into a front-row start and immediately fought at the sharp end for a podium position. However, with 11 laps remaining, a braking error led to a crash at turn four. Though he remounted and finished the race, the incident ended his podium challenge, with his fastest laps from the race securing him ninth on the grid for Sunday's Race 2, while Caricasulo lined up in P18.

Sunday's Race 2 brought unforeseen challenges for the team, with rain falling moments before the start creating a highly unpredictable track scenario. Like the majority of the field, both Debise and Caricasulo opted for rain tyres, only for the track to dry rapidly as the race got underway. Forced to return to the pits for a tyre change to dry rubber, the strategic stop dropped both riders to the back of the pack, with Debise crossing the line in 24th and Caricasulo in 19th. The result proved a disappointing end to the weekend, but one shaped by circumstance rather than a lack of pace.

Reflecting on his Race 1 milestone, Caricasulo said: "Today was a positive day, first and foremost because we finished the race and racked up some useful kilometres to learn from. I also managed to score two points, which is already encouraging in this first race with the new bike. Now, of course, we have to try to improve, to understand what the bike and I need to be faster together."

Debise, who showcased the team's raw speed with a front-row Superpole start, added: "It wasn't the day we wanted [for Race 2]. Unfortunately, the tyre choice made before the start didn't pay off, and the race proved difficult. It's a shame, but we leave Phillip Island aware of our potential, as demonstrated above all by the front row achieved in Superpole. I thank the team for their excellent work, we will make up for it."

Fabio Evangelista, Team Principal of ZXMOTO Factory Evan Bros Racing, struck an optimistic note on the team's debut weekend, hailing the historic points finish and the progress shown by both riders despite the Race 2 setback: "Our goal was to score our first points, and we succeeded – that's a moment to celebrate for ZXMOTO in WorldSSP. Federico had a race in which he progressed consistently, and Valentin showed he can fight at the front with a fantastic front-row start in Superpole. Race 2 was unlucky with the weather and tyre strategy, but that's racing when you take risks. What matters most is the progress we've made as a team, the lessons we've learned, and the potential we've shown this weekend. Everyone is giving their all, and we'll build on this foundation as we head to Portimao."

ZXMOTO Factory Evan Bros Racing will return to WorldSSP action for the second round of the season at Portimao, Portugal, from 27-29 March, looking to build on their historic Phillip Island debut and translate their raw pace into consistent results.