Lowes leads the pack as Portimao Official WorldSBK Test concludes

WorldSBK riders complete a close two-day test in Portugal with British rider on top and ten riders covered by a second

WorldSBK riders completed their second and final day of Official Portimao Test around Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal. Sun shone down on both days, and scorching weather saw riders dealing with different track conditions between the two daily sessions, with the asphalt temperatures reaching nearly 50 degrees in the afternoon. With that bear in mind, riders hit the track early this morning again, putting in their best laps and continuing from where they left off yesterday before the temperatures soared once again.

Pata Yamaha WorldSBK rider Alex Lowes was the fastest rider at the end of Day 2, after setting the quickest lap time in 1’41.153 this morning with qualifying tyres. While trying new chassis components and different soft tyres, the British rider took time also to understand his physical condition. During the break, Lowes had surgery to solve a tendinitis problem in his arms, but after two days of testing, he is now sure to be fit and ready for the round in September. On the other side of the garage, it was an eventful day for Michael van der Mark, who had a small crash in FP1 and experienced a technical problem twice in FP2. Despite that, the Dutchman cannot be disappointed with his results as he set the fourth fastest lap time with Q tyres.

It was a stronger day also for the Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK riders. Jonathan Rea closed again as second fastest just 0.218 s behind Lowes, with his best lap time improved of more than a second compared to the first day. His teammate Leon Haslam was sixth, not far from the top of the time screens. While both riders spent Day 1 focusing on their overall package, today they worked mainly in preparation for the next WorldSBK round here in Portugal.

After feeling unwell overnight, Toprak Razgatlioglu (Turkish Puccetti Racing) had to cut short his final day of testing. Third quickest today after two positive days, the Turkish rider prepared for the race weekend and tried different qualifying strategies with the rest of the season in mind.

It was a shorter day also for Alvaro Bautista (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati) that due to pain in his shoulder, after sustaining an injury at the U.S. Round, also decided to sit out from FP2. The Spaniard completed the Portimao Test ninth overall ahead of Michael Ruben Rinaldi (BARNI Racing Team), who had a small crash with no consequence at the end of FP2. The Italian preceded the other official Ducati of Chaz Davies (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati), who had a different swingarm and other new items to test. Completing the group of Ducati riders, Eugene Laverty (Team Goeleven) finished eighth.

Loris Baz (Ten Kate Racing – Yamaha) was the rider to put in the largest number of laps – 146 laps across the two days. Today the Frenchman found an improvement on his opening day pace as he set the fifth fastest lap time in 1’41.718. It was a busy test for Baz, as he was trying new tyres compounds and working on improving the weak points of his Yamaha YZF R1.

Continuing with his busy schedule, Sandro Cortese (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK) set the seventh fastest lap time, while teammate Marco Melandri closed thirteenth behind Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK). The latter had different items to test on his BMW S1000 RR but together with his teammate Markus Reiterberger (15th) they were able to gather enough information to work on for the next round.

Kawasaki Independent Team riders Jordi Torres (Team Perdercini Racing) and Leandro Mercado (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) closed 14th and 16th respectively, as they both worked to improve the overall package of their ZX-10RR machines across the two days.

Moriwaki Althea Honda Team riders Takumi Takahashi (substitute of still injured Leon Camier) and Ryuichi Kiyonari finished seventeenth and nineteenth respectively as they both worked on the base setup of the Honda CBR1000RR, while Ducati wild card entry Silvain Barrier (BRIXX Racing Team) closed 18th overall.

BARDAHL Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team rider Federico Caricasulo was the fastest among the WorldSSP riders. The Italian set the quickest lap time in 1’45.281 ahead of compatriot Raffaele De Rosa (MV AGUSTA Reparto Corse).

Race winners Jules Cluzel (GMT 94 Yamaha) set the third fastest time despite a small crash in the afternoon today. The Frenchman closed ahead of the Yamaha of Spanish rider Isaac Viñales (Kallio Racing) who worked well during both days.

Championship leader Randy Krummenacher (BARDAHL Evan Bros. WorldSSP) was the fifth quickest around Portimao after having set the pace at the end of Day 1 yesterday. The Swiss worked on improving his feeling with the front end of his bike, testing also his physical conditions. Krummenacher returned to the tarmac at Portimao after suffering a slight knee injury at the beginning of the two-month summer break, but he looks now to have fully recuperated.

More, from a press release issued Kawasaki:

Satisfying Official Tests For KRT In Portimao

Jonathan Rea and Leon Haslam have successfully completed two days of WorldSBK testing in Portugal, held at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve near Portimao between the 24th and 25th of August. Four-time World Champion Rea finished up second quickest and his experienced team-mate Haslam was sixth.

Coming only two weeks before the Portimao round of the championship this test was used by the team to find the best set-up for the rapidly approaching race weekend, and also try out some development and set-up ideas for the 2020 WorldSBK season.

Hot sunshine and clear August skies were evident on both days at the 4.592km long circuit, resulting in slightly cooler track conditions in the morning and a hotter track surface in the afternoon each day.

Rea was the fastest of the Kawasaki riders and second quickest overall. Haslam proved to be sixth fastest while day one quickest rider Toprak Razgatlioglu (Turkish Puccetti Racing) was eventually third overall, and the top independent rider.

The tenth of 13 FIM Superbike World Championship rounds takes place at Portimao between 6th and 8th September, restarting the season after a long summer break in racing action since the Laguna Seca round in mid-July.

Jonathan Rea, stated: “The test was really good and to be honest I needed to test. I was a little bit slow in waking up yesterday. I have had a great summer break but I was not only readjusting to riding again. With the momentum I had from the endurance spec bike in Suzuka, I felt really fast coming here. At a circuit I am really strong at, I did not really feel I had much more yesterday. But this morning I woke up and we found a better lap time and also more consistency. In the heat of the afternoon I was much better compared to the opening day. I feel really positive.”

Leon Haslam, stated: “We had a lot of things to evaluate and we ended up – on race tyres – the second quickest to Johnny. I was the only one who did not use a qualifier, an ‘SCX’ or a prototype tyre. So race tyre-to-race tyre we were just a couple of tenths off where Johnny was. We made a big step here and we were 0.7 seconds faster than we were in pre-season testing at Portimao, and in hotter conditions. I felt we got through all our items and it was a really positive test. It shows me as sixth on the time sheets but that is purely down to others using a qualifying tyre.”

Pere Riba, Crew Chief for Jonathan Rea, stated: “We came here with a list of test items thinking about making a general improvement compared to the first two-thirds of the season. Then we thought about race weekend here, with the base bike, and some general things for next year. We tried a couple of things on the suspension side from Showa, and then we also focused on the electronics. We also worked on the balance of the bike for the Portimao race weekend. We had hot conditions in the afternoons and also a little bit less temperature in the morning sessions – and we have been fast in both. Especially in the hot conditions it seems like we have made a little step forward and now we are ready to start the race weekend.”

Marcel Duinker, Crew Chief for Leon Haslam, stated: “We have a happy rider and that is where it all starts from. The main target of this test was to prepare ourselves for race weekend. We had a test in January here and that was one of the first times Leon had jumped on this bike. Then, he was still discovering the character of this bike but this time we stated from a different point. We improved the bike in quite a few areas and the most important thing is that his lap times are close to the top guy, plus he was fast and consistent. We used only the SC0 race tyre all through this test. Leon showed a very nice pace and we are very well prepared for the race weekend.”

Toprak Razgatlioglu (Turkish Puccetti Racing) ended the first day of testing fastest of all, with a 1’41.897 lap time. After suffering a bout of food poisoning he only rode in the morning session today, but remained third fastest overall thanks to his improved best lap.

Jordi Torres (Team Pedercini Racing Kawasaki) was 14th in the combined times and Leandro Mercado (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) placed 16th.

More, from a press release issued by Aruba.it Racing Ducati:

Two days of official World Superbike testing at Portimao conclude for the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team

World Superbike took to the track again today after the long summer break, which has lasted since the previous round in the USA in mid-July. The mid-season appointment was two days of collective testing at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve circuit in preparation for the next round of the championship at this track in two weeks’ time.

All the teams and riders were present, including the two riders of the Italian team – Álvaro Bautista and Chaz Davies – who were anxious to set up their Ducati Panigale V4 R machines in view of the final part of the season. Four testing sessions were scheduled over the two days for a total of eight hours of track time.

Still not 100% fit after the incident at Laguna Seca in which he stretched the ligaments in his left shoulder, Bautista put in more laps than any other rider on the first day (66), recording the third quickest time in 1’42.087. Today on the other hand, he preferred not to stress his shoulder too much before the Portuguese Round, cutting short the work programme early in the morning session. The 34-year-old Spanish rider was ninth quickest in the aggregate standings with the best time he had set yesterday.

These were two intense days of testing on the other hand for Chaz Davies, who finished Day 1 yesterday in eighth place with a best time of 1’42.487. The 32-year-old Welshman continued his work load in view of the next round on this track, trying some different solutions at the rear, dropping his time by three-tenths and finishing the test in eleventh place with a time of 1’42.161.

Álvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #19) – 9th (1’42.087)

“These two days of testing have been very positive even though on the second day we weren’t able to do many laps. Unfortunately, the shoulder is not yet in a perfect condition and I felt a bit of pain. We preferred to stop early so as not to make things worse and to be in the best condition in a couple of weeks’ time. In any case, yesterday we did a lot of laps and all things considered I’m happy because I found a good feeling again with my Panigale. This was the first test since the last round at Laguna Seca, now we’ve got a few more days to fully recover.”

Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #7) – 11th (1’42.161)

“It was a good two days and great to get back into the swing of things and actually just verify the progress that we have made since the test here in January. Coming here six months later, I felt like the bike responded pretty good all in all. Over the two days we worked on the chassis mainly, things felt good and the bike was working well. I go away from here pretty confident and can’t wait for the final part of the season to start.”

The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team will be back on track at Portimao in two weeks’ time for the tenth round of the Superbike World Championship at the Portuguese circuit from 6th to 8th September.

More, from a press release issued by Barni Racing:

Barni Racing team completed two days testing at Portiamo

Portimao (POR), 26th August 2019. WorldSBK riders back on track this weekend at Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimao, Portugal, for Official WorldSBK Testing. After a long six weeks break the traditional summer test preceding MOTUL FIM WorldSBK round 10 in the same track next 6-8 September, marked the return to action.

Closely with others teams and riders Barni Racing Team and Michael Rinaldi had a busy two-days trying to find a good setup on their Ducati Panigale V4 R in preparation for the upcoming race weekend.

Without new items to test the team worked on the weak points, especially in the extra-grip conditions. Rinaldi didn’t use softer tyre concentrating himself on race pace. The flagbearer of the Barni Racing Team set his fastest time (1’42.124) in the morning session of day 2 which saw him in tenth position overall at the end .

Day 1

Clear sky and warm temperatures welcomed the Barni Racing Team crew for the first day of test in Portugal. Returning into action after a long summer break Barni Racing Team and his rider Michael Rinaldi went out on track early in the morning and worked closely with others teams all day. The rider from Rimini scored a positive sixth fastest lap time in 1’42.426 at the end of the day, with 52 laps overall.

Rinaldi set the time in the morning while the temperatures soared to 48 degrees in the afternoon when no one among the top 9 was able to improve.

Day 2

Sun shone down even in the second day. Scorching weather saw riders dealing with different track conditions between the two daily sessions, with the asphalt temperatures reaching nearly 50 degrees in the afternoon. As happened on saturday Rinaldi set his fastest time (1’42.124) in the morning session. This time placed him ninth in the first session, tenth overall after the two-days testing.

Marco Barnabo, General Manager:

We were fast with high temperatures and low grip, at the contrary we are no able to exploit extra-grip conditions, especially with the new tyres. We are aware that we still have to work to improve in that situation and I believe that this two days are very important in view of the next round.

Michael Rinaldi:

We didn’t have new items to test and because of that we were focused in find a good base for the upcoming weekend here in Portugal. The tests are always great for us especially after a long summer break. I’m quite satisfied after these two days but we still have some issue when the grip is very high being not able to take advantages. I’m confident that the team and Ducati could help me to improve in this condition. Contrary to the other riders in front of me on the timesheet I didn’t use qualifying tyre.

More, from a press release issued by Go Eleven Team:

POSITIVE TEST FOR THE RACE AND…FIRST DUCATI AT THE CHEQUERED FLAG!

After just over a month the WorldSBK circus is back on track! Two days of testing on the Portuguese circuit of Portimao, the next stage of the series derivatives Championship.

Eugene Laverty and the Go Eleven Team presented themselves with different technical innovations to try and a great unknown: was the right wrist of the Irish ace completely recovered?

1.42.055, less than a second from the best lap of the two days in the Algarve and the first Ducati in the standings!

The big step forward was during the second session on Saturday and the first on Sunday, sessions in which Eugene was able to test a new Bitubo rear shock absorber solution that immediately gave him great confidence and a great feeling with his Ducati V4- R.

With the same tyres, and without pushing more than necessary, the rider managed to improve his best lap of 0.5 seconds.

On Sunday, instead, he concentrated on an innovative balance of the bike, to be able to brake deeply.

From this fundamental two days of Test the Go Eleven Team, and Eugene, come out aware of being able to ride the last 4 races in the best possible ways.

Now all that remains is to wait for the summer break to end and the WorldSBK professionals to return to the track, aware of having one more opponent!

Eugene Laverty (Rider):

“This has been a fantastic test for many reasons. After such a difficult period with injuries it felt incredible to ride my bike correctly again. We started slowly but soon made quick progress on Saturday afternoon thanks to Bitubo’s updated rear shock. With the same tyres I entered the track to make a fair comparison and I was astounded to find an improvement of 0.5 seconds. At world championship level that is a huge step. Today we improved the chassis balance further allowing me to brake deeper and we finished the test with big smiles on our faces. We have set the fastest lap time of all the Ducati riders and that is an achievement we can be very proud of.”