More, from a press release issued by Dorna WorldSBK Press Office:
#PRTWorldSBK – Day 1
Razgatlioglu tops opening day of WorldSBK running in Portimao
Turkish sensation continues to set the pace overall for the day as Loris Baz goes fastest in Free Practice 2
MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship action continued into the afternoon at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve with Toprak Razgatlioglu (PATA YAMAHA WorldSBK Official Team) setting the pace for the day; his time from the opening practice session, the fastest of the day by around four tenths of a second ahead of the Motul Portuguese Round.
Razgatlioglu’s time of 1’42.103 set in Free Practice 1 was enough to set the pace for the day as he topped the day’s running, ahead of Loris Baz (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha). Baz was able to top Free Practice 2 as the top Independent rider; his time of 1’42.522 being four tenths off Razgatlioglu’s time from the morning. Razgatlioglu’s teammate, Michael van der Mark, ended the day sixth fastest overall.
Third fastest was reigning Champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) as he made it two manufacturers in the top three, Rea missing out on second place for the day by just 0.045s to French rider Baz. Rea’s Kawasaki teammate, Alex Lowes, finished in eighth place overall, the first rider to have a fastest time not in the 1’42s bracket.
Michael Ruben Rinaldi’s impressive form continued as he finished fourth for the day, following on from his fourth-place finish at Jerez. The Italian rider was just 0.017s away from matching the time of five-time Champion Rea; Rinaldi continuing to show his rapid pace by being classified as the fastest Ducati rider. Scott Redding (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati) was the lead factory Ducati rider in fifth place, with his teammate, Chaz Davies, ending the day in 12th.
In seventh was Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) as he lapped around six tenths slower than Razgatlioglu’s pace setting time. He was around four tenths quicker than Eugene Laverty (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) as the duo continue to battle it out for the one remaining BMW seat for 2021.
Alvaro Bautista (Team HRC) was the lead Honda rider on Friday as he finished the day in ninth place, around one tenth ahead of teammate Leon Haslam. Bautista had a crash at Turn 5 during Free Practice 2 but he was able to remount his Honda and continue lapping the Portimao circuit as Free Practice 2 continued.
Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team) was 12th overall for the day aboard his Yamaha YZF R1 with him and teammate Federico Caricasulo completing the most laps of anyone for the day – with American rider Gerloff completing 42 and Caricasulo 45. The pair were separated by Sandro Cortese (OUTDO Kawasaki TPR), Leandro ‘Tati’ Mercado (Motocorsa Racing) and Xavi Fores (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing).
Maximilian Scheib (ORELAC Racing VerdNatura) finished the day in 18th place onboard his Kawasaki ZX-10RR, finishing around 0.030s faster than Marco Melandri (Barni Racing Team) as the Italian continued his WorldSBK comeback. Sylvain Barrier (Brixx Performance) was 20th in the combined classification, ahead of Takumi Takahashi (MIE Racing Althea Honda Team), wildcard Christophe Ponsson (Nuova M2 Racing) and Lorenzo Gabellini (MIE Racing Althea Honda Team).
Locatelli fastest despite FP2 crash as WorldSSP hits Portimao
Championship leader Andrea Locatelli topped the timesheets in WorldSSP as he continued to show impressive pace in his rookie season
As FIM Supersport World Championship moved from Jerez to Portimao, there was a familiar name on top of the timesheets as Italian rookie Andrea Locatelli (BARDAHL Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team) went fastest at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve as the Motul Portuguese Round got underway.
Locatelli went fastest for the day in the second practice session with a 1’45.598 as he was fastest by less than one tenth of a second; despite a crash at Turn 5 where he came off his bike. He was able to remount and returned to the track later on in the session to set the best time. He held off the challenge from Jules Cluzel (GMT94 Yamaha) who finished the day in second place. Spanish rider Isaac Viñales (Kallio Racing) was third overall for the day, two tenths away from Locatelli.
Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) finished the day in fourth place to show his pace towards the front of the field, fending off Raffaele de Rosa (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) by just one tenth. De Rosa finished ahead of Corentin Perolari (GMT94 Yamaha); the Frenchman rounding out the top six with a time of 1’46.260.
Manuel Gonzalez (Kawasaki ParkinGO Team) finished the day in seventh place; clinching a spot in the top 10 of the combined standings by just a tenth of a second with strong competition throughout the field. The gap between Gonzalez in seventh and Hannes Soomer (Kallio Racing) in eighth was just 0.024s; showing just how competitive the WorldSSP field is. Steven Odendaal (EAB Ten Kate Racing) was in ninth with Philipp Oettl (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) completing the top 10 despite a technical issue in the latter stages of Free Practice 2.
Hungarian rider Peter Sebestyen (OXXO Yamaha Team Toth) was 11th with Kevin Mandredi (Altogoo Racing Team) in 12th, the highest placed WorldSSP Challenge rider, just ahead of Turkish sensation Can Öncü (Turkish Racing Team), Danny Webb (WRP Wepol Racing) and Axel Bassani (Soradis Yamaha Motoxracing).
Dynavolt Honda duo Patrick Hobelsberger and Maria Herrera, making her return to WorldSSP, were 21st and 24th respectively, with Indonesian rider Galang Hendra Pratama (bLU cRU WorldSSP by MS Racing) and teammate Andy Verdoïa in 22nd and 23rd respectively.
Deroue fastest as top 20 are within one second in WorldSSP300
WorldSSP300 action resumes with close times throughout the field as Deroue sets the pace after two practice sessions
FIM Supersport World Championship’s season continued with the Championship heading to the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve for Round 2 of the 2020 season, the Motul Portuguese Round. The times were topped by Scott Deroue (MTM Kawasaki MOTOPORT) with a time set in the first free practice session as he struck first ahead of two races this weekend.
The Dutchman’s time of 1’57.400 was enough to be fastest for the day as he denied Mika Perez (Prodina Ircos Team WorldSSP300) top by just 0.006s; showing just how competitive the WorldSSP300 field is throughout the grid. Deroue’s MTM Kawasaki MOTOPORT teammates, Jeffrey Buis, Koen Meuffels and Yuta Okaya finished 30th, eighth and 11th respectively.
Ana Carrasco (Kawasaki Provec WorldSSP300) finished the day in third place, just half-a-tenth behind Deroue, Thomas Brianti (Prodina Ircos Team WorldSSP300) was fourth fastest after the two practice sessions, finish about three tenths off the lead pace from Deroue; but still within range of Deroue’s pace with the competitive field. Samuel di Sora (Leader Team Flembbo) came home in fifth place with Ton Kawakami (Yamaha MS Racing) rounding out the top six. Everyone in the top six managed to improve their lap times in Free Practice 2, with just Deroue lapping slower compared to Free Practice 1.
Bahattin Sofuoglu (Biblion Motoxracing by Yamaha WorldSSP300) finished the day classified in seventh place, less than half a second off the pace, despite a crash in Free Practice 2, as the race winner from Jerez continued his front running pace. Meikon Kawakami (Team Brasil 78 AD) was classified ninth with Championship leader Tom Booth-Amos (RT Motorsports by SKM – Kawasaki) rounding out the top 10.
Bruno Ieraci (Kawasaki GP Project) finished the day in 12th place ahead of another winner from Jerez, Unai Orradre (Yamaha MS Racing). Oliver Konig (Freudenberg KTM Junior Team) was classified in 14th place after the day’s running with his teammate, Jan-Ole Jahing in 15th. The gap between Orradre and Jahing was just 0.002s; showing how close the field is in WorldSSP300.
Hugo de Cancellis (Team TRASIMENO), who had shown great pace in the two Jerez races, was classified down in 20th place but within a second of the leading pace. Christian Stagne (Freuedenberg KTM WorldSSP Team) finished the day in 21st place with Tom Edwards (Kawasaki ParkinGO) in 32nd place after not setting a lap time in Free Practice 2. Jarno Ioverno (Scuderia Maranga Racing) also did not set a time in the afternoon session; the Italian having a fall.
More, from a press release issued by Yamaha:
Razgatlıoğlu Flies in Friday Free Practice at Portimão
Turkish sensation and Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team with Rizla rider Toprak Razgatlıoğlu set the pace on the opening day of the third FIM Superbike World Championship round today with the fastest overall time of 1’42.103.
Both Razgatlıoğlu and teammate Michael van der Mark are determined to repeat and even improve on their podium performances from the previous round in Jerez, and challenge for victory at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve.
The Pata Yamaha pairing threw down the gauntlet during Free Practice 1 by delivering a team 1-2 at the top of the timesheets in the first 50-minute session of the day.
Just four competitors managed to improve on their times in the afternoon as track temperatures increased to over 44 degrees, but no one managed to unseat Razgatlıoğlu, whose fastest time remained a full 0.405 seconds clear of the pack. He also completed a near-race distance simulation in FP2, with consistent and encouraging results.
Van der Mark, whose quickest lap was a 1’42.722, focused solely on bike set-up with used tyres during the afternoon session to finish sixth overall. Both riders recorded among the highest top speeds of the field on the undulating start-finish straight – 312.3kph for the Dutchman (third) and 314.1kph for Razgatlıoğlu (second).
Tomorrow will reveal if the Pata Yamaha riders’ pace is enough to fight for victory with lights out at 14:00 local time (GMT+1) for Race 1, but not before a final third practice session of 20 minutes at 09:00 and the all-important WorldSBK Tissot Superpole qualifying at 11:00.
Toprak Razgatlıoğlu: Combined P1 – 1’42.103
“Fastest time on Friday is always a good start! I know in Jerez, for me it was a really bad start on Friday, and today I am feeling happy because the bike is incredible to ride here. We tried a different set-up and now we are ready for the race. Tyre choice will be important, because again we have hot conditions with the tyres sliding and so we will see tomorrow. Now I am feeling much better on the bike, so I will continue to ride like this, for the qualifying tyre we will change the set-up a little but the work we did today is very important for the race distance, which is my focus.”
Michael van der Mark: Combined P6 – 1’42.722
“I’m quite happy with the bike now, and already from the start it felt quite good. We were struggling a little bit on corner entry and this morning we couldn’t really find the solution. In the afternoon, during the session we made a big change on the front of the bike and immediately I felt a lot better, I could stop the bike and this was what I was looking for from the R1. There are still some areas to improve, but to be honest my pace in the afternoon, after this morning, I was quite happy with it and the feeling of the bike means I can ride it easily and focus on the areas we have to improve.”
Paul Denning – Team Principal
“It’s been a really constructive Friday, probably the best one of this “strange” season so far! Given such a strong winter test performance for Toprak at this track, there was some doubt about going back to the winter test setting or continuing with some of the development settings we’ve used in Jerez. But finally, his R1 seems well balanced and he is able to produce good lap times on new tyres or old. We worked very hard to do a 14-lap race simulation in the heat of the afternoon. Certainly compared to last weekend in Jerez, Toprak and his crew are better prepared going into Saturday. Michael also had a very positive day with second position this morning. In the afternoon he chose not to use the softer tyre option and continued to work on bike balance, which allowed us to produce more rear grip and better corner entry with used tyres. We know here in Portimão that Michael is formidable and when he finds a consistent rhythm he can run with anybody! Let’s see what tomorrow brings, but right now, the Pata Yamaha team, the riders and the R1 are looking in good shape.”
More, from a press release issued by Barni Racing Team:
The opening day at Portimao ends with Melandri nineteenth
Portimao (POR), 7 August 2020.The Barni Racing Team’s weekend starts uphill at the Portimao circuit in Portugal, home of the third round of the Superbike World Championship.
In the two free practice sessions, held in temperatures that fluctuated between 27° C and 44° C on the asphalt, Marco Melandri was unable to do the best of the 19th overall time with 1’44.340. A result below expectations for the rider from Ravenna still struggling to find the best set-up on his Ducati Panigale V4R. The #33 has covered 29 laps between FP1 and FP2, lowering his best time in the afternoon, but to get a good placement on the grid there will need another step forward in the FP3 on Saturday morning. The Superpole will start tomorrow at 11:00 local time (12:00 in Italy), while race 1 is scheduled at 14 Portimao, at 15:00 Italian time.
Marco Melandri
P18 (1’44.340)
“It certainly wasn’t the birthday present I wanted. When you have to try to do a whole day’s testing in two session the risk is losing your way. That’s what happened to me today: I tried to change my position on the saddle several times because I feel I’m not 100% comfortable and I had difficulties in different areas. Now we have to take a step back and try to understand what was good today, what was wrong. The positive aspect is that we definitely have a lot of margin because I’m riding badly, the negative aspect is that we have to improve in just one session.”
Marco Barnabo, Team Principal:
“Lack of data and tests complicate our lives, I have to say we are a bit in trouble. We have tried many things, but we have not chosen the right path, now we must think and be able to find a way out for tomorrow. We must not miss the FP3 to be able to do a good qualifying , letting the rider in a position to rider as he knows we can still escape from this situation in view of the races.”
More, from a press release issued by Aruba.it Racing Ducati:
Scott Redding and Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) fifth and twelfth respectively after first day of free practice at Algarve International Circuit (Portimao)
The first day of action of the third round of the 2020 WorldSBK season finishes with Scott Redding and Chaz Davies in fifth and twelfth place respectively in the combined standings.
During free practice at the Algarve International Circuit in Portimao (Portugal), the two riders of the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team worked hard both on the set up of their respective Ducati Panigale V4 R and on the choice of tyres for Race-1 scheduled for tomorrow at 2.00 pm (3.00 pm CET).
Scott Redding took advantage of the morning session to familiarize himself with the circuit after the January tests and in the afternoon he managed to close the gap to the leader by almost 8 tenths, ending up FP2 145 thousandths from Baz’s first time.
Chaz Davies, on the other hand, was not able to be incisive in the second session, finishing in 12th position in the combined standings thanks to the lap time recorded in the FP1.
FP Combined Standings – Scott, Chaz & Top 5
P1 T. Razgatlioglu – Yamaha
(FP1 1’42,103 | FP2 1’42,522)
P2 L. Baz – Yamaha
(FP1 1’42,950 | FP2 1’42,508) + 0,405
P3 J. Rea – Kawasaki
(FP1 1’42,803 | FP2 1’42,543) + 0,440
P4 M. Rinaldi – Ducati
(FP1 1’42,882 | FP2 1’42,560) + 0,457
P5 S. Redding – Aruba.it Racing – Ducati
(FP1 1’43,054 | FP2 1’42,653) + 0,550
P12 C. Davies – Aruba.it Racing – Ducati
(FP1 1’43,549 | FP2 1’43,988) + 1,446
Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #45)
“It’s been a pretty good day. Maybe we struggled a bit in the FP1 where I couldn’t find my best rhythm. I was a bit worried about the gap at the end of the morning practice but in the afternoon – with the new tyre – things went much better. We still have some work to do ahead of Race 1 tomorrow but we are extremely confident”.
Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #7)
“It’s a new challenge at a different circuit to Jerez. We have worked hard to figure out which tyres to use in tomorrow’s race. We probably didn’t go in the right direction in terms of set up this afternoon. They weren’t very productive FP2 but we will work a lot tonight to figure out how to fix some details and be ready for tomorrow”.
More, from a press release issued by Team Go Eleven:
MICHAEL STARTS FROM WHERE HE WAS!
Michael Rinaldi and Ducati Go Eleven confirm at the top of Portimao’s Friday standings. After the amazing Round of Jerez de la Frontera it was important to flex “the muscles” and to be permanently placed in the first places, to give continuity to the growth of the project. Sooner said then done and the rider from Romagna ends day one in fourth place. The race pace is also very consistent and is constantly improving, always riding alone and without slipstreams, just looking for the best riding comfort in order to replicate his best laps. Tomorrow we will need to get another step forward, considering the close standings. This weekend the whole team, with Michael, worked hard to improve fast lap, too, which was the Achilles’ heel of the Andalusian stage. The goal on Saturday will be to make a good Superpole, start with the front group, and give 100% in Race 1!
Free Practices 1:
P 1 T. Razgatlioglu 1’42.103
P 2 M. Van Der Mark + 0.619
P 3 J. Rea + 0.700
P 4 M. Rinaldi + 0.779
Free Practices 2:
P 1 L. Baz 1’42.508
P 2 T. Razgatlioglu + 0.014
P 3 J. Rea + 0.035
P 4 M. Rinaldi 0.052
Michael Rinaldi (Rider):
“We come to the end of another excellent day, working well and consistently. We still have to improve a little bit on the race pace, but being fourth after the good weekend in Jerez gives spirits to the team! Let’s try to continue this positive streak, trying to go even better tomorrow.”
More, from a press release issued by Kawasaki:
Rea Third After First Day
KRT official WorldSBK riders Jonathan Rea and Alex Lowes ended their first day of practice at the Portuguese round of the championship in third and eighth places respectively, as the on-track action restarts just a few days after the previous round was completed in Spain.
On their Ninja ZX-10RR machines Rea and Lowes made their first important steps to find an optimum set-up for the first race on Saturday 8 August, and evaluate the track conditions at a circuit with many more track elevation changes than the previous venue of Jerez. Ambient weather conditions were much kinder than they were last weekend, with FP2 today held in 27°C and with a track temperature of 44°C.
Rea was faster in the afternoon session, recording his Friday best lap of 1’42.543, but Lowes set similar times in each of the two outings on his Ninja ZX-10RR, with his best morning mark of 1’43.203 almost identical to his afternoon high point.
The 4.592km circuit in Portimao is now starting to offer more grip with so much track action having taken place today in warm conditions. The early action in the support classes were held up by the lack of medical helicopter cover due to localised fog early this morning. The late beginning did not affect the circuit or eventual WorldSBK FP1 session starting time itself.
Saturday 8 August will see race one, over 20 laps, held at 14.00 local time in Portugal – which is one hour behind CET. A 10-lap Tissot-Superpole ‘sprint’, followed by the final 20-lap race two, will complete the Portuguese weekend on Sunday 9 August.
FP3 and then Superpole qualifying, to determine the final grid slots for all riders, will take place before race one on Saturday morning.
Jonathan Rea, stated: “Today has been interesting because there is a lot less grip on the track than there was last season when we were able to be super fast from the early laps. This race weekend it took a little bit of time for the track to get some rubber down and we were able to go faster in the afternoon, even with hotter temperatures. That means that the track is getting better and better. We have been understanding the tyre options that are available to us. I made a longer run in the second session to understand how the bike is behaving and to set-up the electronics a little bit better for the end of the race. We have our front tyre choice all set for tomorrow and there is still a question mark over which rear tyre to use. We have some more time in the morning to understand. But the bike is working well over race distance already and I am feeling a lot better than I did at Jerez. The bike is ‘talking’ to me a little bit more and I understand what is happening when the grip drops. It has been pretty positive.”
Alex Lowes, stated: “Our opening day was pretty good and I am quite happy with the bike, really. I want to improve a little bit in some of the longer, faster corners; I am just missing a little bit of position in the front with the bike set-up. But I felt quite good during my long run this afternoon and did a lot of laps at the same pace as my best lap. Obviously, it is my first time here with the Kawasaki. Because I have done so many laps here on other bikes it is quite a lot different in terms of how to ride my Ninja ZX-10RR to get the best from it, so it takes a bit of time to understand how to ride some parts of the track. I think almost all the other guys tested here in February. I found a good feeling this afternoon and I think I am quite a bit better than I was in Jerez, so that is quite positive.”
Sandro Cortese (Outdo Kawasaki TPR) was best Independent Kawasaki rider in 14th place with Xavi Fores (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) 16th and Maximilian Scheib (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) 18th overall after FP2.
