The second half of the 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is about to get underway and, to review the first half of the season, Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) sat down at Donington Park for an in-depth feature interview. From his start to the year, the changes in the KRT box, racing against his twin brother and the Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team project for 2025 onwards, Lowes spoke candidly about a variety of topics.

THE FIRST HALF OF 2024: more points than 2023, close to season-best podium tally

There’s been a noticeable step up in terms of consistent results for Lowes throughout the first six rounds of the season. He’s racked up seven rostrums already – only two shy of his all-time best season from 2019 – and is on 179 points, more than he scored last season. Two wins in Australia started his campaign perfectly, and he’s taken a rostrum in every round bar the Catalunya Round, where he was in the top six.

Discussing his season so far, Lowes stated he was in one of his best moments: “The start of 2024 season’s been good for me. We started the year strongly, winning a couple of races, and this really set us up with some confidence. When we came back to Europe, we’ve been strong. I’ve been enjoying it a lot and it’s been a solid and consistent start to the year. This year, I’m enjoying my riding as much as ever. I think I’m riding as good as I’ve ever ridden. I think I’m doing a good job with the bike, the package, and the team. I would say I’m in one of my best moments.”

PAST AND PRESENT: “Always nice to judge yourself against one of the best ever… Axel’s done a fantastic job the last two or three years”

Lowes first joined Kawasaki in 2020 and was teammates with Jonathan Rea until the end of the 2023 season, giving the #22 a yardstick about his performance compared to the six-time Champion and the rider who tops the charts in most statistics for WorldSBK. For 2024, that dynamic changed, with Axel Bassani joining KRT to replace Rea after the #65 departed for Yamaha. Lowes spoke about the change in the team after being teammates with Rea and now Bassani as well as the movement inside the box, with the four-time race winner now working with Pere Riba as his crew chief.

Expanding on this topic, Lowes said: “Honestly, I quite enjoyed being teammates with Jonathan, the years we had together. It’s always nice to judge and compare yourself to one of the best ever in WorldSBK. I enjoyed it. This year, I changed some guys in the team. I’m just trying to improve myself, trying to be better, more consistent and eliminate some mistakes. Just trying to do well for me and the team, I’ve been here a long time now. To be honest, if you want to say being the leader of the team, I don’t really look at it like that. Axel’s joined the team so he doesn’t have as much experience with the Kawasaki, but he’s done a fantastic job in the last two or three years. I just try to keep improving, do my best with the guys. I have a fantastic relationship with the team, and I want to do well for them.”

A NEW CREW: “Working with the new guys in the team has been great”

Following Rea’s move, there was a switch inside the team too. Lowes moved across to work with Rea’s old crew, including Riba as his crew chief, while Bassani came in with his teammate’s old crew. Lowes has spoken before about how it’s a “different” way of working with Riba as he looks to find more consistency and secure the best results possible even if a win or a podium isn’t possible on any given day, and he discussed that again during the special interview.

He said: “Working with the new guys in the team has been great. With Pere, it’s a different way of working. He’s been there, racing in the past, so he really tries to help me on that side; the sporting side, riding side and mental side let’s say. Also, with Sander, the electronics guy, we’ve been able to find a good relationship where he understands what I want from the bike quite quickly in winter testing. This gives you some confidence with the electronics. Arturo, my main mechanic that was with Jonathan for years, has been fantastic. Little comments, puts his arm around you when you need it, it’s a pleasure. I’m really enjoying working with them and it’s obviously going well. It’s easier to enjoy when it’s going well but I believe, and it’ll happen, the weekends where it’s not going as well, we have a really good team atmosphere to make sure we maximise the best results we can get which is part of the game.”

A NEW PROJECT: “Going to be fantastic for me… a very exciting time for everyone”

2025 will feature the current KRT squad morphing into the Bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team outfit, still run by Provec Racing which brought the Japanese manufacturer so much success. Lowes and Bassani are signed up for the new project and Lowes explained how he believes this project is at the right time for him and how it’s exciting for everyone involved.

Lowes explained: “I feel it’s going to be fantastic for me. It’s at the right time of my career. I’m still fast. I’ve got a lot of experience on different manufacturers. To be able to give the guys this experience to let’s say improve a new package, it’s going to be good for them and also very interesting for me. We have a lot to focus on this year but, when the time comes, we’ll have some hard work to do in the winter to be ready to start the 2025 season in the best way possible. I think it’s a very exciting time for everyone.”

A SIBLING RIVALRY: “Our dream is trying to be on the podium together at some point”

In 2024, Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) made his WorldSBK debut and both him and Alex have made it clear they would like to be on the podium together. Ducati rider Sam has shown good pace at times following his switch from Moto2™ as he learns the Panigale V4 R and Pirelli tyres during his rookie season, although he’s also had a couple of crashes, including during the most recent round in the Czech Republic which left him with a fractured collarbone.

On racing with his brother and the relationship between the pair, Alex said: “It’s great to have Sam in the paddock. Obviously, he’s had a tough couple of races but if we can be fighting at the front, this will be better. When I see him on track, I’m always smiling. It’s great to share the track together; it’s what we dreamed about doing since we were kids. Our dream is trying to be on the podium together at some point in the World Championship, so we have to keep working hard for this. It’s great to have him there, travelling together, spending more time together… we’re so close, it’s just good to have him here in the paddock.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

In the first part of the interview, Sara Sanchez (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team) spoke about technical aspects of the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship: her adaptation to the Yamaha R7 and the first rounds of the season. In the second part, she talks about her personal side and explains her experiences of motorcycling, as well as what WorldWCR represents for motorcycling in general. Make sure you read Part 1 here.

HER EXPERIENCE WITH A TEAMMATE: “We don’t do teamwork because there’s very little time”

Sanchez is used to having a teammate in the pits, although she explained that they don’t usually work together now: “I’ve always had a teammate. In the first year in the European championship, I didn’t have one; I raced in an Italian team where I had a teammate, but they were in another category. Then I changed to my current team, and I had Jessica Howden (Team Trasimeno). The following year, I did the Italian championship with the same team, and I had Beatriz Neila (Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha) as a teammate in the European championship. This year, I have Ran and the truth is that we understand each other very well. At the moment, we don’t do teamwork because there’s very little time. If we had 40 minutes of practice, you could play with this. But we have so little time that, if it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t depend on you, it depends on whether the strategy with your teammate works out well. In the end, you can ruin the practice for your teammate or for yourself. That’s why we’re going it alone, to be honest.”

She then went into detail about her current teammate, Ran Yochay (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team), and highlighted her ability to learn and discover circuits she doesn’t know: “I was very surprised, because at Donington she was fifth and sixth and I thought she would be a little further back. I think she has a great ability to learn the circuit in the first practice session. She arrives and goes faster than me, but then I pick up the pace and perhaps I leave her behind, but she has a great ability to learn the track quickly.”

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A WorldWCR RIDER? “The nice thing is everyone follows you… it’s a really nice feeling”

Sanchez is a very experienced rider, but this is her first time in a World Championship. The Catalan rider explained how she feels now that she’s a WorldWCR rider: “It’s cool. Not for me anymore, because I could race in any other championship. But seeing your people, who watch you on TV, who follow you and ask you questions every day… the nice thing is that everyone follows you. You think, ‘I’m going to do well’. Which you normally do, but now people are watching you. It’s a really nice feeling, that everyone is watching and supporting you. That there is this visibility seems amazing to me.”

The #64 is used to travelling to circuits alone and, once there, meeting up with her team, but since the season started, that has changed a little with regards to friends and family: “They’ve never been to almost any race. I have been competing in Italy for four years and I travel everywhere alone. My father, nor my sister, nor anyone else comes! Also, I have already got into the habit of travelling alone. In fact, it doesn’t matter to me. They always asked me, ‘Why do you always come alone?’ and it suits me well. It’s not something I missed, being accompanied all the time. As I have always been with the team and we have been very close, I went everywhere alone. Family or friends maybe came once a year, at the last race… but this year, eight or ten people came to each race! I think it will be like that this year. At Portimao, we will surely be a small group too. They like to see me and be part of this.”

She also revealed that she has noticed the visibility and following that WorldWCR has: “It had never happened to me before. Now I get asked for photos, interviews here and there, it’s non-stop all the time! And not only at the circuit, when I get home, I only have emails to do things and events. This is thanks to visibility. My work at Catalunya Radio [as a commentator for MotoGP™ races] is also thanks to this, being on DAZN during the Czech Round too. All this is thanks to the visibility that the Championship gives.”

HER VISION OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP: “I think WorldWCR can be whatever you want it to be!”

Sanchez has plenty of experience from multiple championships she has competed in and this is how she explained her vision of WorldWCR and motorcycling in general: “I couldn’t say, I’m going on the fly. I know that my motorcycling will end sooner rather than later. With this Championship, my career will surely be extended, because if not I might not be here. WorldWCR has given me the opportunity to be back in the elite and perhaps stay for two or three years. As long as I can continue riding and enjoy it, I will continue racing. If WorldWCR still exists, I will be here. If I am given the opportunity to be a wildcard in other categories, I won’t say no either, because I have always been in favour of racing with men, just as we do with women. It’s not about racing with men or women but racing with fast people. You learn a lot by racing with men, especially if they are more skilled than you, simply. Just like now I am learning a lot from the fastest WorldWCR riders because they are skilled, with men it would be the same. The thing is that there are probably 15 riders with a higher level than you, because there are more of them. It’s about learning wherever you race.”

She added: “There are two visions: the one that says WorldWCR is a final Championship and the one that says that it’s a springboard Championship. I think it can be whatever you want. It can be a final objective for whoever considers it, and whoever believes they are capable of doing more, should do it too. Just like we have Laia Sanz, who does what she wants when she wants; she races with women when she wants and men when she wants. I think you simply have to value what you want to do and how far you think you can go. There are women who only want to race here because that way they have the same opportunities, and it seems right to me, that each one does what they want. You don’t want to? Don’t do it. Do you feel like it because you see yourself capable? Well, I wouldn’t like the Championship to serve as a way of closing doors for you in that case. I would like this door to continue to be open, even if it is small, to stick your head out and do a wildcard somewhere else. I think that you can combine everything.”

25 RIDERS, 18 NATIONALITIES: “It’s good for growth in all parts of the world”

Finally, the Catalan rider highlighted the number of nationalities in the first season of WorldWCR: “This is good for the growth in all parts of the world. In the end, surely in Israel, for example, if Ran is not there, perhaps no one will look at the bikes. There are people who won’t even know that WorldWCR exists. It’s good that there are so many nationalities, especially in the first year. Afterwards, if everything goes well, perhaps there are riders who won’t be there. I think that what has been sought is the maximum number of nationalities possible to take this Championship everywhere. It’s clear that not everywhere is the same level, but it’s good they come together and that, little by little, the level grows. From the first to the second round, the gaps became smaller, and I think that will continue to happen. There are people will more experience and people with less, it’s normal. From Misano to Donington, it improved. The best thing is being within a structure like the World Championship, you feel like a real rider.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) will not take part in any action at the Pirelli Portuguese Round following his crash at Most a few weeks ago. On the approach to Turn 1, the #14 had a massive highside which left him with a fractured left collarbone and ruled him out of Race 2 in the Czech Republic. Despite receiving treatment on the injury, the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship rookie won’t race in Portugal.

In a press release shared on Tuesday afternoon, the team said: “Sam Lowes and the Elf Marc VDS Racing Team will not participate in the seventh round of the 2024 WorldSBK Championship at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portugal this weekend. The British rider suffered a fractured left collarbone when he fell heavily during Race 2 at last month’s Most round in the Czech Republic. Lowes has been undergoing round the clock treatment with the intention to compete in Portimao this weekend. The 33-year-old is recovering well, but after consulting with his medical team it has been decided the best course of action is to miss the Portuguese round to allow the left collarbone more time to fully heal. The Elf Marc VDS Racing Team is confident Lowes will be fit to take part in two days of official WorldSBK testing at Estoril in August in preparation for the race weekend at the Portuguese track in mid-October.”

Lowes’ rookie campaign has shown positive signs, leading in Barcelona on pace and fighting in the top ten, although he’s yet to get on the podium. He’s taken a best result of sixth in Race 2 at Assen and sits 15^th in the Championship standings with 40 points, just six behind Scott Redding (Bonovo Action BMW) ahead and a further four behind Garrett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) in 13^th.

Source: WorldSBK.com

The rollercoaster awaits an unpredictable FIM Supersport 300 World Championship season; their fifth round of 2024 welcomes them to the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve in southern Portugal. The scene of title celebrations in previous years, this year it’ll be title-race nerves as with 200 points still left to play for, a gluttony of riders remain in contention and seemingly, at the flip of a coin, it can all change.

WorldSSP300’S TITANIC TRIO: 23 points cover Iglesias, Mahendra and in-form Veneman

Whilst not leading the Championship, Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) is very much the form rider in WorldSSP300 with the 17-year-old Dutchman taking a majestic double at Most. Only 11 riders have won two races in consecutive fashion and Veneman aims to become the first to make it three on the spin. A double top ten last year at Portimao, can the #7 inch closer to the Championship lead – he’s only 23 adrift of Inigo Iglesias (Fusport – RT Motorsports by SKM – Kawasaki)? Iglesias himself comes to Portimao with a point to prove after his win on the road over Veneman was overturned due to irresponsible riding on the run to the line; he’s previously on the Portimao podium too. Splitting them is Yamaha’s Aldi Mahendra (Team BrCorse); can he slash the 19-point deficit to Iglesias? All three have won races in 2024.

Back in action is Assen’s double winner Daniel Mogeda (Team#109 Retro Traffic Kawasaki) after his Misano injury. 66 points split him and Iglesias; whilst it’s big, it’s not insurmountable. P5 overall after Most, Marc Garcia (KOVE Racing Team) took P2 in Race 1. A podium finisher in 2017 at Portimao, he struggled in 2023 during Kove’s first year. Teammate Julio Garcia is always a contender despite being 14th overall, so expect Kove to challenge for a first win. Like the top three who have scored in every race, Marco Gaggi (Team BrCorse) has done the same but has no podiums; his last came here in 2023.

NEEDING STRONG RESULTS: Buis and Gennai charge from behind, Carter Thompson a super sub again

Just outside the top six, Jeffrey Buis (Freudenberg KTM – Paligo Racing) didn’t score a point at Most, so seeks redemption at the scene of his second title a year ago. Galang Hendra Pratama (ProGP NitiRacing) is never afraid to get his elbows out and aims for a first podium of 2024 at the venue where he made his WorldSSP300 debut at back in 2017. Petr Svoboda (Fusport – RT Motorsports by SKM – Kawasaki) remains unfit and is replaced by impressive Most debutant Carter Thompson. Mirko Gennai (MTM Kawasaki) was impressive after his podium challenge at Most and he’s tied on points with Bruno Ieraci (Prodina Kawasaki Racing) who’s 11th and aiming to hit the top ten with another top four performance.

ELSEWHERE: other names to keep an eye on at Portimao

Pepe Osuna (DEZA-BOX 77 Racing Team) and David Salvador (MS Racing) are always fast, with the latter’s first top five this year. ARCO SASH MotoR University Team duo Unai Calatayud and Samuel Di Sora both need strong results and Matteo Vannucci’s (Pata Yamaha AG Motorsport Italia) increasingly frustrating 2024 has to turn around ahead of the second half of the year. Portuguese fans can cheer on home-hero Tomas Alonso (Pons Motorsport Italika Racing) who wildcards after recent wins in ESBK’s 300 class.

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Source: WorldSBK.com

As the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship descends on the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve for Round 7 of the 2024 season, Pirelli have announced their tyre solutions for the Pirelli Portuguese Round. The Italian company have brought a new development soft rear tyre while the SCX tyre is also back in the allocation after not being available at Most, with that tyre the softest available with the SCQ tyre once again not in the allocation.

REAR TYRES: no SCQ, SCX returns and a new development SC0

Portimao is a high-speed and undulating circuit and, coupled with potential high temperatures for some sessions, Pirelli have decided to not make the SCQ tyre available for the second consecutive round. In its place is the SCX, limited to the Tissot Superpole session and Tissot Superpole Race, which returns after missing Most. The other rear tyres are the standard SC1 medium and standard SC0 soft, while there’s a new SC0 development – the D0661 – available as it makes its debut; it’s designed to provide consistent performance throughout the race while retaining the same compound as the standard equivalent.

FRONT TYRES: standard solutions all round

For the front tyre choices, there are only two options for the WorldSBK field. The softest is the standard SC1 medium, one of the most widely used tyres throughout the season, while there is a harder option available. The standard SC2 hard tyre is the second one available and could be the tyre of choice due to the stress the up-and-down circuit can put on the tyres.

WORLD SUPERSPORT OPTIONS: no SCX tyre, standard options available

In the WorldSSP allocation, there are two front and two rear tyres to choose from. At the front, the standard SC1 soft and standard SC2 medium are the two options while, for the rear, it’s the SC0 soft and SC1 medium, both from the standard range. It means the SCX tyre, often an option for the WorldSSP gird, is not at Portimao.

PIRELLI SAYS: “It has a unique layout with an intense alternation of uphill and downhill corners, heavy braking and peculiarities”

Discussing Pirelli’s allocation, Motorcycle Racing Director Giorgio Barbier said: “Portimao is not a circuit that stresses tyres as much as Most and Phillip Island, but it still has a unique layout with an intense alternation of uphill and downhill corners, heavy braking and peculiarities to be taken into account. We have a lot of data available both from the races of previous years and from the tests we did in January, but finding ourselves racing in the middle of August, the high temperatures that the asphalt could reach represent a pitfall that should not be underestimated. The heat can in fact affect the grip of the track, leading to sliding and therefore greater wear for the tyres.

“For this reason, we felt that this was the ideal circuit to debut the new development SC0 in D0661 specification which, while using the same compound as the standard SC0, has an evolution of the structure. In a way, it follows the philosophy already introduced with the SC1 in D0286 specification that we brought to Most and that all the riders appreciated, both in practice and in the races. Considering the nature of the circuit, as has already happened in the past, we have also decided to replace the SCQ, usually allocated for Superpole and Superpole Race, with the standard SCX which is better performing in more critical conditions and can therefore also guarantee use in the Superpole Race.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com

The future of Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship has been spoken about for months, and at Most, the #1 made it clear that he wanted to stay. Heading into the Pirelli Portuguese Round, WorldSBK commentator Steve English speaks about the story of Bautista’s decision, and how the Ducati-Bautista partnership could still be a force to be reckoned with…

THE BACKGROUND: from doubts in the media to clarity

“Honestly,” said Bautista before pausing. “I want to continue.” After a disastrous Sunday at the Autodrom Most, it was a statement that was met with a gasp. Bautista might want to stay but the question quickly became how much does he want to give up to remain with the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team.

Earlier in the weekend at the Czech Round, the double WorldSBK Champion admitted that the offer on the table was very different to what he was demanding. A middle ground might well have been found because the rumour in the paddock is that it looks increasingly likely that Bautista will remain in red.

BAUTISTA’S GOAL: a return to winning ways

It would have been easy for the Spaniard to rest on his laurels and call time on a great career. A 125cc World Championship title, two WorldSBK crowns, 16 Grand Prix victories and 61 WorldSBK wins. With the tide having risen towards BMW and Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), this was a suitable time to bow out. The low tide for Bautista has revealed his Champion’s mentality. He won’t go quietly and sneak into the shadows with his tail between his legs. He wants to fight. He wants to prove himself. He wants to get back to winning races.

DUCATI’S DECISION: aiming to find potential and performance for next year

While it looks likely that Ducati and Bautista will agree to an extended future together, we can also make no mistake that they looked elsewhere. Bautista was always “Plan A” for Team Principal Stefano Cecconi; he had to have been looking at alternatives too. The other riders weren’t needed and Ducati and now Bautista looks to have the opportunity to steady the ship in 2024 and make a title assault next year.

By that point, Bautista will be 40 years old. Only Max Biaggi has won a title beyond the threshold of 40. It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that Bautista could join him, but changes will need to be made. The Panigale V4 R is nearing the end of life before a model will be introduced in 2026 so how much more potential and performance can they find?

2024 SUMMED UP: Bulega impresses with consistency, Bautista a mixed year

Bautista has clearly been hampered by the weight limits for this year. His race times are close to last year’s whereas the switch to BMW has invigorated Toprak and he has pushed the boundaries of race times in WorldSBK. Ducati agreed to the weight limit because they felt the extra 500rpm would overcome the disadvantage. It hasn’t worked out that way for Bautista.

While Nicolo Bulega has impressed everyone with his consistency this year, Bautista has looked more like the rookie rider. Crashes and mistakes have blotted his copy book to such an extent that the question in recent rounds was actually whether Ducati still needed Bautista. There was a feeling that Bulega’s performances warranted the Italian being made into a genuine title contender for 2025. That might still happen but with just one race win, regardless of his 11 podiums from 18 races and sitting second in the standings, it would’ve been a brave move by Ducati to put their eggs into the Bulega basket. Retaining Bautista makes the most sense for Ducati and staying in red makes the most sense for the rider too.

DUCATI’S SITUATION: a strong package for Bautista…

Ducati has four riders inside the top eight in the Championship. Their bike is still, arguably, the best package on the grid. Toprak is making the difference for BMW at the moment, but Ducati can point to three different winners, five riders leading races and 27 podium finishes for their bike to prove its credentials.

Ducati and Bautista are both out to prove a point. If they remain together, it’s because they both know that the easiest way to win again is to win together. This will likely be the final contract of Bautista’s career and if he’s left money at the negotiating table it should be all the proof Ducati needs of his desire to win again.

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Source: WorldSBK.com

The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship is ready for a ride around the famous rollercoaster that is the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve and there’s a chance history could be made during the Pirelli Portuguese Round. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) is aiming for the record winning streak in Portugal, Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) will be hoping for his 100^th podium and there are more milestones that could be hit…

100 – Alvaro Bautista is only one podium short of reaching 100: he would be the 7^th rider in history to reach this milestone after Jonathan Rea (264 podiums), Troy Corser and Toprak Razgatlioglu (130), Noriyuki Haga (116), Tom Sykes (114), Carl Fogarty (109).

51/52 – Toprak Razgatlioglu, with a full sweep of wins in Misano, Donington and Most, has gone from being behind Noriyuki Haga (43 wins) in sixth in the all-time list, to one win shy of fourth, occupied by Troy Bayliss (52).

50% – BMW are just one win shy of recording half of their total WorldSBK wins in this season. So far, they’ve won 25 times, 12 of those this year. It’s all down to Razgatlioglu: he is the only BMW rider on the podium so far this season.

48 – 48 races have been run on Portuguese soil so far. The first one came in 1988, at the Estoril track, and were won by Davide Tardozzi and Stephane Mertens, both on a Bimota.

35 – Jonathan Rea is the only rider who has raced in all 35 WorldSBK races held at Portimao since the track entered the WorldSBK Championship in 2008.

25 – Jonathan Rea is the record holder for podium finishes here: no fewer than 25 out of 35 races contested. His next competitor is Toprak Razgatlioglu at 10.

25 – A front row start has a great importance at Portimao as 25 wins out of 35 came from there.

18 – Nicolo Bulega is on a streak of 18 points finishes, all races since his debut. No other rookie had managed this feat before him.

15 – Great Britain is the most successful country at Portimao, with 15 wins to Italy’s and Spain’s 5.

10/20 – Nicolo Bulega has posted 11 podiums so far, 10 of them are second places. The record of second places in a single season was set last year by Toprak Razgatlioglu: 20. In the current run of Razgatlioglu’s 10 wins, Bulega was second 7 times.

11 – BMW are on a run of 10 wins: at 11 they will match the 3^rd all-time streak for a manufacturer, recorded no less than five times, the last one by Ducati from Magny-Cours 2023/2 to Phillip Island 2024/1.

7/9 – Alex Lowes is just two podiums short of his best season, 2019 (9 podiums): he has already scored more points than the entire of last season.

13 – Jonathan Rea has won 13 times here, the second-best value for himself and for any given rider on any track in WorldSBK history after his 17 wins at Assen.

12 – So far, there have been no fewer than 12 different winners at Portimao. The last two added to this list are Michael van Der Mark and Toprak Razgatlioglu in 2021.

10/11/12 – Toprak Razgatlioglu is on a 10-race winning run, one behind the all-time record held by Alvaro Bautista (2019, 2023) and Jonathan Rea (2019). Victory in Race 1 at Portimao would equal this record, victory in Race 1 and the Tissot Superpole Race would hand ‘El Turco’ the record.

8/9 – The longest winning streak for a manufacturer here is eight by Kawasaki, all by Jonathan Rea from 2015’s Race 1 to 2019’s Tissot Superpole Race. Rea adds to those a win for Honda in Race 2, 2014, making the longest streak for a rider here at 9 races long. That is an all-time record streak for WorldSBK, level with Tom Sykes at Donington Park from 2013 Race 1 to 2017 Race 1.

6/7 – Seven different manufacturers have been able to record at least a podium placement at Portimao: (Ducati, Honda, Aprilia, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki, BMW). Six of them are winners: Kawasaki, Ducati, Aprilia, Yamaha, BMW, Honda.

6 – Jonathan Rea is the record holder also for poles here, 6, followed by Tom Sykes at 3.

6 – The last 6 races run here had only 2 riders in the first two spots: Alvaro Bautista and Toprak Razgatlioglu, 4 times in the last 4 run, in inverted order in the first two races of 2022.

2 – Yamaha are the only manufacturer to have recorded pole in consecutive years with two different riders in Algarve: in 2009 with Ben Spies and in 2010 with Cal Crutchlow, making it with two different nationalities too.

1 –Jonathan Rea debuted in the WorldSBK Championship in 2008 at Portimao, which was the last weekend of the season. He came from the World Supersport Championship, and recorded the third-best time in Superpole, finishing 4th in Race 1. In Race 2, he was 15th after an off-track excursion whilst running 5th.

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Source: WorldSBK.com

The FIM Supersport World Championship hits the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve for Round 7 of the 2024 season and it’s sure to be a thrilling Pirelli Portuguese Round. A new schedule adds extra challenges for what could be a pivotal round in the title race. Adrian Huertas (Aruba.it Racing WorldSSP Team) sits 56 points clear of his rivals after winning the last six races and he can put himself in an even better situation for the Championship… but rollercoasters are famous for surprises and twists, so will Portimao throw up a WorldSSP shock?

ADVANTAGE HUERTAS: a round’s worth of points in hand…

The #99 heads into Portimao with a 56-point lead over Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) and will leave Portugal as the Championship leader regardless of the results and Montella hopes he can close the gap. Stefano Manzi (Pata Prometeon Ten Kate Racing) is seven points back from Montella and is the only one of the trio to taste victory at Portimao, winning last year’s Race 2, although Montella was on the podium in the same race and Huertas’ team was victorious in Race 1. Perhaps a three-way showdown is in store as Huertas looks to close in on history; he can end the weekend on eight consecutive wins, one shy of the all-time record.

THE FIGHT FOR FOURTH: Navarro hauling himself into contention

Jorge Navarro (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) has been a revelation since his switch to Ducati machinery, with five top-five finishes, including a podium, moving him into sixth in the standings. It’s a circuit he has fond memories of too, having taken his first WorldSSP rostrum last year, and he’ll be aiming to close the gap to Marcel Schroetter (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) and Valentin Debise (Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha Team) in fifth and fourth respectively. Schroetter has found himself out of the top six in the last four races while Debise has been fighting for podiums consistently in 2024.

INSIDE THE TOP 11: Caricasulo vs van Straalen, Sofuoglu vs Tuuli vs Mahias

Federico Caricasulo (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) ended the Czech Round as the top MV Agusta rider with a P5 and a P6 and will be aiming to continue that at Portimao, a circuit he won at in 2019 when on Yamaha machinery. He’s just 11 points ahead of Glenn van Straalen (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) in eighth who will be looking for a rostrum return, while the battle for ninth is close between Bahattin Sofuoglu (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), Niki Tuuli (EAB Racing Team) and Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha). With three points separating the three riders who will be looking to move ahead in the standings, it’s a close fight but what can previous races at Portimao tell us? Mahias has four podiums in five races, including victory in 2018, while Tuuli’s best is a P5 on two occasions, as it is for Sofuoglu after Race 2 in 2022.

EDWARDS VS CORSI: close in the WorldSSP Challenge

The WorldSSP Challenge continues at Portimao as Tom Edwards (D34G Racing WorldSSP Team) and Simone Corsi (Renzi Corse) fight for the title. Australian star Edwards leads Corsi by just three points, with the Italian closing the gap at Most after Edwards’ non-score. Luke Power (Motozoo ME AIR Racing) sits in third on six points ahead of Federico Fuligni (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) and Gabriele Giannini (Team ProDina Kawasaki).

RIDER LINE-UP NEWS: medical checks to be completed

Several riders will need to pass medical checks ahead of the round in order to compete, with Piotr Biesiekirski (Ecosantagata Althea Racing Team) and Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph) declared unfit at the Autodrom Most, and Yeray Ruiz (VFT Racing Yamaha) and Krittapat Keankum (Yamaha Thailand Racing Team) declared unfit at Donington Park. Simon Jespersen (Vince64 Racing Team by Puccetti) will again not be present.

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Source: WorldSBK.com

Sara Sanchez (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team) is third in the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World​​Championship, 20 points behind the leader, Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team) and 13 behind Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros. Racing Yamaha Team). So far this year, she has been on the podium in every race, achieving a second place and three third places. However, her ambitions are much higher than the podium. In the first part of the interview, Sanchez talks about the start of the year, technical aspects of the Yamaha R7 and its objectives.

THE SEASON SO FAR: “I’m saddened by not having achieved victory”

Firstly, Sanchez reviewed the start of the season: “If we consider that we are in a World Championship and that in the end there are a few girls, pretty good. In the four races I have made four podiums. I have the regret of not having achieved victory yet. It’s the only thing I think is missing. At the moment I am being consistent, but so is María, who is consistently being first. The important thing will be to be ahead in all the races and score points in all, since the Championship is very short.”

She then spoke about the events ahead and which ones she thinks she can do better in: “Misano narrowly escaped me, because we had pace, and I didn’t know Donington Park; it’s the one that could have gone worse. I know Portimao, it’s not like at Misano, which is like my home. I have ridden more in Misano than in Barcelona, because I train with the team there. I know Portimao as I have done a test there. Estoril will also be complicated, because I have ridden very little there. I have ridden at Jerez many times but since those of us in front are all Spanish, I think we are all the same. Maria and Ana, they have that plus of, in which I could fail, Estoril and Portimao, they have already raced other times. But I think that the most complicated from now on will be Estoril, in Portimao we can do well.”

ADAPTATION TO THE YAMAHA R7: “Having started with different brands would have created more differences… They have chosen well”

The Catalan explained how the adaptation to the Yamaha R7 is going so far: “I come from the Kawasaki 400; with the R7, it’s not that it has much higher power, but the difference is in cornering. With the 300 in the middle of the curve the bike dies, and on the other hand the R7 with the first burst of gas helps you get out. But it is a somewhat heavy motorcycle, it is about 180 kilos, more or less like a Superbike, and I think that for the power it has, it is very heavy. It’s not that you feel the weight much, because, in the end, you notice it the first day, but then you get used to the inertia and speed and it’s not a problem. Since all motorcycles are the same, few differences can be made. That is also positive for the Championship. Having started with different brands would perhaps have created more differences at the start. We all have the same motorcycle to start the journey. They have chosen the bike well.”

Sanchez went into detail and explained what modifications can be made to the R7 and how a weekend in WorldWCR works: “Not much! You can choose three rear spring settings, I think there are three options. At the front you cannot change the springs, only adjust the suspensions. You can touch on the developments of the bike… But even so, when you start training, we all start the same, so as not to differentiate who knows the circuit, who has come to ride with the R7… To begin with, we all start with the same and then each one is free to make changes. We can only make changes once training has started. The tyres are not a problem either because we all have the same ones and they change them at the same time. Looking ahead to the race, they change our tires before the Warm Up. We start the race with old wheels. If you want, you can not do the Warm Up, it’s up to you.”

IT IS WHERE I EXPECTED TO BE: “Ana and Maria do everything faster than us but they don’t do anything that the rest of us can’t”

The #64’s goal was clear before starting and she is fulfilling it. However, she had doubts regarding the level of Herrera and Carrasco: “The objective was clear and that is what we are doing and achieving, which is to be ahead in all the races. What I wasn’t entirely clear about was what level there would be because I did know some that had raced with me in other categories. For example, Beatriz, I know what level she has and I know where I would be with her, but I didn’t have references with Ana or Maria. I had no idea what level they would be and it was the only doubt I had. I was sure that I would be ahead, but I had doubts if Ana and Maria would have anything else. Yes, they do, because they always do everything faster than us. We arrive, but they do everything before anyone else, because they have much more experience than us. There is not a huge difference, they do nothing that the rest of us cannot do.”

After reflecting on the level of the grid and her objectives before starting the year, he explained if these have changed after the first two rounds, and set his sights on the Championship: “I know it is complicated, because there is a lot of level, but the objective is to achieve the first victory. Then, score a lot of points and be as far ahead as possible. I don’t know if I can win the Championship, because it will surely be very difficult, but at least I will fight until the end. The problem is that, at Donington, Maria got within 20 points, but it could also happen to her like in Race 1 and she could finish fourth. Since we are a small group and the last laps are heart-stopping, anything can happen. I must prepare well for the last few laps. But, from the outset, the goal is to get the first victory.”

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Source: WorldSBK.com