#PRTWorldSBK🇵🇹 🏁Portimão 🗓Sunday 8th Sept
📋 SPRC
⌚ 11.00 local time (11.00 UK)
📺 Live Eurosport UK 2
☀️ 27*C
🏍 10 laps
Source: Jonathan Rea On Facebook
Category Archives: WSBK
World Superbike Championship
Rea Takes Tenth Race Win Of The Season
Thanks to my team because slowly and surely over the weekend we made the bike better and better especially in the hot conditions. I worked really hard in the beginning of the race to try and find a gap. When it got to five seconds I started getting very nervous so I started to ride to my pit-board and try not make any mistakes. Thanks to all the support out there, which means so much. I am looking forward to tomorrow because I think we can try to improve the bike set-up a little bit, especially for the end of the race – just to make things a little bit more comfortable. I certainly did not have anything left in my pocket in this race. It was target achieved today. http://jonathan-rea.com/news/rea-takes-tenth-race-win-season
Jonathan Rea restarted his 2019 WorldSBK campaign with an impressive flag to flag Race One win at Autodromo Internacional do Algarve toda
Source: Jonathan Rea On Facebook
#PRTWorldSBK🇵🇹 🏁Portimão 🗓Saturday 7th Sept 📋 Race 1 ⌚ 14.00 local time (14.00 UK) 📺 Live…
#PRTWorldSBK🇵🇹 🏁Portimão 🗓Saturday 7th Sept
📋 Race 1
⌚ 14.00 local time (14.00 UK)
📺 Live Eurosport UK 2
☀️ 29*C
🏍 20 Laps
Source: Jonathan Rea On Facebook
Jonathan Rea tops opening day in Portugal | WSBK
2019 WorldSBK
Round 10 – Portimão
Jonathan Rea topped the opening day of practice for the tenth round of the Superbike World Championship overnight in Portugal.
The Northern Irishman also displayed metronomic consistency as he headed championship rival Alvaro Bautista.
Jonathan Rea – P1
“This morning the track was a little bit green and the kerbs were a little bit slippery, but the track has now ‘rubbered-in’. I feel we have improved the bike a little bit from the tests we did recently, but we can still improve a little bit more for tomorrow. We have just a few areas to improve and this morning we worked on the different rear tyre options we have for the race. This afternoon I worked on finding a rhythm and putting some laps on a tyre. The consistency looked very good. For day one, I feel quite good with the bike.”
Alvaro Bautista – P2
“Today was a very positive day because, as I had problems with my shoulder in the tests two weeks ago, it was important to verify my physical condition and luckily everything went OK as the pain was a lot less. In the afternoon we did more laps than in the morning because it was important to work on the setup and tyre choice in the hot conditions that for sure we will also find in the race. I’m optimistic, I’ve got a good feeling with my Panigale V4 R and physically I feel quite good.”
Third position was held by Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team), having topped the test at Portimao in August. The British rider, who won’t remain at the Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team for 2020, was out to prove a point and ended the day just 0.120s adrift of top slot.
Alex Lowes – P3
“It’s always the same here in Portimão, with the track conditions changing as the temperature goes up. But today was the best I’ve felt here in the hotter conditions, so it was a good second practice session. We tried something right at the end that didn’t quite work as we were expecting, but it’s been really positive with plenty of laps on used tyres. There are still a couple of areas in which I’d like to improve, such as on corner exit where I need to be a bit smoother when the track temperature is higher and the surface is a little bit greasy. We’ll have a look through the data tonight to see if we can find some improvements, but I’m happy to be back on the bike and looking forward to tomorrow.”
Pata Yamaha team-mate Michael van der Mark was also looking strong, finishing the day in fifth place to make it two Yamahas inside the top five.
Michael van der Mark – P5
“It’s been a solid opening day here in Portugal. The first session this morning was a good one for us, even if the track didn’t feel the same as it did at the test here last month. But that’s typical Portimão and not unexpected. I struggled a little bit with the front feeling on the bike, so it’s also been challenging, especially this afternoon with the increase in track temperature. We’re still working to improve our pace in the heat, but the best set-up for this is proving a little elusive at the moment. But we’re definitely going in the right direction because the feeling with the bike improved at the end this afternoon. We have a few ideas to try tomorrow, but we’ll be ready to race.”
Leading the Independent charge in fourth was Toprak Razgatlioglu.
Without a ride so far for 2020, Markus Reiterberger (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) quietly reminded everyone of his capabilities with a sturdy seventh place overall. Reiterberger was just under three-tenths clear of his teammate Tom Sykes, who crashed in FP1. The 2013 WorldSBK champion was one of just five riders who improved their times in FP2, although he was still only 12th.
Markus Reiterberger – P7
“Today was a good day, overall P7 which is not so bad and just only +0.500 behind the front guys. This morning I enjoyed my riding and tested out the tyres which gave us a good direction to work in. This afternoon it was really hot which made It difficult continue the same lap times as this morning so we focused on getting the balance of the bike and the tyre wear. Tomorrow we will try to work on the brake stability but for sure I will be again pushing for the top 10.”
Tom Sykes – P12
“I think P12 is not where we are realistically, that result was from this morning where we didn’t push and obviously the conditions were better. This afternoon in race conditions I was very happy with the changes we made to the BMW S 1000 RR and gained some good information, so overall I’m feeling quite comfortable and confident in those hot conditions which for me is the real preparations for the race tomorrow.”
Day One WorldSBK Combined Times
Source: MCNews.com.au
#PRTWorldSBK🇵🇹 🏁Portimão 🗓Saturday 7th Sept 📋 Superpole ⌚ 11.00 local time (11.00 UK) 📺 Live…
#PRTWorldSBK🇵🇹 🏁Portimão 🗓Saturday 7th Sept
📋 Superpole
⌚ 11.00 local time (11.00 UK)
📺 Live Eurosport UK 2
☀️ 27*C
🏍 25 mins
Source: Jonathan Rea On Facebook
Phillip Island World Superbike tickets on sale now
Tickets are on sale today at Ticketek for next February’s season opener of the 2020 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship, with September buyers being offered the chance to win their very own lap of the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.
Schedule-wise we can confirm that there’ll be three big races from WorldSBK in 2020. Sunday morning’s Tissot Superpole Sprint continues, as do the two, traditional 22-lap Phillip Island races on Saturday and Sunday afternoon and the season-opener for World Supersport.
Australia’s leading classes return, with Australian Superbike, Australian Supersport and Australian Supersport 300 on the agenda and promising to deliver even greater action in the highly competitive, capacity fields.
World Superbikes is the perfect great mates’ escape. It’s summer, the weather is warm, you can camp on-circuit and enjoy an easy, affordable weekend away. Plus if you buy a three-day pass early, you could be riding your very own bike for one lap of the world championship circuit.
Australia’s world supers weekend, February 28 to March 1**, is going to be massive and this offer is no pie-in-the-sky promise. Fans have a one-in-three chance to win a lap of the circuit if they buy their WorldSBK three-day general admission, Bar SBK tickets or camping packages* during September.
Here’s the link to ticketing https://tickets.worldsbk.com.au or go direct to ticketek.com.au for advance prices and get a 3-day General Admission with free PADDOCK access for just $125^; or coupled with 4 nights camping just $275^. Children 15 and under are FREE, as long as they are accompanied by a full-paying adult, so bring the family or buddy up with some mates.
Plus in 2020, we’ll be celebrating 30 great years of world superbike racing at Phillip Island. No other circuit holds such a long-term record, and if you wonder why the world superbike fraternity keeps returning for more island magic, year after year, it’s time you experienced Phillip Island world supers live.
The drill is this. We’re only taking the first 750 three-day tickets purchased, and each ticket will go in the draw for 250 precious rides. The lucky 250 will be told by mid-October of their win, giving plenty of notice to be trackside February 28 with their bike, helmet and gear ready to ride the circuit.
Imagine your Friday at the track if you’re one of our 250 winners! You’ll have spent the day trackside watching all the action of the opening day of competition for world superbikes, world supersport and the leading Australian classes, and late afternoon Friday, you and your beloved bike will be one of 250 riders called to scrutineering.
You’ll pass through the tunnel, and once granted the clearance from marshals, you’ll be waved onto Australia’s 4.445km track of hallowed motorcycling heaven to do your own lap of the island, with bitumen kindly prepped for you Friday by none other than Jonathan Rea, Chaz Davies and the world’s best production bike riders!
“We want our fans to experience Phillip Island like never before,” said David Bennett, general manager of the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit. “We’ll make it safe, and our marshals will be in control, but for those lucky 250, we promise a great lap of enjoyment for you to always remember.”
News is filtering through on the 2020 WorldSBK field to take their mark at Phillip Island, with confirmation this week that British wild boy Scott Redding is joining Chaz Davies in the Ducati team.
Over at BMW, Ireland’s Eugene Laverty will be joining the affable Tom Sykes for the German marque; and of course, our quasi-Aussie, Jonathan Rea continues with Kawasaki in his sixth season with the world championship-winning squad.
There’s more 2020 grid news coming, but 2019 is far from over yet, with four rounds remaining and revving up this weekend at Portugal’s Portimao circuit. Eyes are on the fight at the top with Rea’s spectacular mid-season charge overtaking the early dominance of the brilliant Alvaro Bautista.
Davies has eventually struck form on the Ducati after a difficult season start, and the Yamaha boys Alex Lowes and Michael van der Mark and Kawasaki’s Toprak Razgatlioglu continue to threaten for podium finishes.
September is the month to book for World Superbikes at Phillip Island, and the sooner the better. Get organised to be trackside for the opening event of the 2020 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, Yamaha Finance round, at Australia’s thrilling Phillip Island from February 28-March 1, 2020**.
For further information go to www.worldsbk.com.au or call Phillip Island’s World Superbike hotline on 1300 728 007 and get ready for a Wild Ride, Trackside.
*3-day concession tickets and 3-day camping concession packages included
** date subject to FIM Ratification
^All ticket prices quoted purchased in advance and subject to Ticketek service and handling fees
Source: MCNews.com.au
Can Bautista get back on top as WSBK returns from summer break?
2019 WorldSBK
Round 10 – Portimão
The title fight between Jonathan Rea and Alvaro Bautista will re-ignite this weekend after the European summer break.
Heading the championship standings with a comfortable lead, Jonathan Rea has completed a remarkable comeback. The Ulsterman, who was been as far as 61-points behind Alvaro Bautista earlier this season comes to a circuit of which he has regularly been dominant, in fact Rea has won the last seven races at the venue.
Jonathan Rea
“I am really excited to get back into racing again. It has been such a long time since the last WorldSBK races and I can’t wait for the Portimao weekend. I love the track and after the tests we have a clear direction of the base settings that we will start with on the Ninja ZX-10RR. We will work step-by-step through Friday, trying to get a race package, and then focus on our qualifying to make sure we have a good race. I am going to have a lot of travelling support over from Northern Ireland and I cannot wait to get back to business. That race weekend feeling is something I really enjoy, together with all my team.”
Alvaro Bautista has endured a torrid couple of rounds and with his departure from the Aruba.It Racing – Ducati outfit confirmed, he has nothing to lose in the final four rounds of the season. Bautista has tested at Portimeo but has never raced at the undulating Portuguese circuit and will need to get back to the top of his game if he has any chance of taking the battle for the #1 plate up to Rea across the final rounds of the series. It has not been officially announced, but the fact that Bautista will spearhead an all-out assault on the 2020 series with Honda is public knowledge. Scott Redding will take Bautista’s place at Ducati and join Chaz Davies in the Aruba.It Ducati Racing squad.
Álvaro Bautista
“The two days of testing we did here last week were very useful, even though I preferred to rest my shoulder on the second day because it was the first time I had been back on the bike since my injury at Laguna Seca. I’ve had a few more days to recover, but during this weekend we might have to change our approach and try and rest the shoulder on Friday to be in a position to tackle the races in the best possible condition. Luckily, the two tests I’ve done at this circuit between January and now will be a great help, we have some markers, I know the track better and as a result it will all be a bit easier.”
Even though the gap to Rea is now 81 points, with four rounds still to be held (and a total of 248 points available) anything can still happen.
The battle for third place in the championship is well and truly alive and kicking, with six riders covered by 50 points. Alex Lowes arrives in Portugal off the back of finishing the Portimao test on top and is the leader of that sextet of riders that are vying for the #3 plate. It has also been confirmed that Lowes will not remain with the Pata Yamaha team for 2020 and where the Brit will end up next season is yet to be decided. There are possibilities that Lowes might join Bautista at the new look Honda squad, or could perhaps even join Kawasaki Racing Team in 2020 if KRT decide to demote Leon Haslam.
Lowes has had a difficult time of things at Portimao in recent years, with just two top ten results from the last six races held there.
Alex Lowes
“I’m really looking forward to getting back to racing. While it’s nice to have a bit of a break in the middle of the season, you do miss racing. I’m ready now for the second part of the season, where the challenge is going to be to hold on to third place in the championship, and I need to be fighting for the podium in every race at these last four rounds if I’m to do that. We were really strong at the recent test in Portimão, where I did my fastest ever lap at this track to finish on top of the timesheet, which shows the bike is working well. The conditions were quite hot at the test and I didn’t quite have the feeling I wanted in the afternoons when the track temperature went up, but we have some ideas to improve in this area and, hopefully, we will have similar temperatures on Friday to work on this. I’m feeling really positive and I’m raring to go this weekend.”
On the other side of the garage, fortunes are different. Now back to full fitness and ready to go, Michael van der Mark will seek to build on his fourth place in the Portimao test. Three Portimao podiums in the last three races and all for Yamaha, can the 26-year-old return to winning ways?
Michael van der Mark
“It was a nice long summer break, which gave the wrist I fractured in Misano a chance to heal fully, but now I can’t wait to get back to racing. We head to Portimão for the race off the back of a really good two-day test at the circuit, in which I was really fast, and the aim is to rediscover the feeling I had before the crash in Misano, so that I can fight for podiums and race wins once again. I’ve enjoyed quite a bit of success in Portimão in the past, with three podium finishes in two years, and I hope we continue this trend this time around, to start the last part of the season in the strongest way possible.”
Chaz Davies returned to winning ways in emotional fashion at Laguna Seca, the Welshman will look to continue working in this way ahead of the remainder of the season. With his 2020 future confirmed, Davies will also want to gel further with the V4R Ducati and end the season strongly. A best result of second in Race 1 in 2017 is the highlight for him at Portimao. Can he win again?
Chaz Davies
“After the summer break and about two months after my win, I know it’s going to be a tough race here at Portimão, but the gains we made at Laguna Seca and the work we did in the test have really put a bit of a spring in my step. I feel like the bike is now a lot different to the one I’ve been racing this season and I’m looking forward to the race because I feel our pace is quite decent. Going on past results, for me this track is not the easiest one to get a win at, but I’m feeling optimistic because the Panigale V4 R is going better around here than the twin ever did. I’m feeling confident, even though Portimão is not an easy track and the bumps and undulations throw up a lot of different challenges.”
Leading the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team charge is Tom Sykes, who has been on pole three times at Portimao, whilst also achieving two wins at the rollercoaster Portuguese circuit. Sykes has achieved podiums at every WorldSBK round since Misano, highlighting the development of the new machine. The team themselves head into the round with optimism, having signed Eugene Laverty for the 2020 season. However Sykes did suffer a few tumbles at a recent test session which could have dented his confidence.
Tom Sykes
“I am really looking forward to heading back to the Portimão circuit on the back of a successful two days of testing there recently. During the test, we certainly gathered a lot of information for the set-up of the BMW S 1000 RR. Overall at the test, we tried various bike set-ups that we’re not usually able to do during the race weekends due to the restricted time which proved very, very good. We got some positive results, so hopefully we can pick up where we left off and try to keep our run of podium places on the go. The podium is certainly the target for the remaining races.”
The Independent team charge continues to be led by Toprak Razgatlioglu and the 22-year-old relentlessly set the pace on the opening day of Portimao testing. Having visited the circuit just once in his WorldSBK career, 2018 yielded an eighth and a DNF. A podium during every round since Imola, will Razgatlioglu continue his form?
Never discount other former Portimao winners who are in the Independent battle too, such as Marco Melandri and Eugene Laverty.
Marco Melandri
“It’s a bit of a rollercoaster, but Portimão is a track I like a lot, it’s one that is fun to race at and I’ve always been fast there in the past. This weekend I head to Portugal in a different situation, as I’m still looking to improve my feeling with the bike even after the two days of testing at the circuit, but we will continue trying to improve during the weekend. The team has been working so hard, even over the summer break, so I am determined to pay them back with the best result possible in Portugal this weekend.”
Leon Haslam has taken four podiums at the venue for three different manufacturers: will Kawasaki be his fourth?
Leon Haslam
“I have had several podiums with various manufacturers over the years at Portimao, and enjoyed some really good racing. The recent test was really positive for our team and on race tyres I think we were ranked 1-2. I was only one or two tenths of a second off Jonathan’s best lap time with a race tyre. It has been a tough year in some ways with a few injuries and having to learn some circuits. But Portimao is a circuit we have tested at now and every time I have done that so far I have made the podium. Obviously that is the aim but also I feel we can be even more competitive and challenge the front guys. That is the main aim this weekend and I am really looking forward to it.”
Loris Baz took a second for Kawasaki back in 2014 and also keep your eyes on Michael Ruben Rinaldi, Jordi Torres and Sandro Cortese, as they all go in search of their first podiums of 2019.
The Moriwaki Althea Honda Team challenge will see a new face, with Takumi Takahashi replacing Leon Camier, as the British rider continues to recover from a shoulder injury. He will join Ryuichi Kiyonari, who returns to the Autodromo Internacional Algarve for the first time in a decade.
Other riders to watch out for include Leandro Mercado, who has a best of seventh at Portimao and has been top ten finisher in the last three rounds. Markus Reiterberger will look to end the season on a high and secure himself a ride for 2020. Alessandro Delbianco will make his Portimao WorldSBK debut, although he was sixth in the FIM Superstock 1000 race last season. All of the regular riders will be joined by former FIM Superstock 1000 champion, Sylvain Barrier. The French rider will wildcard with the BRIXX Ducati outfit.
WorldSBK Championship Standings
| Pos | Rider | Points |
| 1 | Jonathan Rea | 433 |
| 2 | Alvaro Bautista | 352 |
| 3 | Alex Lowes | 220 |
| 4 | Michael Van Der Mark | 215 |
| 5 | Leon Haslam | 202 |
| 6 | Toprak Razgatlioglu | 191 |
| 7 | Chaz Davies | 184 |
| 8 | Tom Sykes | 170 |
| 9 | Marco Melandri | 138 |
| 10 | Sandro Cortese | 100 |
| 11 | Michael Ruben Rinaldi | 97 |
| 12 | Jordi Torres | 96 |
| 13 | Loris Baz | 76 |
| 14 | Markus Reiterberger | 60 |
| 15 | Leandro Mercado | 48 |
| 16 | Eugene Laverty | 41 |
| 17 | Leon Camier | 26 |
| 18 | Lorenzo Zanetti | 21 |
| 19 | Alessandro Delbianco | 21 |
| 20 | Ryuichi Kiyonari | 20 |
| 21 | Peter Hickman | 14 |
| 22 | Thomas Bridewell | 12 |
| 23 | Yuki Takahashi | 11 |
| 24 | Michele Pirro | 10 |
| 25 | Samuele Cavalieri | 6 |
| 26 | Hector Barbera | 3 |
WorldSSP
Round 9 at Autodromo Internacional do Algarve – Portimao is set to become a crucial stage for the 2019 FIM Supersport World Championship. With just four race weekends remaining on the calendar, the battle for the championship title will reach new heights in Portugal.
Just 15 points divide championship leader Randy Krummenacher from his teammate Federico Caricasulo. Also, Frenchman Jules Cluzel, now third in the standings 26 points behind Krummenacher, is back in contention after the outstanding victory taken in the UK before the summer break. For the three title contenders, there is no much time left before a champion will be decided. That is why Portimao leaves no space for mistakes. But, at the same time, it is when risks should be taken in order to make the difference.
For Krummenacher the ACERBIS Portuguese Round could represent a pivotal moment to extend his championship lead. But to do so, the Swiss rider knows that he has to finish at least better than Caricasulo, that this year has always shared the podium with Krummenacher apart from Donington Park.
Federico Caricasulo
“My first target from Portimão onwards must be to take points from my teammate in order to close the gap to the top of the standings. The second target is to win races. The two-day Portimão test was an important one for us. We were very fast, and it means we go into the first of the remaining four races in Portugal with some confidence. We have a lot of data from the test that we can refer back to, so I think we’ll be strong from the first free practice session at Portimão this weekend.”
In the UK, it was Krummenacher himself to miss his regular visit to the parc fermé for the first time in 2019. On the other hand, the Italian has an excellent chance to remount on the championship leader. At the Official Test, that took place at the same Portimao racetrack in August, Caricasulo showed off a good pace setting the fastest lap time. But, once again, Krummenacher was close behind him, as second quickest. Will we see another head-to-head battle between the BARDAHL Evan Bros. WorldSSP Team riders in Portugal?
Although the battle for the World Title remains a matter between three men, we can’t say the same for the Portuguese race trophy fight. Fresh off the back of his two consecutive podiums in Misano and Donington Park, 2017 WorldSSP World Champion Lucas Mahias looks forward to keeping on with his momentum in Portugal. The Frenchman didn’t take part in the Official test but spent two useful days working with his team in Misano during the summer break. 2018 saw Mahias taking the pole position and the victory in Portugal. Will the French rider be able to do the same this year with the Kawasaki ZX-6R of the Puccetti Team?
For the Portuguese Round, an eye should also be kept on Japanese rider Hikari Okubo, and the MOTUL Dutch Round podium finisher Thomas Gradinger. The Japanese rider is still chasing his first WorldSSP podium, while the Austrian is currently sixth in the standings. Moreover, Raffaele De Rosa and Spanish rider Isaac Viñales both proved to be competitive with their packages around Portimao in the recent Official Test. If they can repeat the same performance over the race weekend, they won’t miss the chance to take part in the challenge.
At the ACERBIS Portuguese Round, Dani Valle is set to make his WorldSSP debut with MS Racing as a substitute rider for Maria Herrera. Apart from the regular 26 entries, Miquel Pons will make a wild card appearance onboard the Yamaha YZF R6 of H43 Team NOBBY TALASUR-BLUMAQ.
With just two rounds more for the European FIM Supersport Cup, Kyle Smith (Team Pedercini Racing) has his first chance to win the title in Portugal by extending his championship lead of at least 25 points on the second. Will the British rider be able to celebrate in Portugal?
WorldSSP Standings – Top 10
- Randy Krummenacher 173
- Federico Caricasulo 158
- Jules Cluzel 132
- Lucas Mahias 82
- Hikari Okubo 73
- Thomas Gradinger 70
- Raffaele De Rosa 69
- Corentin Perolari 49
- Isaac Vinales 45
- Peter Sebestyen 38
Source: MCNews.com.au
Darwin youngster Joel Kelso in World Supersport this weekend
WorldSSP300 heads to Portugal
16-year-old Joel Kelso from Darwin will ride this weekend’s Portimao round of the World Supersport 300 Championship. Kelso has been called up as a stand-in replacement rider when Nutec RT Motorsports Kawasaki’s regular incumbent Dorren Loureiro was ruled out of the weekend’s proceedings.
Nutec – RT Motorsports by SKM – Kawasaki will team Joel Kelso alongside regular riders of the team, Dino Iozzo, Nick Kalinin and his Australian countryman Tom Bramich when the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship returns with a bang from a two-month hiatus this weekend.
Teenage sensation and championship leader Manuel González aims to become the first World Champion of the 2019 season at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve. Entering the sloping Portuguese venue with a 43-point advantage over a group of three hungry rivals, the 17-year-old could make history with two races to spare.
Fine margins have continuously defined WorldSSP300. The first two editions of the series were won by a single point, with leading gaps never driven too far into double digits; race wins and podiums have been split amongst an ample group of contenders, hundredths of a second often the deciding factor. So, to return from the summer break with three races remaining on the calendar and a rider already facing a first opportunity to seal up the title race is quite staggering.
And still, him succeeding is not just mathematically possible, but well within the realms of probability, such has been his ruthless form this year. González needs to outscore his three closest rivals – all tied on 65 points, to his 108 – by seven points. In practical terms, that means that a win for González – already the first rider to score three wins in a single WorldSSP300 season – would automatically knock two of his closest pursuers out of contention, with the other needing a second-place finish just to remain with a chance ahead of Magny-Cours.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, for if we’ve learnt anything, this season is that no championship lead is unassailable. Everything can change on a whim while there are races to be run. Just look back at the rollercoaster that was WorldSSP300’s visit to Donington Park: González crashed and was declared unfit after Superpole, Scott Deroue and Marc García failed to qualify altogether, and Ana Carrasco fell inside the first lap. Result: none of the top four going into the UK scored a single point.
Admittedly, the odds are high on a repeat outcome in Portimao. Carrasco and Deroue, in particular, have fond memories of Portugal: the Spaniard secured a dazzling win here in 2017 – the first for a woman in a World Championship – while Deroue was victorious in 2018, his last victory in the series. Two of the strongest riders in the championship, their bid to drag the title race all the way to Qatar begins this weekend.
Joining them in the 65-pointer group and perhaps the sole frontrunner to enter the summer break with a smile on his face, what Andy Verdoïa may lack in experience compared to these riders he more than makes up for in talent and tenacity, as proven by his extraordinary UK display. Forced to start from the back of the grid for a tyre pressure infringement, the 16-year-old extraordinaire seized the race lead within half a dozen laps and was only denied a maiden win by fellow Yamaha competitor Kevin Sabatucci.
Could we see another outsider win in Portugal? Several names are ready to step up, including the KTM duo of Jan-Ole Jahnig and Victor Steeman, the unpredictable Galang Hendra Pratama, Hugo De Cancellis, Bruno Ieraci or Nick Kalinin. Many candidates to disrupt the order in the always entertaining Portuguese Round.
WorldSSP300 Standings – Top 10
- Manuel Gonzalez 108
- Ana Carrasco 65
- Scott Deroue 65
- Andy Verdoïa 65
- Jan-Ole Jahnig 59
- Victor Steeman 55
- Marc Garcia 50
- Hugo De Cancellis 47
- Galang Hendra Pratama 36
- Kevin Sabatucci 32
Source: MCNews.com.au
Redding confirmed at Ducati WSBK with Davies in 2020
Scott Redding to join up with Chaz Davies on the factory Panigale V4 R in the Superbike World Championship
26-year-old Scott Redding, from Quedgeley (Gloucestershire), who so far this season has taken six wins and five pole positions in BSB, and is in second place in the overall standings behind Be Wiser Racing Ducati team-mate Josh Brookes, will be making his debut in the production-based championship in 2020 after a five-year presence in MotoGP and one year in BSB.
Scott Redding
“I’m so happy to join the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team, which is something that I’ve wanted for a long time, because to be able to work with a team that can fight for a world title is really a great opportunity for me. Obviously now I have to remain fully focussed on the British Superbike Championship, because I want to try and win that title with the Be Wiser Ducati before stepping back up to a world championship again. A big thanks to all those people who have helped to make this dream happen, and now I can’t wait to get on the factory Panigale V4 R bike in the World Superbike Championship.”
Scott Redding will join up with the already confirmed Chaz Davies, who next year will be embarking on his seventh successive season on a Ducati, thus forming a very strong all-British rider formation.
Stefano Cecconi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Team Principal)
“It is with great pleasure that we welcome Scott into our team. Despite being a rookie in BSB, on his first experience with the Panigale V4 R and with numerous tracks he has never seen before, Scott has proved to be fast right out of the box and to be able to aim straight for the title. For this reason, we have been following him with interest and we were impressed with his form even before having to look for a team-mate for Chaz in the coming seasons. With his determination and experience, I’m convinced he will be quick right from the start, even on a WSBK-spec bike. I wish to fondly bid goodbye to Álvaro and thank him for the incredible emotions that he has given us this year, he will surely be a difficult adversary to beat! Now however we must focus on the current season: we no longer have an advantage, but the world title battle is still open and we will give our maximum commitment to conclude our collaboration in the best possible way.”
Álvaro Bautista’s adventure with the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team thus comes to an end on the 26th October at the Losail circuit in Qatar. With four rounds still to be held (Portugal, France, Argentina and Qatar), the 34-year-old Spanish rider, who made his Superbike debut this year with the all-new Panigale V4 R, currently lies second in the championship with 352 points and has so far won 14 races, taking the Bologna bike to victory in its and his debut race at Phillip Island and then adding the next ten races to his victory tally.
The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team will, as always, make the greatest effort to score the best possible results together with Álvaro right until the end of the season, and thanks him for his great commitment, all the while wishing him all the best for his racing future.
Where to for Alvaro? The hot tip is that he is to join the Honda Racing World Superbike Team on an all-new Fireblade in 2020.
Source: MCNews.com.au
Alex Lowes tops two-day Portimao WorldSBK Test
2019 WorldSBK
Portimao Official Test
Images courtesy of WSBK
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.
Jonathan Rea
“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.”
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.
Leon Haslam
“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.”
After feeling unwell overnight, Toprak Razgatlioglu 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 due to pain in his shoulder, after sustaining an injury at the U.S. round, who also decided to sit out from FP2. The Spaniard completed the Portimao Test ninth overall ahead of Michael Ruben Rinaldi, who had a small crash with no consequence at the end of FP2. The Italian preceded the other official Ducati of Chaz Davies, who had a different swingarm and other new items to test. Completing the group of Ducati riders, Eugene Laverty finished eighth.
Álvaro Bautista
“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
“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.”
Loris Baz 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 set the seventh fastest lap time, while teammate Marco Melandri closed thirteenth behind Tom Sykes. 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 and Leandro Mercado 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 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 closed 18th overall.
Takumi Takahashi
“This track is quite difficult, and it is not easy to set good lap times. Having said that, I tried my best over these two days and ultimately, we were able to improve our settings and our lap times but honestly not by as much as we would have liked. Anyway, all in all, it has been a good experience.”
Ryuichi Kiyonari
“I really enjoyed these two days of testing. We tried many different settings and even if I did not make any really big improvements in terms of lap times, I feel that the potential is there to do a good job with the bike’s setup when the race weekend arrives. So, I look forward to coming back in September for the Portuguese round.”
Official Test Portimao – Two-Day Combined Superbike
- A. LOWES (GBR, Yamaha) 1’41.153
- J. REA (GBR, Kawasaki) 1’41.371 +0.218
- T. RAZGATLIOGLU (TUR, Kawasaki) 1’41.428 +0.275
- M. VAN DER MARK (NED, Yamaha) 1’41.489 +0.336
- L. BAZ (FRA, Yamaha) 1’41.718 0.565
- L. HASLAM (GBR, Kawasaki) 1’41.758 +0.605
- S. CORTESE (GER, Yamaha) 1’42.035 +0.882
- E. LAVERTY (IRL, Ducati) 1’42.055 +0.902
- A. BAUTISTA (ESP, Ducati) 1’42.087 +0.934
- M. RINALDI (ITA, Ducati) 1’42.124 +0.971
- C. DAVIES (GBR, Ducati) 1’42.161 +1.008
- T. SYKES (GBR, BMW) 1’42.172 +1.019
- M. MELANDRI (ITA, Yamaha) 1’42.212 +1.059
- J. TORRES (ESP, Kawasaki) 1’42.264 +1.111
- M. REITERBERGER (GER, BMW) 1’42.457 +1.304
- L. MERCADO (ARG, Kawasaki) +1’42.712 1.559
- T. TAKAHASHI (JPN, Honda) 1’43.544 +2.391
- S. BARRIER (FRA, Ducati) 1’44.111 +2.958
- R. KIYONARI (JPN, Honda) 1’44.474 +3.321
World Supersport
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.
Race winners Jules Cluzel 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 who worked well during both days.
Championship leader Randy Krummenacher 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.
Official Test Portimao – Two-Day Combined Supersport
- F. CARICASULO (ITA, Yamaha) 1’45.281
- R. KRUMMENACHER (SUI, Yamaha) 1’45.392 +0.111
- R. DE ROSA (ITA, MV Agusta) 1’45.449 +0.168
- J. CLUZEL (FRA, Yamaha) 1’45.459 +0.178
- I. VINALES (ESP, Yamaha) 1’45.573 +0.292
- A. BADOVINI (ITA, Kawasaki) 1’45.836 +0.555
- K. SMITH (GBR, Kawasaki) 1’45.950 +0.669
- C. PEROLARI (FRA, Yamaha) 1’46.145 +0.864
- G. RUIU (ITA, Yamaha) 1’46.422 +1.141
- T. GRADINGER (AUT, Yamaha) 1’46.565 +1.284
- J. DANILO (FRA, Honda) 1’46.798 +1.517
- J. VAN SIKKELERUS (NED, Honda) 1’46.893 +1.612
- L. CRESSON (BEL, Yamaha) 1’47.241 +1.960
- N. CALERO (ESP, Kawasaki) 1’47.660 +2.379
- F. FULIGNI (ITA, MV Agusta) 1’47.743 +2.462
- H. SOOMER (EST, Honda) 1’47.925 +2.644
- D. VALLE (ESP, Yamaha) 1’47.934 +2.653
- R. HARTOG (NED, Kawasaki) 1’48.360 +3.079
- G. MATERN (FRA, Kawasaki) 1’51.829 +6.548
Source: MCNews.com.au