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.
UNMISSABLE IN 2024: enjoy all the racing action with 50% off the WorldSBK VideoPass!
Source: WorldSBK.com