After the three private tests carried out at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit in Spain, almost all the competitors of the Superbike world championship meet today at the Algarve International Autodrome in Portimao, Portugal, for two days of testing on January 31 and February 1.
These tests at Portimao are still private, since there will only be one official test, at Phillip Island from February 20 as a prelude to the first race on the 26th of the same month, but most of the drivers responded. present, starting with Toprak Razgatlioğlu (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK) who truly dominated the dry sessions by setting an impressive time of 1'38.269 ahead of Jonathan Rhea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) who placed his ZX-10RR in second position at the last minute, less than a tenth behind the Turkish rider. As expected, Alvaro Bautista, the reigning world champion, places his 4 Panigale V2023 R equipped with new exhausts and modified wings in 3rd position, 0,128 seconds behind the leader.
Unsurprisingly, we therefore found in the lead the three presenters of recent seasons, even if the competition seems to be getting closer, whether with the faithful teammates Michael Rinaldi et alex lowes, or the promising beginners in the category that are Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) and Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team).
The two-day test in Portugal should help refine this panorama. As in Jerez, the five factory teams will be on track in Portugal to validate the developments of the 2023 motorcycles:
- Aruba.it Racing – Ducati with an improved, more linear 240,5 horsepower engine, new more compact fins and a new exhaust for Alvaro Bautista and his teammate Michael Ruben Rinaldi,
- Pata Yamaha WorldSBK with a new swingarm for Soil Razgatlioğlu et Andrea Locatelli,
- Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK with a new Showa rear shock for Jonathan Rhea and his teammate alex lowes,
– ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team with its new aerodynamics, new gearbox and Brembo brakes for the 1000 M 2023 RR Scott Redding et Michael van der Mark,
– HRC Team with engine, chassis and brake developments for the CBR1000RR-R Iker Lecuona et Xavi Verge.
The track opened at 10:00 a.m. (11:17 a.m. in France) and closed at 00:18 p.m. local time (XNUMX:XNUMX p.m. in France). The reigning champion first set the best time in the morning to dominate the timesheets, whilealex lowes et Xavi Virgo brought out the red flags after their respective falls. Fortunately, both pilots were unhurt. The five manufacturers occupied the first ten places in the first part of the test, separated by just over a second. Baptist had achieved a time of 1'39.862, only 0,020 seconds ahead of his teammate Rinaldi on a solid first morning for Ducati. Both drivers were just two tenths off the existing Superpole lap record at Portimão, set by Jonathan Rhea and his Kawasaki in 2022, in 1'39.610s.
Andrea Locatelli and his official Yamaha was in third place, just a tenth behind Baptist, and about a tenth faster than his teammate and 2021 Champion Soil Razgatlioğlu. Rea was fifth at the end of the morning after setting a time of 1'40.210, a little more than three tenths behind the best time of Baptist. On the rookie side, it's Remy Gardner who led my dance from his tenth place, just in front Petrucci who discovers the Panigale V4R version 2023, and agitated, sixteenth. Baldassarri pointed to nineteenth.
In Portimao, there was also a big comeback to celebrate in WSS Supersport
The WSS Supersport are also involved in Portimao with in particular the great return of the CBR600RR in the hands of Tarran Mackenzie et Adam Norrodin.
The second part of the day in Portugal ended with a surprise Rinaldi whose words Paolo Ciabatti lui conseillant de faire des podiums cette saison lors de la présentation semblent faire son effet. Avec son 1’39”639 final, l’Italien s’est non seulement attribué la tête de la feuille des temps du jour mais s’est aussi approché de seulement 29 millièmes du record de la piste qui appartient à Johnny Rea. Ce dernier se contente du coup de la seconde place alors qu’il a mené une grande partie de l’après-midi. Battu pour 61 millièmes, il devance tout de même la Ducati d’Alvaro Bautista de sept malheureux millièmes… Malgré une chute dans la matinée, l’Espagnol a fait preuve d’une grande confiance au guidon de la dernière évolution de la Panigale V4, notamment sur le rythme.
He is closely followed by Soil Razgatlioğlu, 144 thousandths behind world champion Ducati. In the final stages, the Turkish driver avoided the attack on the clock, preferring to settle for fourth time ahead of his teammate Andrea Locatelli. Near the top five is therefore Xavi Verge with the Honda followed by Lowes et lecuona, While Gardner et gerloff close the top ten just one second from the top. However, the one that remains outside the top ten is Scott Redding, who takes with his BMW a second and two tenths. It is preceded by Loris Baz and followed by the Ducati Go Eleven from Öttl. We note that on this first day, the rookies Petrucci, Gardner et agitated marked time compared to Jerez. They will have the opportunity to regain their health tomorrow, from 11:00 a.m. to 18:00 p.m.
WSBK Superbike Test Portimao J1: times
