After a best time in 1'39.639 realized by Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) yesterday during the first day of WSBK testing in Portimão, it was his teammate, reigning world champion Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) who shattered the circuit record set last year during the Portuguese round.
En fait, dès ce “matin” en profitant d’excellents conditions, ils ont été quatre à avoir mis à mal l’ancien record détenu jusqu’alors par Jonathan Rhea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) in 1'39.610 since Superpole 2022: Álvaro Baptist, Jonathan Rhea, Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Toprak Razgatlioğlu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK), the first scoring 1'39.035 before falling without gravity at turn 7.
The spearhead of Ducati did not have a particularly easy time since he only preceded the official Kawasaki by 9 thousandths and a tenth a Michael Ruben Rinaldi which really confirms its current good form.
Alone Toprak Razgatlioğlu appeared relatively behind, 4 tenths behind, after even having to bow to his teammate Andrea Locatelli during the start of the session.
By mid-afternoon, most of the drivers had driven relatively little, probably waiting for new settings, with the exception of Xavi Verge (Team HRC), Remy gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) and Lorenzo Baldassarri (GMT94 Yamaha) which used Portuguese bitumen.
In the Top 10 alone Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) and Remy gardner improved their times, the first by a tenth, the second by 6 to finalize his very provisional status as best rookie.
Despite a progression of Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing), the last hour saw no further improvement in the Top 10 and, in the end, Álvaro Baptist concludes this test with a new record in his pocket, at the end of the 65 laps completed today on his two Panigale V4 Rs.
It will be interesting to listen Toprak Razgatlioğlu at the end of these tests in Portugal, because if the Yamaha rider had dominated those carried out in Jerez, it was unusually a little behind that he appeared in Portugal against the Ducati and the #65 Kawasaki…
Stopie 💙 pic.twitter.com/PVvrYDyYau
— Toprak Razgatlıoğlu (@toprak_tr54) February 1, 2023
Also note the beautiful position of Iker Lecuona, placing his Honda CBR1000RR-R in ambush just behind the Ducati, Kawasaki and Yamaha, as well as Loris Baz (Bonovo Action BMW) celebrating its anniversary by leading the BMW M 1000 RR, which seems to be suffering at the moment, despite a good fall at the end of the day (driver OK).
The riders and teams will now meet on February 20 at Phillip Island for the only official Superbike test, as a prelude to the first round in Australia on the 26 of the same month.
Ranking of the WSBK Superbike Test in Portimão J2:
Photo credit: WorldSBK and teams
