The British driver overtook the favorite for the title, Adrian Huertas, at the end of the first day of free practice in the Supersport 300.
The Supersport 300 has just started its final of the 2021 season today, on the Portimão circuit, in Portugal. The identity of the World Champion remains to be determined, but one thing is already certain: It will be a rider competing for the MTM Kawasaki team.
The two contenders for the crown are Adrian Huertas and the defending champion, Jeffrey Buis. The first city holds its fate in its hands, since it is no less than 36 units ahead of its teammate in the championship.
Huertas vs Buis: The duel announced for the 2021 title
A chasm, even if the progress of the Spaniard's last round, in Jerez last week, should give him pause. Because with a seventh place and a retirement, Huertas had not shone, far from it. And with the pressure increasing, nothing is impossible this weekend in the Algarve.
Moreover, the first day of driving was dominated by a former candidate for the title, the Briton Tom Booth-Amos (Fusport – Rt Motorsports by SKM Kawasaki), author of the best time during the two free practice sessions. A comeback for the man who was forced to withdraw from Andalusia following a serious accident that occurred a week earlier in Catalonia, and which de facto excluded him from the fight for the world crown.
From an injury to the top of the first free practice🙌
Good job @Tboothamos69 👏#PRTWorldSBK 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/6wWXKMRI21
- WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) October 1, 2021
The fact remains that Booth-Amos closed this Friday in first place, nine thousandths ahead of Huertas. Buis, for his part, did not manage to do better than the sixth time of the day, while the time benchmarks of the six best-placed drivers were all achieved in the morning, where the drivers encountered optimal grip conditions. .
After a first wasted title opportunity in Jerez, Huertas will have a new match point tomorrow during Race 1, the start of which is set for 13:35 p.m. French time. An ordeal that will be marked by emotion, just one week after the death of Dean Berta Viñales.
