Kawasaki is largely absent from these tests in the Algarve, except for its Superbike records on the Portuguese track: 1'40.372 for pole, 1'41.272 for the best lap in the race, all to the credit of Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing team WorldSBK), of course.
Good morning from the rollercoaster🎢
Portimao test is about to get underway🏁#WorldSBK pic.twitter.com/sRvEFkGAOQ
- WorldSBK (@WorldSBK) January 26, 2020
With rather clear skies and higher temperatures, conditions were much better today than during the last tests in Jerez, although not very far away geographically. The hours were the same, with a track open from 11 a.m. to 18 p.m.
This morning, Steven Odendaal (EAB Ten Kate Racing) and Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) were the quickest to get on track, but they were good Loris Baz (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) and Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team) who livened up this first morning, riding their Yamaha, turning in a short 1'43.
This domination of Iwata lasted until 13:30 p.m. where Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WordSBK Team) placed its BMW in the lead in 1'43.232.
Toprak Razgatlioglu ruled in 1'43.229 while Leon Haslam (Team HRC) hoisted his Honda behind this duo, preceding Loris Baz, Scott Redding et Michael Van Der Mark (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Official Team).
An hour later, the French driver regained command in 1'42.679, 3 tenths ahead Scott Redding et Leon Haslam while Eugene Laverty (BMW Motorrad WordSBK Team) saw its engine explode.
Some pics of Laverty's technical problem #WorldSBK pic.twitter.com/aGFnEE0uvR
— Steve English (@SteveEnglishGP) January 26, 2020
Still under the leadership of the Yamaha, the times continued to go down, Toprak Razgatlioglu stealing the command from Loris Baz, in 1'42.363 two and a half hours from the end of the track. At the moment, Scott Redding et Michael Van Der Mark were still in ambush, while the first Honda, that of Leon Haslam, was 6 tenths behind, in 6th position behind Tom Sykes.
Half an hour before the end of the session, Loris Baz, who didn't give up all day during his 68 laps completed, was in the lead thanks to a time of 1'41.752 but Scott Redding took advantage of the last moments to put on a qualifying tire and close at the top of the ranking, thanks to a time of 1'41.179.
A Ducati in front of 3 Yamahas and 2 BMWs: Honda is the big loser of this first day in the Algarve!
The rematch will take place tomorrow, from 11 a.m. to 18 p.m.…
En Supersport, the French dominated since Jules cluzel (GMT94) was the fastest by a tenth ahead Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing).
