2022 Portimao WorldSBK Test Day One
Day one of testing for the 2022 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship teams and riders at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve concluded got underway at the fantastic circuit overnight.
Jonathan Rea, who was looking to confirm items that he and KRT had tested in two previous tests at Jerez, as well as trying new chassis and electronic components, posted a best time of a 1’40.621s after completing 71 laps on his ZX-10RR.
Jonathan Rea
“It is nice to get back on the bike, especially at Portimao, which a track I enjoy. After our shakedown test recently in Jerez our biggest target is to reconfirm the positive items we have tested during December and January. That will give us good info, because if we can confirm these items at a couple of circuits, it means we are on the right way. The idea is just to keep building the package. I feel we have definitely improved the bike since last year. I was able to make a long run in Jerez and we found some positives with the bike and my riding style, so it is important to try and maybe focus on getting some information on how the tyres behave and the new items after many laps. This is the first real test where everyone is together – which is always nice to draw some comparisons.”
Toprak Razgatlioglu ended the day in second place after posting a 1’40.722s and completing 69 laps on his 2021-spec Yamaha YZF-R1 machine. The team has brought electronic updates to the test to try once Razgatlioglu and team-mate Andrea Locatelli got up to speed having not ridden the R1 since Indonesia, as well as some new components to aid with rider positioning on the bike.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) claimed third place on a strong day for the Spanish rider as he returns to Ducati, finishing just 0.132s down on Rea’s fastest time.
Although Bautista’s primary aim for the day was to work on finding speed and re-adjusting to the Panigale V4 R, he was able to try out a new swing-arm on his machine as well as a new item around the fuel tank of his bike. Bautista completed 82 laps, the most of the entire field, on day one of his second test with Ducati since re-joining, with a best time of 1’40.753s.
Michael Ruben Rinaldi’s (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) comeback from injury sustained in Indonesia culminated in the Portimao test with the Italian finishing in fourth place after day one. The Italian was aiming to try out a new swingarm for his Ducati Panigale V4 R machine and then having to decide whether to stick with the 2021 spec or switch to the 2022 spec swingarm for the upcoming season. Rinaldi’s best time was a 1’41.261s after he completed 81 laps.
Despite a crash at Turn 14 around halfway into the afternoon running, Locatelli was able to finish fifth in the standings with a best lap of 1’41.440s and 70 laps to his name. Like with Razgatlioglu, Locatelli’s main focus throughout the test was getting back on the bike after so long without riding and while the crash cost him some time, he was still able to put in plenty of laps as he racked up a total of 73.
Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) claimed sixth place in the standings on day one as he, like teammate Rea, looked to confirm new items as well as test a new component on the rear of his ZX-10RR. The British rider also had new electronic components to try but the majority of the focus was on the chassis. Lowes completed 80 laps on day one with a best time of 1’41.477s.
Just two tenths behind Lowes was rookie Philipp Oettl (Team GoEleven) on his first day on the Ducati Panigale V4 R as he makes the step up from WorldSSP to WorldSBK. Oettl’s main goal for the day was to understand the bike and team as he prepares for his maiden WorldSBK campaign, with the German rider completing 57 laps on his way to sixth in the standings, with a best time of 1’41.707s.
French rider Christophe Ponsson (Gil Motor Sport-Yamaha) was seventh in the standings as he got back on his Yamaha YZF-R1 machine for the first time since the end of the 2021 season, with Ponsson trying new components aimed at improving his position on the bike. He racked up 57 laps on day one with a best lap time of 1’43’167s.
Another rookie, Luca Bernardi (Barni Spark Racing Team), rounded out the WorldSBK field on his return from a back injury sustained at the 2021 French Round. Riding the Panigale V4 R for the first time, the Sammarinese rider completed 61 laps with a best time of 1’44.053s.
A handful of World Supersport riders were also testing yesterday but debutante Oli Bayliss had a tough start to his European campaign. The Aussie fractured his ankle after completing only nine laps and has been ruled out of the remainder of the test.
The ERC Ducati squad were also present with their FIM World Endurance Panigale V4 R.
Danilo Petrucci was riding a Panigale V4 R as he prepares to take on MotoAmerica this season.
2022 Portimao WorldSBK Test Times Day One
- Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 1’40.621s, 71 laps
- Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) 1’40.722s, 69 laps
- Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’40.753s, 82 laps
- Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’41’261s, 81 laps
- Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha with Brixx WorldSBK) 1’41.440s, 73 laps
- Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) 1’41.477s, 80 laps
- Philipp Oettl (Team GoEleven) 1’41.707s, 67 laps
- Christophe Ponsson (Gil Motor Sport-Yamaha) 1’43.167s, 57 laps
- Luca Bernardi (Barni Spark Racing Team) 1’44.053s, 61 laps
