English
Italiano
The World Superbike Championship arrives in Europe, and the engines are revving up this weekend in Portimão, where the second round of the season will be held (weekend schedule HERE). This is an important round that many were waiting for, in order to bring some clarity to the numbers for 2025, disproving or confirming what we saw at the end of February in the opening round at Phillip Island.
Is this Superbike really a Ducati Cup? The two test days that took place about ten days ago on the Algarve track have already given us answers, where Toprak Razgatlioglu was decidedly more on the ball than he was in Australia. The BMW rider, who was the absolute star of the Portuguese tests, with an unofficial track record, seems to have left behind the difficulties he encountered in the first round of the year, which prevented him from exceeding the 20 points he collected in Race 1.
Bulega and Ducati versus Toprak and BMW
On the track where he reached his 13th consecutive win last year, with also a hat trick, the Turkish rider looks ready to take back his role of rider to beat. However, he's going to have to reckon again with the Ducatis, led by Nicolò Bulega. Despite falling on the last day of tests, luckily without consequences, the rider from Emilia will arrive in Portugal as the leader of the championship standings and on the wave of his three victories at Phillip Island.
However, we can't underestimate the other official Ducati rider. On a circuit where he already boasts five victories, Alvaro Bautista is gradually finding the right sensations on his Panigale V4R. But the independent Ducati riders are also worth keeping an eye on, like Danilo Petrucci, Andrea Iannone, and Scott Redding: they're all ready to battle for a place on the podium. Instead, Sam Lowes and rookies Yari Montella and Ryan Vickers will take to the track, aiming to continue their progress and fight for a Top 10 finish.
Yamaha, Bimota, and Honda seek confirmation and progress
Jonathan Rea is still struggling with his recovery from foot surgery after his injury at Phillip Island and will be replaced by Australian rider Jason O'Halloran, while Andrea Locatelli will be leading the Yamaha attack, along with the two GRT team riders, Remy Gardner and Dominique Aegerter, who'll try to recuperate after a complicated first round of the year.
Many are also really curious about the potential of the Bimota KB998 in Portimão. In the Top 10 in Australia, Alex Lowes and Axel Bassani ended the two-day test on the Algarve circuit with mixed moods and sensations: Alex's were positive, with a third time behind Razgatlioglu and Bulega, while Axel couldn't find the right sensations on his bike.
After a stealthy start, Garrett Gerloff and Kawasaki, as well as Xavi Vierge and Honda HRC, will attempt to progress in Portimão, and they might even be able to count on the presence of Iker Lecuona. In fact, the Spanish rider has started his rehab for his left foot after he injured it during the Australian Superpole. He'll be undergoing a check-up at the circuit on Thursday, hoping to get back in action in the FP1 and finally kick off his season.
