News

The 2024 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship campaign continues with the paddock heading to the stunning Autodromo Internacional do Algarve for a weekend that is sure to be a rollercoaster. With the extra challenge for an evening schedule as the sun begins to set over the Algarve coast, the Pirelli Portuguese Round could be the circuit where more history is made, or could there be big title race twists at the tricky, undulating venue?

GOING FOR 12: Razgatlioglu closes in on WorldSBK history

The big story heading into Portimao is the possibility of Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) making more history. With 10 consecutive wins to his name, he’s only one behind Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) and Jonathan Rea (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) for the record winning streak and comes into Portimao full of confidence following a hat-trick of hat-tricks. Famous for jumping into Turn 9 in recent years, will ‘El Turco’ leap ahead of the pair by winning Race 1 and the Tissot Superpole Race to make it 12 wins in a row and an all-time winning streak? Bautista will be hoping he can bounce back from his point-less Sunday at Most at a circuit he’s won the last four races at, while Portimao is a circuit Rea holds several records: most wins (13), podiums (25) and poles (6). Both will be hoping they can get back to winning ways at a circuit they’ve enjoyed so much success at.

THE CHASING PACK: Bulega, van der Mark, Petrucci, Iannone and more in contention?

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) is Razgatlioglu’s closest challenger in the title race, sitting 64 points behind the Turkish star. It’s Bulega’s first time in WorldSBK at Portimao, but he was successful in WorldSSP at the Portuguese venue, winning Race 1 in 2023 and finishing second in Race 2. Michael van der Mark's (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) last win came at Portimao in a mixed-conditions Tissot Superpole Race in 2021 and he’ll be hoping he can be back on the podium this time around. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) secured a P6 in Race 2 last year, while it’ll be Andrea Iannone's (Team GoEleven) first time at Portimao in racing conditions, although he was fairly quick in a pre-season test in January during his first time at the circuit. Of course, Andrea Locatelli (Pata Prometeon Yamaha) has been on the podium at Portimao before, third in Race 2 in 2021 and last year’s Superpole Race, as has Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Team Motocorsa Racing) with third in Race 2 last year, while Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) has enjoyed a huge amount of Moto2™ success. The Australian has three podiums in three races from Moto2™, including two wins. The #87 will be looking to break into the top six in the overall standings after a consistent first half of 2024.

A STRONG ROUND COMING UP? Plenty to look forward to in Portugal

Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) continued his run of securing a podium in every round bar the Catalunya Round at Most despite a difficult Race 2, and he’ll be looking to extend his form into Portimao, a circuit he took a podium at back in 2019 for Yamaha. Teammate Axel Bassani seems to be finding his feet on the ZX-10RR and, at a circuit he has a best result of fourth at, will be hoping to continue making progress. At Honda, they’ve had lots of success courtesy of Rea in the past but, in recent seasons, it’s been more limited. Iker Lecuona (Team HRC) has a best result of fifth at Portimao, while teammate Xavi Vierge's best is P8 from 2022 and the pair will be hoping Portugal treats them well after a challenging season so far. Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) is a WorldSSP race winner at Portimao while both Bonovo Action BMW riders – Scott Redding and Garrett Gerloff – have enjoyed success there, with the #45 on the podium when with Ducati and the #31 securing a pair of P4s last year – BMW’s best round of the 2023 season.

A TIME TO PUSH ON: can Portimao be a turning point?

So far, 2024 has been difficult for Philipp Oettl (GMT94 Yamaha) and Bradley Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) and both will be hoping it can bring them good fortune. Oettl has been a top ten finisher in WorldSBK at Portimao in 2023 when on the GoEleven Ducati, while Ray will be looking to kick on in the second half of the year. It’s a similar story for Tito Rabat (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) as the Spaniard aims for points on his ZX-10RR at a circuit he scored at in 2021 for Puccetti Kawasaki, although he couldn’t add to that total last year.

RIDER LINE-UP NEWS: Syahrin returns as a wildcard, fitness checks to be passed

Adam Norrodin (PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda) is scheduled to be at Portimao, althoug will need to pass Thursday fitness checks after missing the Czech Round after a at Donington, with teammate Tarran Mackenzie missing the Portimao visit as he continues his recovery. He's replaced by home hero Ivo Lopes. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) had intended to race at Portimao but, despite receiving treatment on his fractured left collarbone, the #14 won’t race in Portugal. For wildcards, Hafizh Syahrin returns to WorldSBK with his team, JDT Racing Team, getting a wildcard for the Portuguese Round, marking his first start in the Championship since Jerez Race 2 last year.

Watch the highlights show from Most HERE, read the Official Programme for the Portuguese Round HERE, check out the new Portimao schedule HERE and watch everything from Portimao using the WorldSBK VideoPass – now 50% off!