Climate once more dominates WorldSBK pre-season as Portimao take a look at yields little

WorldSBK 2026

January Portimao Check
January 28-29, 2026

The second and ultimate European pre-season take a look at for the majority of the WorldSBK paddock unfolded at Portimao this week beneath a lot the identical theme as Jerez seven days earlier: loads of planning and Euros spent, however not a lot significant observe time…

After intermittent rain and combined situations curtailed the two-day Jerez outing, the 2 scheduled days on the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve had been once more closely compromised.

Day one at Portimao was successfully written off by in a single day showers and powerful winds, whereas day two provided extra constant situations, however they remained totally moist and chilly, leaving groups largely confined to techniques checks, moist set-up work and reliability duties.  Nonetheless, Gerloff’s enterprise on slicks throughout a short lapse within the showers on day one noticed the American end the take a look at quickest general.

With the Australian season opener now looming, a lot of the correct pre-season workload has been pushed onto the Phillip Island official take a look at in mid-February.

Day 1 – wind, heavy rain and only a few laps

Solely a handful of riders ventured out on Wednesday, and even then, it was largely about gathering baseline knowledge reasonably than exploring limits or evaluating new elements back-to-back.

Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Group) topped the restricted operating with a 1m46.262s, set on a still-damp observe. Gerloff was additionally the primary WorldSBK rider to roll onto slicks regardless of the floor by no means totally drying.

Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) was subsequent quickest on 1m47.246s, whereas Lorenzo Baldassarri (Group GoEleven) logged 1m50.317s as he continues his return to the category and his adaptation to the Ducati.

Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Group) circulated for in-and-out laps however didn’t document a consultant time.

In World Supersport, Philipp Oettl (Really feel Racing WorldSSP Group) was successfully a lone employee within the situations, posting 1m48.735s.

WorldSBK Portimao Check Day One Occasions

Pos	Rider	Bike	Time/Hole
1	G. Gerloff	Kaw	1m46.262
2	A. Surra	Duc	+0.984
3	P. Oettl	Duc	+2.473
4	G. Gerloff	Kaw	+2.973
5	L. Baldassarri	Duc	+4.055
6	HRC Check Bike 1	Hon	+6.252
7	L. Stapleford	Duc	+7.303
8	C. Beaubier	Duc	+9.231
9	X. Forés	Bim	+9.285
10	TEAM ERC	Bmw	+9.698
11	T. Nagashima	Hon	+10.692
12	Aruba Testing Bike	Duc	+10.780
13	P. Jordan	Duc	+11.766
14	X. Forés	Bim	+15.484
15	T. Nagashima	Hon	+18.540
16	T. Badwell	Duc	+22.079
17	L. Baldassarri	—	+29.765
18	S. Lowes	Duc	/
19	S. Lowes	Duc	/

Day 2 – constantly moist, however at the very least usable

Thursday stayed moist from begin to end, however the lowered wind and steadier situations inspired extra riders to finish structured programmes. No rider managed to finest Gerloff’s time set in higher observe situations on day one.

Garrett Gerloff

“The Portimao take a look at has been powerful, and we weren’t capable of journey on a totally dry observe in any respect. On the primary day, I accomplished about 20 laps on a moist observe. I went out on slicks too, although I needed to be very cautious to not make any errors and danger crashing. However I needed to try this with the intention to give the workforce some knowledge, as they’ve all labored so laborious over the winter on the Ninja ZX-10RR. It was essential to check the brand new aerodynamics – that is the best observe for that, with its lengthy straight. I may see a particular enchancment despite the fact that I wasn’t actually pushing, however the improvement work will solely actually begin in Australia, over the last two-day take a look at.”

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing Ducati) once more made his single-day method depend, topping day two with a 1m59.144s within the moist. Iker Lecuona was shut behind, simply 0.039s adrift, and logged 35 laps as Aruba continued to construct understanding of the 2026-spec Panigale bundle in poor situations.

Jake Dixon (Honda HRC) was one of many standouts within the rain, finishing 32 laps throughout two machines and setting a 2m00.111s finest to finish the day inside the highest three. Honda additionally continued to lean on Tetsuta Nagashima, who logged extra wet-weather mileage throughout the 2 days as Somkiat Chantra continues to get well from damage.

Jake Dixon

“It was a really difficult take a look at due to the climate, with numerous rain and troublesome situations, however we tried to profit from the time we had on observe. Driving within the moist all day just isn’t straightforward, particularly for me as a rookie in Superbike and on a totally new bike, however each lap was essential to continue learning. We targeted primarily on rain settings, my driving place and electronics, working intently with the workforce to higher perceive the bike step-by-step. Coming from Moto2, the sensation and the best way you journey the bike are very completely different, so I do know I would like many extra laps to construct confidence, particularly beneath braking and on nook entry. In fact we’d all choose dry situations, however even in these circumstances we had been capable of study helpful issues. Now we head to Australia understanding there’s nonetheless to enhance, however with a transparent course and the motivation to maintain progressing”.

Surra backed up his day one operating with extra laps on day two, ending fourth quickest on 2m00.757s after finishing 40 laps throughout the take a look at, whereas Baldassarri continued to construct his base with a 2m01.610s.

Barni Spark Racing handled Portimao primarily as a preparation and reliability cease. Yari Montella accomplished 30 laps on day two and set 2m04.442s, whereas Álvaro Bautista didn’t journey, with the workforce preferring to not take dangers within the situations.

Álvaro Bautista

“Sadly, I wasn’t capable of journey on observe throughout these two days as a result of troublesome situations, and we most well-liked to not take any dangers. We continued working within the storage, taking the time to get to know the workforce higher. We’ll see if in Australia we’ll be capable of work with the bike on observe.”

Yari Montella

“In these Portimão exams, we had been solely capable of full one of many two scheduled days, however we made full use of it. We carried out some technical checks to make sure the bike was prepared for Australia, engaged on a number of facets together with the gas tanks. Our aim wasn’t outright efficiency, however to journey and make clear issues so we are able to arrive as ready as doable for the primary race of the season. From this viewpoint, it was an essential take a look at as a result of it helped us establish areas that want consideration earlier than the Australian spherical.”

For the bimota by Kawasaki Racing Group, the contracted riders Alex Lowes and Axel Bassani didn’t flip a lap, leaving take a look at rider Xavi Fores to hold the programme. Fores banked 37 laps and set a better of 2m01.807s, with the main focus largely on moist electronics and set-up observations reasonably than efficiency conclusions.

Alex Lowes

“Xavi Fores and the fellows have been working actually laborious to enhance the bike for rain situations. All the workforce is working collectively effectively, so thanks to everybody for the trouble. From my aspect, we didn’t get adequate situations to make any laps, so it was a barely irritating journey right down to Portimão. We are going to head to Australia optimistic concerning the enhancements we’ve revamped the winter, and work by some objects through the two-day take a look at at Phillip Island to be prepared for Spherical One. For now, I’ve the workforce launch to look ahead to subsequent week and seeing the 2026 workforce colors.”

Axel Bassani

“I didn’t set any laps at Portimao so I can’t touch upon the bike or the work we did. Xavi labored actually laborious in actually dangerous climate situations, so due to him for testing for us. Ultimately, we’ll head to Australia with everybody on the identical degree. Nobody has examined lots, just a bit beneath wet situations. We may have a really busy two days of official testing in Australia as a result of there can be numerous work to do and numerous objects to strive. We are going to do our greatest to search out the perfect resolution for the primary spherical of the 12 months.”

Garrett Gerloff had opted to finish his take a look at early after day one, noting the dearth of a totally dry observe made correct comparisons troublesome, despite the fact that he felt an preliminary aero enchancment on the lengthy Portimao straight and completed the take a look at quickest general.

What it means – Phillip Island now carries the load

Throughout Jerez and Portimao, groups have successfully had solely fragments of semi-representative operating, with most on-track time in moist or combined situations. That makes the Phillip Island official take a look at (February 16–17) extra essential than standard, as it is going to be the primary probability for a lot of to validate dry set-ups, tyre understanding and new parts earlier than racing begins. Some groups will enterprise to Valencia earlier than packing their highway circumstances for the lengthy trek south to Phillip Island. The Australian circuit basked in temperatures above 40 levels over the previous week, however who is aware of what the climate can be for the two-day take a look at there in lower than three weeks’ time.  The 2026 WorldSBK season then opens with spherical one at Phillip Island on February 20–22.

WorldSBK Portimao Check Day Two Occasions

Pos	Rider	Bike	Time/Hole
1	N. Bulega	Duc	1m59.144
2	I. Lecuona	Duc	+0.039
3	J. Dixon	Hon	+0.967
4	J. Dixon	Hon	+1.040
5	A. Surra	Duc	+1.613
6	TEAM ERC	BMW	+1.723
7	C. Beaubier	Duc	+2.106
8	L. Baldassarri	Duc	+2.466
9	X. Forés	Bim	+2.663
10	T. Badwell	Duc	+4.063
11	T. Nagashima	Hon	+4.161
12	Y. Montella	Duc	+5.298
13	X. Forés	Bim	+5.432
14	L. Stapleford	Duc	+5.763
15	P. Oettl	Duc	+9.592
16	Y. Montella	Duc	+10.321
17	P. Oettl	Duc	+18.763
18	HRC Check Bike 1	Hon	/

2026 Motul FIM Superbike World Championship calendar

……Date…….	Nation	Circuit	WorldSBK	WorldSSP	WorldSPB
20-22 Feb	AUS	Phillip Island GP	X	X
27-29 Mar	POR	Algarve Int’l	X	X	X
17-19 Apr	NED	TT Assen	X	X	X
1-3 Might	HUN	Balaton Park	X	X
15-17 Might	CZE	Most	X	X	X
29-31 Might	ESP	MotorLand Aragon	X	X	X
12-14 Jun	ITA	Misano – Marco Simoncelli	X	X	X
10-12 Jul	UK	Donington Park	X	X
4-6 Sep	FRA	Nevers Magny-Cours	X	X	X
25-27 Sep	ITA	Cremona	X	X	X
9/11 Oct	POR	Estoril	X	X
16-18 Oct	ESP	Jerez – Angel Nieto*	X	X	X

2026 World Superbike Championship Entry Checklist

Rider	Bike	Group
I.Lecuona	Duc	Aruba.It Ducati
N.Bulega	Duc	Aruba.It Ducati
D.Petrucci	BMW	ROKiT BMW Motorrad
M.Oliveira	BMW	ROKiT BMW Motorrad
A.Locatelli	Yam	Pata Maxus Yamaha
X.Vierge	Yam	Pata Maxus Yamaha
Y.Montella	Duc	Barni Spark
A.Bautista	Duc	Barni Spark
A.Lowes	Bim	bimota by Kawasaki
A.Bassani	Bim	bimota by Kawasaki
S.Chantra	Hon	Honda HRC
J.Dixon	Hon	Honda HRC
S.Manzi	Yam	GYTR GRT Yamaha
R.Gardner	Yam	GYTR GRT Yamaha
S.Lowes	Duc	ELF Marc VDS
L.Baldassarri	Duc	Goeleven
T.Mackenzie	Duc	MGM Racing
G.Gerloff	Kaw	Kawasaki WorldSBK
A.Surra	Duc	Motocorsa
M.Rato	Yam	Motoxracing
B.Sofuoglu	Yam	Motoxracing
A.Iannone	Duc	Cainam Racing