Rea Rides High In Final Euro Tests
Strong winds made life difficult for all as the two day WorldSBK tests wrapped up at Portimao, but even without resorting to qualifying tyres Jonathan Rea (KRT) scored big again, setting the fastest lap of day two with a 1’41.485, which was just marginally slower than his day one best time.
Very much using a qualifier tyre Leon Camier (Red Bull Honda WorldSBK) finished his day second fastest of the tests overall, thanks to a 1’41.623 on a machine which was still running the 2017 base Cosworth electronics package.
Alex Lowes punched his way up the rankings on the final day, with a 1’41.633 for third on the day.
Michael van der Mark was fourth fastest today on his Yamaha, but one place back from that in the overall two-day ranking. Tom Sykes (KRT) used his first day time to remain inside the top four after a second day in which he could not put in a top time on the correct tyre combination.
Following Jonathan Rea for a few fast laps, Toprak Razgatlioglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was a strong fifth on the second day before a big crash – without injury – stopped his progress and wrecked his bike.
On a day of several red flags, with Jake Gagne (Red Bull Honda) forced out early after a fall, but finally cleared by medics to fly home tomorrow, the wind and occasionally dusty track conditions held back progress for some – especially in their attempts to do long runs.
Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia) and Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing Ducati) finished their tests in the bottom half of the top ten, but each improved their best times despite the changed conditions on day two.
Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing Ducati) and Jordi Torres (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) finished their second days of action in ninth and tenth places on the day two times.