Portimão, Portugal – Sam Lowes of the ELF Marc VDS Racing Team topped the time sheets in Friday’s practice sessions at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, but the early narrative of the Portuguese WorldSBK round centers on the consistent pace and championship form of Nicolo Bulega. The Aruba.It Racing – Ducati rider appears to be operating on another level, patiently building towards what could be a dominant weekend.
The Ducati contingent demonstrated its strength throughout the day, locking out the top five positions in the second practice session. Behind Lowes and Bulega, Yari Montella (BARNI Spark Racing Team) impressed, followed by Iker Lecuona (Aruba.It Racing – Ducati), who experienced a crash and former World Champion Álvaro Bautista (BARNI Spark Racing Team). Ducati’s performance echoes their dominance at Phillip Island, suggesting their competitive edge isn’t track-specific.
Lowes Shows Speed, But Bulega’s Consistency Shines
While Lowes set the fastest lap time of the day, a 1:39.941, Bulega’s approach has been focused on race pace. The Italian rider consistently delivered strong lap times, indicating a race strategy built for endurance rather than outright speed. Lowes, meanwhile, demonstrated his commitment, topping both practice sessions despite still recovering from a wrist injury sustained at the Australian round. Yari Montella continues to be a strong contender, outperforming his teammate Lecuona, who is still working to find the optimal setup for his Panigale V4R.
Bimota and BMW Struggle, Rea Faces Early Setback
The Bimota team, after a promising start to the season, experienced a dip in performance, with Axel Bassani finishing sixth. Miguel Oliveira, racing on home soil, could only manage eighth place, seven-tenths of a second off Lowes’ pace. Danilo Petrucci also found himself further down the order. Last year, Toprak Razgatlioglu secured three victories at Portimao, but without the Turkish rider, a repeat performance from a competitor appears unlikely. The Yamaha teams are also facing challenges, with no significant technical breakthroughs following a demanding opening round in Australia.
Rea’s Return Marred by Crash
Jonathan Rea’s return to the track with Honda at the same circuit where he made his WorldSBK debut in 2008 was unfortunately marked by a crash during the second practice session. The six-time World Champion lost control of his CBR1000RR-R SP at Turn 10, a prompt corner, and ended up in the gravel trap, thankfully escaping injury. At the time of the incident, Rea was 15th, 1.2 seconds off the pace. “I won’t risk anything,” Rea stated prior to the event, emphasizing his focus on accumulating mileage and developing the bike. However, the Honda appears to be proving difficult to tame, especially given that teammate Jake Dixon remains sidelined with a wrist injury sustained during testing in Australia, and is being replaced by the champion-tester.
Is Bulega Unstoppable?
The Portuguese weekend is still in its early stages, but the question of whether Bulega can be challenged is already looming large. Saturday’s Race 1, scheduled for 16:30 local time (UTC+1), will be a crucial test. Bulega enters the race with a perfect points record after securing a triple victory at Phillip Island. He dominated all sessions in Australia, consistently outpacing his rivals in both dry and wet conditions. The early signs suggest a potentially one-sided championship battle, though the unpredictable nature of WorldSBK means anything can happen.
The Autódromo Internacional do Algarve presents a unique challenge with its undulating layout and significant elevation changes. Riders must manage tire wear and maintain momentum through the complex series of corners. The track conditions are expected to remain dry throughout the weekend, but the possibility of rain always looms, adding another layer of complexity to the racing.
WorldSBK Friday Practice Results (Top 10)
- 1. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) – Ducati Panigale V4R – 1:39.941
- 2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.It Racing – Ducati) – Ducati Panigale V4R – 1:40.188
- 3. Yari Montella (BARNI Spark Racing Team) – Ducati Panigale V4R – 1:40.351
- 4. Iker Lecuona (Aruba.It Racing – Ducati) – Ducati Panigale V4R – 1:40.458
- 5. Álvaro Bautista (BARNI Spark Racing Team) – Ducati Panigale V4R – 1:40.476
- 6. Axel Bassani (Bimota) – Bimota KB998 Rimini – 1:40.564
- 7. Alex Lowes (Bimota) – Bimota KB998 Rimini – 1:40.605
- 8. Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK) – BMW M 1000 RR – 1:40.685
- 9. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Goeleven) – Ducati Panigale V4R – 1:40.758
- 10. Xavi Vierge (PATA MAXUS YAMAHAYamaha) – Yamaha YZF R1 – 1:40.804
Race 1 on Saturday promises to be a thrilling encounter, with Bulega aiming to extend his championship lead and Lowes looking to capitalize on his Friday pace. The battle for the podium is expected to be fierce, with several Ducati riders in contention. Fans can follow the action live on WorldSBK’s official website and social media channels.
