WSBK Portimao Test Preview

Motorcycle.com Staff
by Motorcycle.com Staff

WSBK Portimao test preview

All seven factory teams to take part in Portugal
By Motorcycle.Com Staff, Jan. 22, 2009
The World Superbike Championship returns from its winter hiatus to begin its official tests Jan. 23-25 in Portimao, Portugal.

The test is the official launch to the 2009 racing season which will see a record 32 riders lining up on the grid. The Portimao test will also be the first time all seven factory teams will meet head-to-head. Paul Bird Motorsports Kawasaki Racing Team of Makoto Tamada and Broc Parkes will face their competition for the first time after being absent from the December tests in Kyalami, South Africa.

Ducati appears to be the team to beat, based on their results from the Kyalami tests in December. Michel Fabrizio recorded the top time while new teammate Noriyuki Haga also put up impressive results.

Yamahas line-up of AMA champion Ben Spies and Tom Sykes will ride on the new R1.

Michel Fabrizio recorded the top times at the December WSBK tests in Kyalami, South Africa.
Hannspree Ten Kate Honda will field Carlos Checa, Ryuichi Kiyonari and Jonathan Rea while Suzuki Alstare returns with Max Neukirchner and Yukio Kagayama.

New factory teams Aprilia and BMW will demonstrate how much their teams have developed since the South Africa test. Max Biaggi and Shinya Nakano will represent Aprilia on the new RSV-4 while Troy Corser and Ruben Xaus will continue to find a good set-up on BMWs S1000RR.

Riders will also test the WSBKs new Superpole knock-out qualifying format. After the morning sessions on each day of testing, the top 20 performers will return to the track for a Superpole simulation.

Related Reading
WSBK to race a record 32 entrants
WSBK: Kyalami test day three results

Would you like us to deliver Motorcycle.com Articles in your mail box once a week? Simply submit your e-mail address below !Get Motorcycle.com in your Inbox
Motorcycle.com Staff
Motorcycle.com Staff

Motorcycle.com presents an unrivaled combination of bike reviews and news written by industry experts

More by Motorcycle.com Staff

Comments
Join the conversation
Next