After the chaos of the wet conditions for Race 2 at the season opening opening round in Phillip Island the path to Portimão hasn’t exactly been smooth for the WorldSBK paddock. What was supposed to be a perfect opportunity for testing turned into another weather gamble. Riders were forced to chase narrow drying lines over the course of two days of testing as teams hoped for laps whenever they could find them. Two days of testing became three days and the paddock left with questions unanswered. The opportunity was there, but much like in racing, sometimes you’re looking for flashes of potential to gain an insight.
Everything changes for this weekend though. The weather gods are much more positively inclined, as five weeks on from the season opener we’re ready for Round 2 in Portima . It seems almost a legal requirement before this round to write cliches about the rollercoaster but this circuit is a modern masterpiece. The blind corners, the undulations and the fast sections makes it unique. Riders are on the edge for every lap and it can provide some great racing for the Superbike class.
