MV Agusta Reparto Corse completed their final European test before the paddock heads to Australia for the first round of 2017, leaving Portimao feeling content with the progress made over the winter – with all three riders present in Portugal.

Leon Camier took to the track aboard the teams World Superbike machine and finished in the top five overall, after he put in over 80 laps aboard the F4. Working on the chassis and new weight balancing, the Brit was also able to make improvements with the electronics.

It was an intense test for Camier, however he was able to make some strong steps forward before he takes on the Australian circuit of Phillip Island.

“I am really happy with the test,” Camier declared. “I didn’t expect to be as close to the front guys as we were but I had a strong feeling with the bike and I was able to push really hard."

"The team is working really well together and we did a great improvement with the electronic as well. I look forward to the next track session in Phillip Island."

Preparing to make his full debut with the World Supersport Italian team in Australia, American Patrick PJ Jacobsen put in a strong performance in Portugal. Gelling well with the F3 675, Jacobsen left the test as the fastest World Supersport rider with a time of 1.46.229.

He explained: “Testing was very good over these two days. I am very happy with the team and everyone is working really hard."

"I now look forward to race in Phillip Island and I am sure things will go great and we will move even forward the next time we will be out on track. Thanks to my team for this great days.”

Flying the flag for the European Supersport class, Italian Alessandro Zaccone had his second test with his new team. He was able to get some strong lap times in, recording just under 50 laps on the final day.

Despite being struck with the flu, he still put in a strong effort: “Today we did a nice job. Unfortunately, yesterday I came down with the flu and I couldn’t ride at my best."

"Still, we managed to constantly improve and the morning we lowered 1.5s from the previous day lap time. To be honest, I am very happy with all the guys on the team and the bike has so much potential, I love it and cannot wait to get back on track”.

2017 fully got underway for Leandro Mercado and IODARacing this weekend, as they began their first test of the new season, in Portugal. Putting in 27 laps on day one, Mercado began to get a feel for his new bike as well as start to build a relationship with his team.

Held up by transportation issues which meant the team didn’t receive the bikes and equipment until the afternoon, the Argentinian and his team didn’t waste any more time to get out on track. With the data and material already prepared for the test, they were able to try the bike out as soon as the bikes arrived at the Portimao circuit.

Mercado expressed his feelings after his opening day:  “I'm very happy to be back on a Superbike! I'm very happy because my first feelings with the bike and the team are very good. We didn't make a lot of laps today, but it was important to ride today for me and the team, especially as everything is new for everybody. I also needed to ride so that I would know how to ride the bike, it's very different to what I have been riding for the last three years. I need to adapt and learn many things but for the first day it was ok.”

Due to the delay in the arrival of the bike, the team decided to work together and didn’t apply any pressure on the 24 year old. The squad decided not to mount the transponder on the bike, meaning Mercado could just begin to understand his new machine, the Aprilia RSV4RF, without the added pressure of lap times.

“The four cylinder engine of the Aprilia is very different to the two cylinder of the Ducati. The character is different and you have more RPM at the top”, Mercado explained. “I have to get used to the Aprilia and also find my riding position. Today I was adapting my riding position on every lap to try and find out where I should be and feel what I wanted. It's normal to take that time and try and improve step by step. It's important to be patient and make sure that you make steps forward instead of rushing. The team are very good and have a lot of experience and I think that I can learn a lot from them. It's a really nice group of people to work with.”

WorldSBK riders took to the Portuguese circuit of Portimao this weekend, to undertake a two day test as the track is set to host round 10 of the championship.

With 11 teams present this weekend, there was plenty of information to be taken as the opening round of the season gets ever closer. Despite rain falling on Saturday morning, this didn’t slow our riders pace or passion.

Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) took the honours of finishing on the top spot as teams made their return to the Autodromo Internacional Algarve with a lap time of 1.41.813.

The Welshman spent the opening day adjusting to the bumps around the circuit, and beginning to understand the Panigale R’s potential. Improving on his time for day two, the Italian team decided to test the 2016 bike against the 2017 model which enabled them to understand how to work through issues they came across in Jerez.

Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) had a steady weekend working through the set-up of the bike; ending Saturday in the top three and day two just inside the top eight. Aruba.it Racing – Junior Team-mates Michael Rinaldi and Mike Jones were the top two European Superstock 1000 riders over the weekend, with a top time of 1.44.937.

Milwaukee Aprilia continue to understand and improve aboard their brand new Aprilia RSV4-RF, as Eugene Laverty and Lorenzo Savadori completed the top three on the timing sheets. Irish rider Laverty took away many positives from his second test of 2017, stating: “I feel a lot more confidence ahead of Phillip Island after this test. I was lacking so much confidence in Jerez because I couldn't attack and everytime I'd lean into a corner I'd have so much chatter that I was expecting to crash. It’s so nice to be able push hard again here because that's what riders enjoy.”

Savadori mirrored his team-mates feelings following the two day tests, however he is still keen to work on race pace ahead of the start of the much anticipated season opener in under a month’s time. Lapping just 0.041s behind Laverty, it’s clear the pair will be competitive as the paddock heads Down Under.

Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) had his second outing of 2017 this weekend, but only his second day of testing aboard the 1000 F4 with a strong time of 1.42.339 which secured him a position in the top five on the time sheets.

The Brit made up for lost time, putting in almost 100 laps of the circuit over the two days and left feeling pleasantly surprised with how the testing had gone.

The Italian’s World Supersport effort were also present in Portugal and new recruit PJ Jacobsen set the fastest time for his class; a 1.46.229 whilst European Superstock team-mate Alessandro Zaccone finished within 1.6s of the American.

Race simulations were the theme of the Portimao test for Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team), as he continues to build up plenty of data as well as work on the electronics on the 2017 spec YZF R1.

Finishing in the top six, Lowes explains: “I was satisfied with the pace and the lessons we can learn from it. I've trying to keep calm and change my approach so we'll see if it works when we start racing.”

Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) felt fast from the beginning of the Portimao test, as he concentrates on modifying his riding style. The young Dutch rider put in over 80 laps on day two, and clocked a time within the top seven: “I'm very happy about this test because we were fast from the start and the feeling was good. We're a lot closer to the front here too and that's what I was looking for. I feel really happy on the bike and now that I have this feeling it's very good.”

Honda World Superbike team took another step to understanding their Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2 this weekend, and injured Nicky Hayden ended the test feeling frustrated as himself and his team continue to work through the issues encountered with the brand new machine. Despite this, the 2006 MotoGP World Champion finished in the top nine over the weekend but explains: “To be honest it's been a pretty frustrating couple of days but this isn't the first time that I've had a frustrating test in my life and we'll work on it.”
Stefan Bradl also continues to work through issues found with the 2017 bike, as the German struggles with traction control and grip this weekend – but he was able to finish in 11th position, 1.883 off Davies’ time.

Althea BMW had a large presence at the Portimao test this weekend, with four riders on track in Portugal. Raffaele de Rosa (Althea BMW Racing Team) was in for injured Jordi Torres, taking on his first duties of the season for the team and finishing in the top 12, collecting all important data for the team. Markus Reiterberger (Althea BMW Racing Team) had a difficult couple of days with the S 1000 RR, as he continues understand how to build his pace and feeling on the machine. Marco Faccani (Althea BMW Racing Team) had a steady test aboard the STK1000 machine, finishing in the top four despite still riding injured from Jerez. Julien Puffe (Althea MF84) is building and improving his pace with the new STK1000 team, making strong progress.

Xavi Fores (Barni Racing Team) was able to secure a spot in the top 13, with a time of 1.43.800, as the Spaniard continues to build on his strong pace so far this winter.

New team Guandalini Racing are making steady progress in the winter testing, with STK1000 graduate Riccardo Russo setting the 14th fastest time on Sunday. Making his debut with his new WorldSBK team, Leandro Mercado (IODARacing) was able to begin the test unpressurised by the team and began day one with no timings. Sunday saw the Argentinean make his way into the top 15 for his first outing.

CIA Landlord Insurance Honda were present at the Portimao test, and they World Supersport team left Portugal feeling productive, once the team was able to get out on to the dry track. Jules Cluzel, Robin Mulhauser and Hikari Okubo were all present, and made some strong lap times and took some good data from the circuit. After a dramatic few weeks, Puccetti Racing had three bikes out on track at Portimao in order to make the most from the difficult situation they are in. Former WorldSBK rider Leon Haslam took to the track on Randy Krummenacher’s WorldSBK bike, and set the fourth fastest lap time overall.

Kyle Ryde continued to help the team and work on running in engines, as well as building on his pace meaning he had a steady two day’s at the track. Michael Canducci was the second fastest WorldSSP rider this weekend, as he tests the Puccetti Racing Junior Team FMI Kawasaki.

Heading into the new season with a new World Superbike Championship team as well as a new recruit for their World Supersport squad with young British rider Kyle Ryde, Kawasaki Puccetti Racing have a lot of work to do before the opening round in Phillip Island.

However the team suffered a blow to their 2017 pre-season effort as reigning World Supersport champion Kenan Sofuoglu injured himself in Supermotard training, which is forcing the Turk to sit out of the remainder of the tests.

WorldSBK rookie Randy Krummencher had a positive opening day of the Jerez testing this week, before he suffered a crash on day two which meant the Swiss rider had to sit out of the remainder of the day as a precaution.

Krummenacher explained his crash: “It was on the straight, I was behind him (Laverty) quite close and for some reason he slowed down, I had no chance to not hit him. It was a big crash and I was lucky; I just have a scar on my leg, so unlucky at the moment but lucky that there was nothing more.”

Speaking about the test, Krummenacher continues: “It went really really well, working with the team we understand each other very well.  I know about the riding style more and I’m learning. We are really on the right way and I think we have more potential than we showed today.”

British youngster Kyle Ryde was the lone WorldSSP rider aboard the ZX-6R at Jerez, and he will take on the duties of testing for both riders before the season gets underway at Phillip Island. Moving to the factory supported team, Ryde feels comfortable following the opening test:
“I’m just getting used to the bike and the new set up. I’ve been trying to make the handlebars, the foot pegs and gear levers to my liking, so it took all day to do that, and run an engine in for Phillip Island. It was nice to be part of the team, to feel important and factory for once.”

Team manager Manuel Puccetti is understandably disappointed with how the pre-season has begun, however he is to remain positive and hopeful ahead of Phillip Island:
“Kenan has broken one piece of bone inside his right hand it is a complicated situation with the hand, as it was already broken a couple of times. He can be ready for Phillip Island, but not for sure 100% and he is to compete in zero winter tests. We know he is the king of Supersport and he doesn’t need much time on track, but zero is not a lot so it will not be an easy start for him or for us. I hope he can come back 100% but we will see.”
 

The team are back on track this weekend at Portimao, hoping to get some solid testing time in, as Ryde continues to help his new World Supersport team.