Satisfying Official Test For Rea and KRT In Portimao

Jonathan Rea successfully completed two days of WorldSBK testing in Portugal, held at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve near Portimao between the 24th and 25thof August. Four-time World Champion Rea finished second quickest after the two days with a lap time of 1m 41.371, a mere two tenths of a second from the fastest lap time.

Coming only two weeks before the Portimao round of the championship this test was used by Rea and the KRT team to find the best set-up for the rapidly approaching race weekend, but also to try out some development and set-up ideas for the 2020 WorldSBK season.

Hot sunshine and clear August skies were evident on both days at the 4.592km long circuit, resulting in slightly cooler track conditions in the morning and a hotter track surface in the afternoon each day.

The tenth of 13 FIM Superbike World Championship rounds takes place at Portimao between 6th and 8th September, restarting the season after a long summer break in racing action since the Laguna Seca round in mid-July.

Jonathan Rea, stated: “The test was really good and to be honest I needed to test. I was a little bit slow in waking up yesterday. I have had a great summer break but I was not only readjusting to riding again. With the momentum I had from the endurance spec bike in Suzuka, I felt really fast coming here. At a circuit I am really strong at, I did not really feel I had much more yesterday. But this morning I woke up and we found a better lap time and also more consistency. In the heat of the afternoon I was much better compared to the opening day. I feel really positive.”