Ray adapts to WorldSBK at Portimao - ‘It’s an eye-opener!’

Reigning BSB Champion Bradley Ray took his first laps on the world stage as WorldSBK testing hit Portimao this week.

Ray joins the Motoxracing Yamaha team for the 2023 Superbike World Championship’s European season, so while the 25-year-old may have missed out on two days at Jerez last week, he has plenty of time to get up to speed on his WorldSBK-spec R1 ahead of April’s visit to Assen.

“Feeling really good,” Ray told Bikesportnews.com after his debut day. “Just going through the first day of testing - the process of setting foot pegs and handlebars and brake levers. Learning the electronics was the biggest thing for me today and then obviously being back on the bike since the last round of Brands last year.

“We’ve been doing a bit of supermoto riding but yeah, first time back on a bike, first time with the team, so big learning day but got through quite a lot and I’m looking forward to tomorrow.

“It’s an eye-opener!” Ray continued after his first touch at Portimao’s technical Algarve Circuit. “Obviously most of them were testing last week at Jerez so they’re up to speed.

“Coming straight to Portimao on a new bike, with a new team and not ridden for a long time was difficult but no, I felt good straightaway.

“I feel comfortable on the bike. Just going through the process of learning the electronics, a few different things on the bike to what I ran last year, but yeah, it’s just nice to be back on the bike, back into the swing of things. The boys are obviously fast straightaway so we’ve got a bit of time to find but it will come with time.

“I think at the minute is just an all round, everything,” he said of the learning curve ahead of him. “There’s not one specific thing that I’m working on. It’s just bike time for me.