Rinaldi rules the rollercoaster on WorldSBK day one

WorldSBK testing got back underway at Portimao’s Algarve International Circuit on Tuesday with Aruba.it Ducati’s Michael Rinaldi topping the times in the closing minutes.

KRT’s Jonathan Rea looked to have the day in the bag before the Italian swept through thanks to a 1’39.639 on his final effort, denying the Northern Irishman by 0.061s, with the second Ducati of Alvaro Bautista a further 0.007s back in third, despite a late tipoff at turn five.

Kawasaki teammate Alex Lowes had an action packed start to proceedings as both he and Honda’s Xavi Vierge brought out the red flags in the morning session due to crashes at turns 10 and 13 respectively. The pair both returning to the track as the session continued, Lowes aboard his second bike after the small off proved more destructive than expected due to limited airfencing.

Reigning champion Bautista held court with a 1’39.862, just 0.02s ahead of fellow Panigale rider Rinaldi by the halfway point of the opening day with Pata Yamaha’s Andrea Locatelli and Toprak Razgatlioglu completing the top four. The pair continuing to circulate on similar pace as they concluded the day’s top five by the close of play.

Vierge regrouped to sit sixth overall, narrowly ahead of Lowes while Honda’s Iker Lecuona, GRT Yamaha’s Remy Gardner and Bonovo BMW’s Garrett Gerloff concluded the top ten.

In WorldSSP, Tarran Mackenzie took his first laps with a stock MIE Honda, before retiring for the remainder of the day ahead of a proper push on Wednesday. Ducati’s Nicolo Bulega headed the field as he had at Jerez, with 1’43.282 pace, Althea’s Federico Caricasulo and Raffaele de Rosa completed the top three, half a second behind.

WorldSBK Portimao Test - Tuesday

1 21 M. RINALDI DUCATI 1:39.639 73