Yamaha WorldSBK rider Alex Lowes was the fastest rider at the end of the second day’s WorldSBK test action at Portimao, setting the quickest lap time of 1’41.153 this morning with qualifying tyres.
While trying new chassis components and different soft tyres, the British rider took time also to understand his physical condition.
During the break, Lowes had surgery to solve a tendinitis problem in his arms, but after two days of testing, he is now sure to be fit and ready for the round in September.
On the other side of the garage, it was an eventful day for Michael van der Mark, who had a small crash in FP1 and experienced a technical problem twice in FP2. Despite that, the Dutchman cannot be disappointed with his results as he set the fourth fastest lap time with Q tyres.
It was a stronger day also for the Kawasaki riders. Jonathan Rea closed again as second fastest just 0.218 s behind Lowes, with his best lap time improved of more than a second compared to the first day. Teammate Leon Haslam was sixth, not far from the top of the time screens. While both riders spent day one focusing on their overall package, today they worked mainly in preparation for the next round here in Portugal.
After feeling unwell overnight, Puccetti's Toprak Razgatlioglu had to cut short his final day of testing. Third quickest today after two positive days, the Turkish rider prepared for the race weekend and tried different qualifying strategies with the rest of the season in mind.
It was a shorter day also for Alvaro Bautista who, due to pain in his shoulderalso decided to sit out the afternoon session. The Spaniard finished ninth overall ahead of Michael Ruben Rinaldi, who had a small crash with no consequence at the end of the day. The Italian preceded the other official Ducati of Chaz Davies, who had a different swingarm and other new items to test. Completing the group of Ducati riders, Eugene Laverty (Team Goeleven) finished eighth.
Loris Baz (Ten Kate Yamaha) was the rider to put in the largest number of laps - 146 laps across the two days. Today the Frenchman found an improvement on his opening day pace as he set the fifth fastest lap time in 1’41.718. It was a busy test for Baz, as he was trying new tyres compounds and working on improving the weak points of his Yamaha YZF-R1.
Continuing with his busy schedule, Sandro Cortese (GRT Yamaha) set the seventh fastest lap time, while teammate Marco Melandri closed thirteenth behind Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad). The latter had different items to test on his BMW S1000 RR but together with his teammate Markus Reiterberger (15th) they were able to gather enough information to work on for the next round.
Kawasaki Independent Team riders Jordi Torres (Pedercini Racing) and Leandro Mercado (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) closed 14th and 16th respectively, as they both worked to improve the overall package of their ZX-10RR machines across the two days.
Moriwaki Althea Honda Team riders Takumi Takahashi (substitute of still-injured Leon Camier) and Ryuichi Kiyonari finished seventeenth and nineteenth respectively as they both worked on the base setup of the Honda CBR1000RR, while Ducati wild card entry Silvain Barrier (BRIXX Racing Team) closed 18th overall.
