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Next stop Portugal for the Althea BMW team
Rome (Italy), Tuesday 12 September 2017
Rome (Italy), Tuesday 12 September 2017
The Althea BMW Racing team returns to the track this weekend for round ten of the Superbike World Championship, which will take place at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve close to Portimao, in Portugal.
Three weeks ago, the Italian team was at the Lausitzring, where it scored mixed results with its SBK riders Jordi Torres and Raffaele De Rosa and Stock1000 rider Marco Faccani. All three riders are keen to do more at the stunning Portuguese track, characterised by its dramatic undulating layout.
The Superbikes last visited Portimao in 2015, when Torres scored a best result of seventh in race 2. De Rosa reached the podium in the Stock1000, third, while Faccani, racing in Supersport at the time, finished twelfth.
"The Portimao track is not one of my favourites but that’s probably because I have very little experience there, having only raced there once in 2015. We’ll see what happens… it’s a fun layout but with characteristics that mean it’s a tough one for the BMW, with all the undulation. We need to work hard in order to be well prepared…”
“We head to Portugal now and I would like to start from where we left off, in Germany, where I was in the top ten in race 1. The Portimao track is a tough one, but I’m now back to about 90% fitness after the Suzuka crash and so I’m feeling confident. Now all that remains is to get out on track and hope for decent weather…”
“I've had the flu but am now feeling good and well-prepared for Portimao. Last year we didn’t race there but we did test at the track this winter. It’s a wonderful track and I think we can really exploit the bike’s potential with the long straight. We’re ready to do well and get back to the positions that count, cancelling out Germany with a strong weekend in Portugal.”
Track Information:
Country: Portugal
Name: Autódromo Internacional do Algarve
Length: 4.592 km
Pole position: right
Turns: 15
2015 SBK RESULTS: Race 1 - 1. Rea (Kawasaki); 2. Sykes (Kawasaki); 3. Davies (Ducati). Race 2 – 1. Rea (Kawasaki), 2. Giugliano (Ducati); 3. Haslam (Aprilia).
SBK RECORDS: Best lap – Sykes (Kawasaki) 1'42.475 (2013). Superpole – Sykes (Kawasaki); 1'41.360 (2013).
Weekend schedule (CET -1):
Friday
9.15 – 10.00 – STK1000 Free Practice
10.15 – 11.15 – SBK Timed Practice 1
13.30 – 14.30 – SBK Timed Practice 2
16.00 – 16.45 – STK1000 Free Practice
Saturday
9.05 – 9.30 – SBK Free Practice
10.15 - 10.45 – STK1000 Free Practice
11.00 – 11.15 – Superpole 1
11.25 – 11.40 – Superpole 2
15.00 – SBK Race 1
16.00 – 16.30 – STK1000 Qualifying
Sunday
9.25 – 9.450 – STK1000 Warm-up
9.50 – 10.05 – SBK Warm-up
13.15 – STK1000 Race
15.00 – SBK Race 2