The brand-new WorldSPB championship officially came to life on track for the first time at Portimao, as teams and riders completed a crucial pre-season test ahead of the inaugural race weekend scheduled for 27–29 March.
This session marked a significant milestone for the series, with the entire grid running together for the first time. Across seven 30-minute sessions, teams focused on gathering data, refining setups, and getting a clearer understanding of where they stand heading into the opening round.
At the end of the day, it was Xavi Artigas (MTM Kawasaki) who set the benchmark. The Spanish rider posted a best lap of 1:48.894 in the final session, a time that ultimately remained unbeaten and placed him at the top of the timesheets.
Close behind was Ferre Fleerackers (Track & Trades Wixx Racing), who finished just 0.067 seconds adrift. Both riders were the only ones able to break into the 1:48 range, suggesting a small but notable edge over the rest of the field at this early stage.
Completing the top three was Artigas’ teammate Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki), underlining a strong showing from the Kawasaki outfit during the opening test.
Manufacturers show early promise
One of the key talking points from the test was the performance of the different manufacturers, particularly those making their debut in the championship.
Suzuki made an immediate impression thanks to Fleerackers’ second-place finish, showing that they are already competitive straight out of the box. Honda also demonstrated strong potential, with Diego Poncet (RAC41 Honda) consistently running near the front throughout the day. The French rider ended the test in fourth place, confirming Honda as a serious contender heading into the first race weekend.
Aprilia’s efforts were led by Matteo Vannucci (Revo-M2), who secured sixth position overall and provided encouraging signs for the Italian manufacturer’s campaign. Meanwhile, Triumph also officially entered the series, with Harrison Dessoy (PHR Performance Triumph) finishing 14th as the British brand began its journey in WorldSPB competition.
With such a mix of manufacturers performing well, the early indication is that the field could be tightly matched—a promising sign for competitive racing when the season gets underway.
Artigas pleased with strong start
Speaking after topping the test, Xavi Artigas was positive about both his own performance and the progress made by the team during pre-season preparation.
He explained that the day had been focused on experimentation and understanding the new machinery, with plenty of setup work carried out throughout the sessions. Although everything is still relatively new, Artigas noted that the initial feeling with the bike has been very encouraging.
His previous experience on a similar chassis in the Supersport category has helped ease the transition, but he acknowledged that WorldSPB presents a different challenge altogether.
Artigas also highlighted the amount of work done over the winter, with multiple test sessions completed to ensure the team arrived at Portimao as prepared as possible. While there had been some uncertainty before this test, he now believes it’s clear that the competition across manufacturers is extremely close.
According to Artigas, each brand appears to have its own strengths, which could make for an unpredictable and exciting championship. He added that he feels both comfortable and confident heading into the opening race weekend, and praised his MTM Kawasaki team for their efforts behind the scenes.
All set for the season opener
With the Official Test complete, attention now turns to the first-ever WorldSPB race weekend at Portimao. While lap times offer an early snapshot, the true competitive order will only become clear once racing begins.
If the test is anything to go by, fans can expect a closely fought season, with multiple riders and manufacturers in contention right from the opening round.
The stage is now set for the debut of WorldSPB—and all eyes will be on Portimao as the championship officially gets underway.
