Lowes Shines Despite Injury, Oncu Claims Supersport Pole at Portimao Opener

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The Pirelli Portuguese Round at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve welcomed the WorldSBK paddock back with glorious sunshine and temperatures soaring over 20°C, a welcome change from the recent testing conditions. In the WorldSBK session, Sam Lowes made a remarkable comeback from injury to lead the way for the ELF Marc VDS Racing Team. Meanwhile, in the Supersport class, Can Oncu secured pole position with a new lap record, and the debut Sportbike class saw Matteo Vannucci claim the inaugural pole.

WorldSBK: Lowes Leads, Ducati Dominates the Pack

Despite a fractured left wrist sustained at the season opener, Sam Lowes demonstrated incredible resilience, topping both WorldSBK practice sessions. Completing 32 laps throughout the day, Lowes’s pace was strong, clocking a competitive 1’40.2 in the morning. “Today was positive because I expected my wrist to feel worse,” Lowes commented. “I’m happy with the progress even if I’d still like it to be a bit better.” He acknowledged the track’s suitability for their package and the advantage gained from the recent test. “This track suits our bike and the Ducati package quite well… Our pace was strong at the end.” The key for Lowes will be managing the race distance: “If I can stay there in the last six to eight laps I feel like I can fight for something. Today was encouraging.”

Championship leader Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) secured second place, spearheading a strong Ducati showing that saw three of their riders finish in the top three. However, Bulega admitted to struggling with the bike’s setup and feeling only at “90%.” “Our position isn’t bad but honestly the feeling wasn’t very good today,” he stated. “I struggled to find the right setup and I wasn’t able to push at 100%.” He highlighted braking as a particular concern on the Portimao circuit, noting a lack of the same feeling as last year. “There are many heavy braking areas here and I don’t have the same feeling as last year.” Despite this, Bulega remains optimistic about finding solutions for tomorrow.

Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) rounded out the combined top three, though he expressed a need for improvement, particularly with front-end feel. “I need something more from the bike, especially with the front feeling,” Montella said. “We have to analyse the data and try to make a step forward for tomorrow.” He anticipates a tough battle for podium places, emphasizing the need to improve his connection with the bike to push effectively in the races.

The day wasn’t without incident, as several riders experienced crashes. Jonathan Rea (Honda HRC) had a high-speed tumble at Turn 11, while his teammate Somkiat Chantra went down at Turn 15. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team), Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati), and Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team) all crashed at Turn 5 but managed to secure spots within the top six on the combined timesheets. Home hero Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) started his weekend in eighth, expressing frustration that his position didn’t reflect the work done, as potential for a top-five finish was evident.

WorldSSP: Oncu Smashes Lap Record for Pole

In the Supersport class, Can Oncu (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) delivered a sensational performance, setting a new Superpole lap record at Portimao to claim his fifth career pole. “I’m very happy,” Oncu beamed. “The first round was quite difficult… But after that first race we have improved a lot together.” He feels more comfortable and is back to fighting at the level he expects.

Valentin Debise (ZXMOTO Factory Evan Bros Racing) qualified on the front row for the second time this season, lining up second. Championship leader Albert Arenas (AS BLU CRU Racing Team) will start fourth. A late red flag caused by Josh Whatley (Orelac Racing Verdnatura) didn’t deter the British rookie from qualifying on the fourth row, while Lucas Mahias (GMT94 Yamaha) improved to third on the grid after the restart.

Sportbike Class: Vannucci Takes Inaugural Pole Position

The debut of the Sportbike class provided its own excitement, with Matteo Vannucci (Revo-M2) taking the first-ever pole position. Aboard an Aprilia RS 660 Factory, Vannucci edged out Ferre Fleerackers (Track & Trades Wixx Racing) by a mere 0.01 seconds. David Salvador (Team ProDina Kawasaki XCI) completed the top three. The grid features former WorldSSP300 champions Jeffrey Buis and Benat Fernandez, highlighting the competitive nature of this new category. Vannucci expressed confidence in his Aprilia, stating, “I feel really good with the Aprilia… I set my personal best lap of the weekend in the Superpole session.” He anticipates a strong battle with Suzuki and Kawasaki machines in the race.