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Jules Cluzel may now be running second in the title chase, but has time run out for Kenan Sofuoglu’s rivals? With six races still to go and no less than 150 World Supersport Championship points still up for grabs, the battle is far from over, but it is certain that the championship winner of 2007, 2010 and 2012 must be beaten consistently in order to be prevented from clinching the crown for a fourth time.

Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) saw his season start in difficult fashion, nudged off the track at Phillip Island before recovering to sixth position. He grabbed second place in Thailand at the last corner and, since then, has rocked up an impressive run of four straight victories while chief rival Cluzel (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), with whom he fought so hard at Assen, continues to feel the effects of costly engine failures at Buriram and Aragon.

Last time out, British wildcard riders wrote the headlines for the journalists as the likes of Luke Stapleford, Sam Hornsey, and Andy Reid all impressed with top ten finishes on home turf at Donington Park. But it was Kyle Ryde who set the world alight, qualifying on the front row before finishing on the podium after battling with the front-runners. The 17-year-old now concentrates on his British Supersport title attack, but has been advised by Sofuoglu to move across to the World Championship as soon as possible. Surely there is more to come…

Heading to Portimao, which debuted on the calendar in 2008 when Josh Brookes won from Andrew Pitt and Jonathan Rea, the fact that the Kawasaki Puccetti Racing riders have scored only seven more points than those of MV Agusta Reparto Corse proves how close things are at the front, while others have different objectives.

Elsewhere, Pata Honda World Supersport Team’s Kyle Smith will undergo a medical check early in the Portugal weekend, having crashed out of the Donington race at McLeans corner, while CIA Landlords Insurance Honda rider Kieran Clarke is on the sidelines following a heavy crash during a post-race track day at Donington. As he continues his recovery - having been hospitalised - the British rider’s place is taken by Portugal’s own Miguel Praia, who returns to the series and will make his 80^th World Supersport race start just a short trip down the motorway from his hometown of Albufeira.

Honda may have scored points in the last 200 World Supersport races, but all of the focus will be on the leading Kawasaki and MV riders as the title battle intensifies…