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One of the most unique tracks on the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship calendar is up next in the form of the Pirelli Portuguese Round’s Autodromo Internacional do Algarve. Elevation changes, slightly cambered corners, and even a cresting back straight, which momentarily sends riders airborne prior to Turn 9, are all factors in giving the beloved track its moniker of the ‘rollercoaster round’.

TOOLS OF THE TRADE: Bulega dominated the last round with various Brembo components

Thanks to Nicolo Bulega's (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) triple win at the first round of the season this year at Phillip Island, Italian riders have surpassed Australian riders in the national rankings: 121 wins for Italians in WorldSBK, 118 for Australians. On the Ducati Panigale V4R, Bulega uses the Brembo pump with an index to operate the rear brake during braking and acceleration. Additionally, the 2024 and 2025 World Championship runner-up uses a brake master cylinder with a 19x18 rotary sensor to measure lever travel.

KEY SECTOR: Turn 1 forces riders to drop from around 311km/h to 121km/h

The hardest corner at Portimao for the braking system is Turn 1, with a speed loss of just under 200 km/h. By using the brakes for 4.3 seconds, the Superbikes go from 311km/h to 121km/h while covering a distance of 250 meters. Riders reach such speeds on account of the long straight, which ends and begins each lap, exacerbated by the downhill slope which dips into Turn 1. Brembo has developed an index of braking difficulty for each circuit on the calendar, based on how taxing it is on the brakes. On a scale from 1 to 5, it has earned a difficulty index of 3, despite having 11 braking points per lap, only one of which is classified as high. For all the other braking points, the deceleration doesn’t exceed 1.3g. Riders apply a force of 5.4 kg on the Brembo lever and experience a deceleration of 1.5g, while the brake fluid pressure reaches 11.6 bar.

Such a heavy braking zone has obvious implications for overtaking; however, riders have to be careful in attempting such a move, not to let their speed carry them wide as they attempt to get on the brakes later than their rival. If they do run wide, provided they don’t lose too much time. Another great opportunity for an overtake is the tight ‘Lagos’ Turn 3, but riders need to pick their moments carefully for such moves, as each of the first three turns are right-handed. Of the 15 corners on this circuit, nine are right-handed, posing a particular risk of wear on that side, which is elevated, often leading to slower times as grip degrades.

TURN 9 HANGTIME: Oliveira speaks on one of the most notable Turns on the calendar

Perhaps Portimao’s biggest novelty is its ‘Craig Jones’ Turn 9, as after the tight Turn 8, there is a short straight which charges uphill before dipping down again towards T9. With the crest of the hill obstructing the view, riders crest it with the throttle open, some even getting both wheels off the ground before tucking left without braking. Few on the grid in 2026 are more qualified than home hero Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team), who won a race here back in his MotoGP days.

On the jump, Oliveira said: “Portimao is such an important track not to lose time anywhere, but I would say Turn 9 is quite difficult. When you have the jump, when you go over the crest, it is a corner where you have to commit with no brakes, a lot of throttle, so you have to get it right.”

Catch Oliveira and the rest of the field as they take on Portimao this weekend with the WorldSBK VideoPass!