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With the 2026 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship season opener less than a month away, WorldSBK and WorldSSP riders are making their way to southern Portugal’s Autodromo Internacional do Algarve for what will be 2026’s second test event so far. Last time out at the Jerez test, rainy weather complicated the to-do lists of riders and their teams, particularly for this season’s numerous newcomers and riders acclimating to their new teams and machines. As a result, this test will be all the more vital to continue testing out new items, building chemistry with new personnel and helping teams arrive to Australia with a package they have full confidence in. After seeing promising signs at Jerez in the first test of the year from both of their  new riders, with more rain in the forecast, the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team have stated that they will not be testing at Portimao, preferring to save their testing days for better forecasted days.

BREAKING IN THEIR NEW TOY: The Ducati Panigale V4R has another chance to impress at Portimao

Having taken to the track for the first time in 2026 on Day 2 at Jerez, Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) saw only 24 laps during his half-day of testing. He stated that he would have liked to have made more progress with the bike but has enjoyed his time with their new 2026 Panigale V4R, which, among notable updates, features a double swing arm and a redesigned aero package on the lower portion of the bike behind the front wheel. Fortunately for him, both he and his new teammate, Iker Lecuona, had some time atop the bike back in 2025, marginally increasing their familiarity on the bike. For the #7, he was glowing with praise about the new bike; he lacks the depth of experience with the new machine, as well as with the team. He, like the rest of the grid, is anxiously awaiting the chance to get back atop his bike

Alvaro Bautista (Barni Spark Racing Team) and Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) both partook in the test at Jerez for at least a day, Bautista commented on the positive feeling of support he’s received from the Barni Ducati squad, but stated that with a lack of time on the new Panigale so far, he hasn’t been able to find a distinct feeling from it compared to the 2025 model. His young teammate Montella finished second-fastest on a drenched Day 1 at Jerez, encouraging for the #5, but stated that he needs more time with the bike to understand the maximum.

Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) was complimentary of his new bike, praising its improved stability, but was frustrated he couldn’t have ridden it in better conditions. Like several other Ducati riders, he had the opportunity to ride the new 2026 model; however, only the test team’s bike, leaving him hungry for more. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Team Goeleven) will continue his sophomore season preparations after his rookie season back in 2023; in what may be an interesting battle at the season’s start, he and rookie Alberto Surra (Motocorsa Racing) posted very similar times at Jerez, with ‘Balda’ just 0.043s faster. Surra was happy with the feeling from his first test in WorldSBK, and spoke about how, lap after lap, he felt more comfortable, and wants to continue to grow at Portimao. Tarran Mackenzie (MGM Optical Express Racing) enjoyed his first test with his MGM – Ducati team and having the time to work methodically on his bike and build an understanding with his new crew chief, Paolo Zavalonni. He’s hoping for more concrete progress with his setup as Jerez was his first time atop his race bike since Jerez.”

NEW COMPONENTS: The KB998 Rimini will be trying on a new set of front forks, among other components, in Portimao

Returning for their second season back in the Championship after their decade-long hiatus, Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) and Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) prepare for Portugal, where they hope they will have more dry time with their KB998 Rimini. Lowes finished Day 2 second fastest despite running just 16 laps and after not participating on Day 1. ‘El Bocia’ landed P7 by the close of Day 2 as he and new crew chief Uri Pallares continue to build continuity. At Portimao, they will look to test new components, such as Showa front forks, which they hope will provide a proper shakedown in dry conditions.

BUSY DAYS TO COME IN PORTUGAL: New riders, new faces in the garage and new parts will make Portimao busy for Yamaha

Both of Yamaha’s official teams have a new face atop their bikes, and while testing time has been limited by the weather, riders in blue, both new and old, continue to impress. 2025 4^th place finisher in the Riders’ Championship, Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) ran a relatively high tally of 50 laps at Jerez, but there remains a lot of work to do on their testing plan. Joining him in the Pata Maxus Yamaha box, Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha) enjoyed his first Day in blue on Day 1, then built on that in the comparatively drier Day 2, where he finished in P3. Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) elected not to participate in Day 1 as he continues to recover from an injured shoulder, but took to the track for Day 2. He, like most, couldn’t do much with the weather, leaving him hoping for good weather in Algarve. His rookie teammate Stefano Manzi (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) has been taking the WorldSBK bull by the horns, riding the third most laps overall across both days, and netting a P9 spot on the timesheet. He will likely continue to lay down laps in bulk at Portimao as he looks to continue adapting to the new Championship, and team principal Filippo Conti stated they wanted to start with taking a look at their chassis if the weather permits.

IN GOOD HANDS: Without Chantra, Honda HRC can trust that their test riders will give their all

Still reeling from the temporary blow of losing one half of their new star WorldSBK lineup to injury, Jake Dixon and Honda HRC had the silver lining at Jerez of seeing Jonathan Rea make his return to the Japanese manufacturer where it all started as their newest test rider. Dixon was pleased by the sensation of his new Honda CBR10000RR-R SP, and while he will be the first to say how he thinks his times could be improved, he stated that he is happy with the upgrades he and the team have made since November. While Rea’s return attracted much of the attention, his test rider teammate Tetsuta Nagashima put in a hard couple of days’ work, running the second most laps of all riders with 66.

WIND IN THEIR SAILS: Gerloff was happy with the initial impression of his new bike’s aero package, but wants a more comprehensive shakedown

Garrett Gerloff (Kawasaki WorldSBK Team) finally got a taste of his new 2026 ZX-10RR Ninja at Jerez after waiting two months, and is anxious to get back on it at Portimao. He and his team limited themselves to a general shakedown at the last test, as the weather didn’t permit them to push, but the #31 had positive things to say about the new aero package, stating he felt improved handling in the circuit’s faster corners. He will continue that work at Portimao, provided the weather improves and allows him to push hard to see the new aerodynamics’ true effect.

OETTL RIDING STRONG: So far in testing, WorldSSP’s man to beat has been Oettl

The Kawasaki WorldSSP Team’s reinforced WorldSSP lineup of Dominique Aegerter and Jeremy Alcoba will again take to the track at Portimao. Aegerter continues to acquaint himself with his ZX-6R 636, while Alcoba looked strong in Jerez, clocking in second of all World Supersport riders behind German rider Philipp Oettl (Feel Racing WorldSSP Team). Oettl had a big couple of days at Jerez. He topped the WorldSSP timesheets as he continues his work on the Ducati Panigale V2. He ran the most laps of any rider across both days and even rode laps on WorldSBK’s Ducati Panigale V4R as a test rider for Aruba.it Racing -Ducati. Promising stuff from the German rider, and he will look to continue that trajectory at Portimao.

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