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With Phillip Island and the season debut in the rear-view mirror, the FIM Supersport World Championship gets set for the Pirelli Portuguese Round in its second race weekend of 2026 at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve. Riders like Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) and rookie Albert Arenas (AS BLU CRU Racing Team) kicked off their season strong Down Under, with many talented riders up and down the order, a litany of faces could taste the Prosecco DOC from the top step of the podium this weekend.

ARENAS AT THE HEAD OF THE PACK: The 2020 Moto3 World Champion won in his debut weekend

The #75 had a full weekend last time out, landing P4, then P1 to close the weekend; he’ll hope to stay hot now with the European rounds of the schedule getting started. Behind him on the order, his countryman Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) enjoyed similar rostrum-topping success, taking the top spot in the season’s opening race. He hopes to improve on his pair of P7s earned last time out at Portimao. Matteo Ferrari (WRP Racing) took his first podium last round as a WorldSSP rider, a strong way to start his campaign. He will now race for the first time at the track in this Championship, where he rode last season as a MotoE rider on his way to a pair of P6s.

HARD WORK PAYING DIVIDENDS: Oettl looking for more podium appearances

German rider Philipp Oettl (Feel Racing WorldSSP Team) ran a very comprehensive testing programme of all WorldSSP riders, laying down laps aplenty in rain or shine at Jerez and Portimao. His work bore fruit in Race 1in Australia, sending him to P2. He will anticipate a stronger showing than his P10 and P11 from last campaign, with the caveat that he was recovering from a bad knee injury this time last year. Arenas wasn’t the only AS BLU CRU Racing Team rider who performed well at Phillip Island. Aldi Mahendra landed his first WorldSSP podium, and now with a taste for silverware, he’ll be in the podium hunt again at Portimao. The Indonesian’s former teammate Can Oncu's (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Racing) season came to a sputtering start with a pair of P5 despite being hailed by many as this season’s clear favourite. Portimao will give a clearer picture of Oncu’s level with his new team, but with this many talented riders around him, every point is critical.

BAYLISS BRINGING HIS BEST: The Aussie carries good momentum back to Europe

After opening the season on the podium, the #32 fell to P12 in a rain-affected Race 2, but he will look to take his team back to the top three in Portugal. Roberto Garcia (GMT94 Yamaha) outscored his veteran French teammate Lucas Mahias, and in Portugal, Garcia will aspire to again land in the top six. Alessandro Zaccone’s (Ecosantagata Althea Racing Team) progress in acquainting himself with the WorldSBK paddock will continue at Portimao, and he will feasibly look to land his first top five finishes in his rookie season. Lastly, Andrea Giombini (Motozoo by Madforce Dubai) will again look to strategise his way to the front after a clever Race 2 tyre decision saw him to a career high P4 in the category.

2026 DEBUT: Honda and QJMOTOR are back on track at Portimao

Austrian rider Andreas Kofler (Motorsport Kofler) joins the grid alongside Honda Racing World Supersport’s Corentin Perolari and Ana Carrasco who will make their debut this season in Round 2, as well as the QJMOTOR Factory Racing pair of Raffaele de Rosa and Marcos Ramirez as WorldSSP Challenge riders. The four will provisionally compete for the rest of the season from here on out. Portuguese rider Martim Jesus (Rosa Competicion/MCL) will participate on his Honda CBR600RR as a wild-card appearance.

Tune in this weekend for all the action as all four Championships lay it on the line at Portimao. Tune in Live and OnDemand with the WorldSBK VideoPass!