Practice Report

Bradl into Superpole 2 after encouraging Friday at Portimão

Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team

Portuguese Round

Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, Portugal

WorldSBK 2017, Round 10

The Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team has completed the opening day of action at the tenth round of the 2017 FIM Superbike World Championship, with Stefan Bradl rounding out the top-10 at the end of the two free practice sessions at Portimão and therefore qualifying directly for Superpole 2.  His team mate for the Portuguese event, Takumi Takahashi, finished his debut WorldSBK day in 18th place.

Bradl got off to a good start this morning by setting the ninth fastest time of Free Practice 1. The 27-year-old German rider worked hard with his crew on finding the best set-up for his Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2 and was able to improve his performance on every outing. In the final minutes of FP2, Stefan moved back into the top-10 after breaking the 1’44secs barrier to log a final 1’43.957secs lap-time, which was enough for him to clinch a well deserved tenth place.

Takumi Takahashi had a lot of work to do in his first-ever day in World Superbike: not only the Japanese rider had to find his way around the challenging 4.592 Km Algarve track, but he also had to get to grips with the WorldSBK-spec version of the Fireblade and the Pirelli tyres, which he never used before. The Japanese made a significant improvement in the afternoon and he is now looking forward to more track-time tomorrow, starting from FP3 at 9:05 local time (GMT +1) and then moving on to Superpole 1 (11:00) and Race 1 (15:00).

R10_Portimao_WorldSBK_Friday_Bradl__DSC8668
Images are copyright but free for editorial use
R10_Portimao_WorldSBK_Friday_Takahashi__DSC6219
Images are copyright but free for editorial use
Stefan Bradl

Stefan Bradl 6

10th

It’s been a good day! It’s nice to be in the top-10 and therefore in Superpole 2. I’m happy with how the day went, because we consistently improved the bike in both sessions and in between as well. We are working in the right direction and to be lapping in the 1’43s is not too bad. Now we need to build up on what has been a positive day, have a good qualifying session and see how the rest of the weekend goes.

Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team
Takumi Takahashi

Takumi Takahashi 72

18th

Portimão is a great track but definitely not an easy one to learn! I still have to find the right line around it and it’s not easy when you’re not on the same bike you’re used to and especially with different tyres. So I’m planning to keep lapping as much as I can and once I get the right feeling with it, we will start playing more around the bike set-up. Tomorrow is race day already so the aim is to be as ready as I can for it.

Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team
Ronald ten Kate

Ronald ten Kate

Team Manager

We had quite a positive and productive day with Stefan. Right from the first outing we were around our target for the weekend in terms of positioning and we also managed to qualify straight into Superpole 2 which is good news. It’s been a good effort by the whole team so thanks to them. I think there’s still room for improvement and the gap from second place is not too big. The guys will now have a look at the data to come up with a plan for tomorrow and hopefully we’ll be back in the positions we should be in. Takumi-san had a lot of work to do, but we already knew that. Learning the track is the biggest task for him, but let’s not forget the bike is different to the one he’s used to riding and the same applies to the tyres, too. He’s been chipping away at every session and the goal is to keep improving with no pressure.

Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team
Portuguese Round

Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, Portugal

WorldSBK 2017, Round 10

Sunny & Dry / 22
Friday 15 Sep 2017, 15:05 UTC
  • Air Temp: 22°C
  • Humidity: 47%
  • Ground Temp: 38°C
# Rider Num Nationality Nat. Team Constructor Constr. Time/Gap
1 Jonathan Rea 65 GBR Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki 1'42.621
2 Marco Melandri 33 ITA Aruba.it Racing Ducati +0.586
3 Chaz Davies 7 GBR Aruba.it Racing Ducati +0.689
4 Leon Camier 2 GBR MV Agusta Reparto Corse MV Agusta +0.794
5 Tom Sykes 66 GBR Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki +0.895
6 Eugene Laverty 50 GBR Milwaukee Aprilia Aprilia +0.901
7 Alex Lowes 22 GBR Pata Yamaha Yamaha +1.056
8 Lorenzo Savadori 32 ITA Milwaukee Aprilia Aprilia +1.146
9 Michael van der Mark 60 NDL Pata Yamaha Yamaha +1.233
10 Stefan Bradl 6 GER Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team Honda +1.336
11 Jordi Torres 81 SPA Althea BMW Racing Team BMW +1.549
12 Raffaele De Rosa 35 ITA Althea BMW Racing Team BMW +1.841
13 Leandro Mercado 36 ARG IodaRacing Team Aprilia +1.971
14 Xavi Fores 12 SPA BARNI Racing Team Ducati +1.987
15 Riccardo Russo 84 ITA Guandalini Racing Yamaha +2.011
16 Román Ramos 40 SPA Team Go Eleven Kawasaki +2.663
17 Ayrton Badovini 86 ITA Grillini Racing Team Kawasaki +2.897
18 Takumi Takahashi 72 JPN Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team Honda +3.386
19 Anthony West 13 AUS Team Pedercini Honda +3.551
20 Ondrej Jezek 37 CZE Grillini Racing Team Kawasaki +3.737
21 Alessandro Andreozzi 121 ITA Guandalini Racing Yamaha +3.778
Rider Standings
Sunday, 20 Aug 2017 - Open world standings grid
# Rider Num Nationality Nat. Points Pts. Team Constructor Constr.
1 Jonathan REA 65 GBR 381 Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki
2 Tom SYKES 66 GBR 311 Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki
3 Chaz DAVIES 7 GBR 276 Aruba.it Racing Ducati
4 Marco MELANDRI 33 ITA 218 Aruba.it Racing Ducati
5 Alex LOWES 22 GBR 168 Pata Yamaha Yamaha
6 Xavi FORES 12 SPA 146 BARNI Racing Team Ducati
7 Michael VAN DER MARK 60 NDL 135 Pata Yamaha Yamaha
8 Leon CAMIER 2 GBR 121 MV Agusta Reparto Corse MV Agusta
9 Jordi TORRES 81 SPA 109 Althea BMW Racing Team BMW
10 Eugene LAVERTY 50 GBR 95 Milwaukee Aprilia Aprilia
11 Lorenzo SAVADORI 32 ITA 81 Milwaukee Aprilia Aprilia
12 Román RAMOS 40 SPA 77 Team Go Eleven Kawasaki
13 Leandro MERCADO 36 ARG 75 IodaRacing Team Aprilia
14 Stefan BRADL 6 GER 67 Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team Honda
15 Randy KRUMMENACHER 15 SWI 50 Puccetti Racing Kawasaki
16 Nicky HAYDEN 69 USA 40 Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team Honda
17 Alex DE ANGELIS 15 RSM 32 Pedercini Racing SC-Project Kawasaki
18 Raffaele DE ROSA 35 ITA 31 Althea BMW Racing Team BMW
19 Markus REITERBERGER 21 GER 29 Van Zon Remeha BMW
20 Leon HASLAM GBR 20
21 Ayrton BADOVINI 86 ITA 14 Grillini Racing Team Kawasaki
22 Ondrej JEZEK 37 CZE 12 Grillini Racing Team Kawasaki
23 Riccardo RUSSO 84 ITA 8 Guandalini Racing Yamaha
24 Jake DIXON 94 GBR 7 Dynavolt Intact GP Suter
25 Joshua BROOKES 25 AUS 4 ERMotorsport-EliteRoads.com.au Yamaha
26 Julian SIMON 60 SPA 4 Garage Plus Interwetten Kalex
27 Jake GAGNE 45 USA 2 Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team Honda
R10_Portimao_WorldSBK_Friday_Bradl__DSC8668
Images are copyright but free for editorial use
R10_Portimao_WorldSBK_Friday_Takahashi__DSC6219
Images are copyright but free for editorial use
R10_Portimao_WorldSBK_Friday_Bradl__GB47248
Images are copyright but free for editorial use
R10_Portimao_WorldSBK_Friday_Takahashi__DSC8321
Images are copyright but free for editorial use
R10_Portimao_WorldSBK_Friday_Takahashi__GB47202
Images are copyright but free for editorial use
R10_Portimao_WorldSBK_Friday_Bradl__DSC5713
Images are copyright but free for editorial use
R10_Portimao_WorldSBK_Friday_Takahashi__DSC8844
Images are copyright but free for editorial use
R10_Portimao_WorldSBK_Friday_Bradl__DSC8145
Images are copyright but free for editorial use