After a winter marred by rain during preseason tests, most WorldSBK riders are hoping for dry conditions at the upcoming Portimao test, but Iker Lecuona says he would be able to make use of wet conditions, too.

Lecuona was one of several riders to miss out on track time aboard a new motorcycle during the European WorldSBK tests in January as rain hit the two-day tests scheduled in both Jerez and Portimao.

But when rain arrived in Race 2 at the opening round of the 2026 season in Australia, the Spanish rider found himself lacking confidence, finishing eighth and over 30 seconds behind his teammate, Nicolo Bulega.

As a result, Lecuona would appreciate rain at the Portimao test, scheduled for 9–10 March, ahead of the race at the southern Portuguese circuit on 27–29 March.

“If it rains [at the test] for sure I [will do] like 50 or 100 laps because I need to understand what happened today, I need to learn because I know I have the potential,” Lecuona told WorldSBK.com after Race 2 at Phillip Island.

“We need to work on that side.

“If not, [...] still working on the base, still working to learn on the bike. 

“Here we missed some tenths in some places that I think we can work well in Portimao – of course, a completely different track but just keep that performance, keep doing the job, and arrive here more ready for the race weekend.”

Explaining his performance in Race 2, Lecuona said he lacked feeling with the rear tyre.

“If I’m honest I’m a bit frustrated, honestly,” he said.

“I don’t talk about the position, I had a battle with Danilo [Petrucci] and Miguel [Oliveira] during the race, hold always that position; I talk about that my feeling is the worst feeling on the bike from the beginning, honestly: very tricky to ride, very difficult, with a lot of huge moments during the race. 

“It’s just that zero feeling with the rear tyre on a track that you need to feel well with the tyres it’s not easy to ride, on wet it’s even harder. I almost fly 15 times during the race, something like that. 

“Bit frustrated for that reason, that feeling on the bike.”

Generally speaking, though, Lecuona was pleased with his first weekend with Aruba.it Racing Ducati, feeling he’d made progress from Friday to Sunday.

“Overall I need to be happy, the team are happy so I need to be happy because we did a good progression during the test and now, so during all the week,” he said.

“It’s the first time from four years ago I raced and I finished Australia, even with no crashes, so that is also a very positive point for myself. 

“Also, it’s no crashes so I don’t lose any feeling on the bike, we worked well, and step-by-step we arrived. 

“We have the speed, we showed our speed, we need to put all the pieces, we need to work and to finish to find that way on the last tenths to be there. But, honestly, we did a really good job.”