The second well-attended WorldSBK test in a few days started at Portimao today (Sunday 28th January) with Kawasaki’s Jonathan Rea leading the field halfway through the opening day, thanks to a 1’42.322 lap time.

Second fastest rider at lunchtime was the other works Kawasaki of Tom Sykes – over half a second adrift of Rea - with Marco Melandri (Aruba Ducati) third. Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha) was fourth, but such was the pace of the early leader he was 0.836 seconds from Rea.

Sensation of testing at Portimao last year, Toprak Razgatlioglu (Kawasaki Puccetti), placed fifth as he approaches a rookie season in the WorldSBK class. He was over 0.4 seconds ahead of Michael van der Mark’s Yamaha.

Top Aprilia rider was Eugene Laverty, in eighth place, Chaz Davies went ninth and Lorenzo Savadori (Milwaukee Aprilia) tenth.

Loris Baz (Gulf Althea BMW) and Leon Camier were ranked 12th and 13th respectively, but only because Davies was registering two separate times on the transponder system, with his second bike still faster than either Baz or Camier.

Although it took some time for the transponder systems to start working, the morning session saw a mix of WorldSBK and WorldSSP riders on track shortly after the 9am kick off, some of whom had not tested at Jerez a few days earlier.

Novelties at this test include the Triple M Honda and their rookie WorldSBK rider PJ Jacobsen, and the GMT 94 WorldSSP team, featuring Mike Di Meglio.

Fastest early Supersport rider proved to be Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) with a 1’46.441. CIA Landlords Insurance Honda and new riding line up Niki Tuuli and Andrew Irwin joined new world champion Lucas Mahias (GRT Yamaha), among others.

The first days track sessions are scheduled to finish at 5pm today, Portuguese time.