2024 World Superbike Test Portimao, Portugal - Day one Results

After a very strong outing in Jerez, WorldSBK rookie Nicolo Bulega again led the way on day one of the Portimao test.

But times at the top of the field were very close as the rookie, who went a tenth clear of Toprak Razgatlioglu, was briefly one of five riders within a tenth of Jonathan Rea’s top time.

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Razgatlioglu was also a pacesetter early on, as was BMW team-mate Michael Van Der Mark before Rea went back to the top of the leaderboard.

But Bulega struck late on and became the first rider to dip beneath the 1m 40s barrier.

Also in action were several Ducati MotoGP riders, all of whom are riding Panigale V4 S road bikes.

Marc Marquez is one of the big names in attendance but the eight-time world champion is not using a transponder.

Fastest of the Ducati riders is Francesco Bagnaia, who is over three seconds off the pace set by Bulega. 

In the afternoon, few improved at the top of the leaderboard although Remy Gardner and Sam Lowes did just that.

Gardner popped himself up to third, while Lowes slotted his Marc VDS Ducati in between the Australian and fellow Yamaha rider Rea.

After dealing with pain at the Jerez test, Alvaro Bautista was more like his usual self at the Algarve circuit, finishing seventh.