Four different riders on the WorldSBK grid this weekend have won around the 4.5km circuit, and five have finished on the podium since the series first visited the track back in 2008. Historically a strong circuit for the British riders, as well as Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia), the race seems set for a hotly contested weekend as the riders battle it out for returning honours on the hillside.
Continuing to lead the way in the world championship standings, Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) first stood on the Portimão podium in 2009’s Race one, behind Ben Spies. Since then the reigning champion has taken 10 trophies away with him - three of them as the race winner.
Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) is another rider with a strong record in Portugal, as the British rider is now becoming a veteran in the series.
Fresh off the back of a double victory in Germany, Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) is looking to continue his run into the final third of the title fight, with the points deficit now at 105 points from Rea. The British rider has a mixed history around Portimão, never taking a victory in the WorldSBK class but he stood on the WorldSSP top step in 2011, whilst the 30-year-old has only secured two podiums in WorldSBK; third in both 2014 and 2015.
Italian Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) makes his return to a circuit which has brought him glory in the past; taking the wins in 2011’s race two and 2013’s race one on a Yamaha and the second with BMW.
Another rider making a notable return to Autódromo Internacional do Algarve is Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia), named as the round ambassador back in May, there will be a lot of attention on the Irishman. With a strong record around Portimão in both WorldSSP and WorldSBK, as well as a strong winter test, Laverty will no doubt be out to secure his first podium finish since making his return to the series.
WorldSBK action gets underway on Friday 15 September for free practice, before Race one kicks off at 3pm on Saturday, followed by Race Two on Sunday at 3pm.