Permanent entries Tarran Mackenzie and Adam Norrodin were unfit to compete in the sixth round in the Czech Republic following incidents during the previous Donington Park event. While Norrodin will be back in action at Portimão, Mackenzie unfortunately needs a little longer to recover, which means that the Brit will be replaced by local rider Ivo Lopes this coming weekend. Born in Lisbon in 1996, Lopes secured the Spanish Superbike Championship title in 2021 and 2023 and continues to compete in the ESBK series in 2024. Ivo has previous WorldSBK experience, having already served as a substitute rider in 2023, as well as good knowledge of the AIA circuit, a home track for him. 

The Autódromo Internacional do Algarve was inaugurated in 2008 and quickly became a favourite with the Superbike riders and fans, with WorldSBK now a regular fixture on its calendar. The undulating track measures 4592 metres in length and is made up of fifteen corners. Located in the southern Algarve, it is hoped that an August event will attract tourists as well as local fans. The upcoming Portuguese round will look a little different, in that the Portimão track will stage the races later in the day, with SBK Race 1 and Race 2 set to get underway at 6pm on Saturday and Sunday. 

The PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team was very shocked and sorry to hear about the recent passing of AIA circuit founder and CEO Paulo Pinheiro and extends its deepest sympathies to his family and friends. 

Adam Norrodin 

“The incident at the UK round meant that I was forced to miss the Czech round the following weekend. I returned to Malaysia straight after Donington and have been working hard to get back to full fitness and keep up with my training. Hopefully we can do well at Portimão, a rollercoaster of a track that I really enjoy, though it’s a tough one! I’ve had quite good results there in the past, so if we can start well on Friday and find a good setup then that might make for an easier weekend. I know the team has been working hard and so I think we head to Portugal in a good position; I’d like a strong result to kick off this second half of the season.”  

Ivo Lopes 

“When we least expect it, an opportunity arises! I was very surprised and pleased when the PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda Team invited me to race with them at this next Superbike World Championship round, which takes place at the Portimão circuit. The CBR1000 RR-R is a completely new bike for me, but I will try my best to adapt to the bike as quickly as possible and help the team in the best possible way during what will be a very special adventure for me, at my “home” track in front of the Portuguese public. It’s common knowledge that my dream is to be a full-time WorldSBK rider and that's why my team are allowing me to take this opportunity, something I am extremely grateful for. I had chance to compete in WorldSBK last season, at Barcelona, ​​where I managed to finish in the points. This time I’m not heading out on track with any real expectations though, I just want to seize the opportunity and do the best I can to assist the team. As I said, I have zero experience with this bike, but I'm going to try my hardest to lap with world championship worthy times and exploit the fact that I know the AIA track very well!” 

Track Information:

Country: Portugal
Name: Autódromo Internacional do Algarve
Length: 4.592 km
Pole position: right

Turns: 15

2023 SBK RESULTS:

Race 1 - 1. Bautista (Ducati); 2. Razgatlioglu (Yamaha); 3. Rea (Kawasaki). 

Superpole race – 1. Bautista (Ducati); 2. Razgatlioglu (Yamaha); 3. Locatelli (Kawasaki).

Race 2 - 1. Bautista (Ducati); 2. Razgatlioglu (Yamaha); 3. Rinaldi (Ducati).

SBK RECORDS: Best lap – Razgatlioglu (Yamaha) 1'38.826 (2023). Superpole – Rea (Kawasaki) 1'39.610 (2022).

Weekend schedule (CET -1):

Friday

13.15 – 14.00 – SBK Free Practice 1

18.00 – 18.45 – SBK Free Practice 2

Saturday

12.10 – 12.30 – SBK Free Practice 3

14.45 – 15.00 – Superpole

18.00 – SBK Race 1

Sunday

12.00 – 12.10 – SBK Warm-up

14.45 – Superpole race

18.00 – SBK Race 2