PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda rider Kaito Toba and replacement rider Ibrahim Norrodin are ready to take on the Estoril Circuit, which will stage the penultimate round of the 2025 Supersport World Championship this weekend. 

Japanese rider Toba has positive experience of this circuit, having placed fourteenth in last year’s SSP Race 1, a result that boosts his confidence and motivation heading into this weekend’s event. Norrodin competed for PETRONAS MIE Racing Honda as a wildcard at the latest Aragón and Magny-Cours rounds. He therefore has recent experience aboard the CBR600RR, which should be of benefit this coming weekend, but the Malaysian rider does not know the Estoril Circuit.

After originally hosting WorldSBK in 1988 and 1993, the Estoril Circuit returned to the WorldSBK calendar in 2020. The track measures 4.182 km and comprises four left-hand turns and nine right-handers, as well as a very long straight. Only about 30 km from Lisbon, the circuit is situated close to the coastal town of Estoril.

Kaito Toba #27

“We’ve reached the last two rounds of the season, and there is a bit of a bittersweet feeling to it. There are still things about our performance that I’d like to work on, so we’ll see where we can work this weekend. There have been challenges this year, but Estoril might suit the CRB600RR better than Aragón, so we’re ready to go all out and see what we can accomplish.”

Ibrahim Norrodin #67

“I’ve heard that the Estoril track is a difficult one. This will be my first time at the circuit so I’m trying to study it as best as I can, watching videos and so on. It won’t be easy, but I will try my best and will set about learning the layout as soon as I get there, right from Thursday’s track walk. I hope we can have a constructive weekend; wish me luck!”

Track Information:

Country: Portugal
Name: Circuito Estoril
Length: 4.182 km
Pole position: left
Corners: 4 left-hand, 9 right-hand

SSP RECORDS: Best lap – Vinales (Yamaha) 1'40.053 (2020). Superpole – Aegerter (Yamaha) 1’39.046 (2022).

2024 SSP RESULTS: 

Race 1 - 1. Montella (Ducati); 2. Huertas (Ducati); 3. Manzi (Yamaha)
Race 2 – 1. Manzi (Yamaha); 2. Huertas (Ducati); 3. Debise (Yamaha)

Weekend schedule (CET-1): 

Friday
9.40 – 10.20 – SSP Free Practice
13.55 – 14.35 – SSP Superpole

Saturday
9.30 – 9.40 – SSP Warm-up
12.35 – SSP Race 1

Sunday
9.20 – 9.30 – SSP Warm-up
12.35 – SSP Race 2