WorldSBK Portimao test “a shame”, says one Ducati rider

Sam Lowes feels the weather at this year’s WorldSBK tests has been “disappointing” after this week’s two-day Portimao test saw almost no running on the second day.

Lowes was one of many riders to not go out at all on the second day of this week's World Superbike test as the track refused to dry.

Only two riders set lap times on the second day, Tommy Bridewell and World Supersport rider Philipp Oettl, as the condition simply didn’t allow significant meaningful running to be carried out. 

The conditions were “disappointing”, Lowes admitted afterwards, especially after the January tests were largely subject to the same kind of rain disruption.

“We didn’t get any running on day two which was a shame because we’ve struggled for test time this winter with the disappointing weather everywhere – but it’s the same for everyone, it’s not the year of testing for WorldSBK,” said Sam Lowes, as reported by WorldSBK.com.

“It was good to get some bike time [on Monday], but I’m not reading too much into it. 25 laps sounds like a lot, but you’re in and out trying things so it’s not a huge amount.”

Lowes added that he is still recovering the hand and wrist injuries he sustained at the end of last season that forced him to miss the final six races.

“The lap times were quite competitive and it gave me the chance to see how my hand and wrist felt, and I was quite happy considering it’s so soon after the break. 

“I know it’s going to be tough for the race weekend, though, as I still need more recovery time.”

The World Superbike Championship returns to Portimao on 27–29 March for the Portuguese Round, the second round of the 2026 season. 

Lowes goes into it after an Australian Round that saw him fast in practice but ultimately unable to convert that into results in the three races, in which he finished fifth in the first two and crashed out of the last one.