First World Championship point for Takahashi as Bradl crashes out of eighth place

The opening race at the Portuguese Round of the 2017 FIM Superbike World Championship has been contested today at Portimão’s Autodromo do Algarve, with Stefan Bradl forced to an early retirement after crashing out of eighth place on lap three. His Red Bull Honda World Superbike team mate for the round, Takumi Takahashi, crossed the line in 15th position and by doing so he earned his first World Superbike point.

After successfully taking part in Superpole 2 and then qualifying in eighth place on the grid for the 20-lap race, Stefan Bradl got a great launch off row three and by the end of the opening lap he was already up to sixth position. The German rider then lost one place after running wide at turn 1 and, as the third lap was drawing to a close, he had a highside at turn 14: due to the damage sustained by the bike during the crash, he was unable to re-join the encounter.

Takumi Takahashi started his maiden World Superbike race from 19th place on the grid and, after maintaining his position at the start, he found his own rhythm as he continued to make experience with the WorldSBK-spec version of the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2 and Pirelli tyres around the 4.592km track located in the southwestern edge of mainland Europe.

Stefan Bradl

Stefan Bradl 6

DNF

Unfortunately, this crash actually happened in the race: I was a good position and feeling comfortable on the bike, but maybe I pushed a bit too hard at turn 14 because the bike slipped away a little bit and I was thrown over the handlebar. A pity for the result really, but luckily we have another chance tomorrow: I got checked by the medical centre and I’m good to go, I feel OK and ready to give it another try. We need to keep the positives from today because I think we can have a good race and finish the weekend on a high note.

Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team

Takumi  Takahashi

Takumi Takahashi 72

15th

It was a difficult race because at the beginning I was struggling a bit with the front and could not get up to speed. Because of this, I was unable to stay with the riders in front of me, meaning I rode on my own for the most part of the race. In the end we were a bit lucky to get one point, but the goal for tomorrow is to stay with those riders, make more experience and to actually earn that point.

Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team

Ronald ten Kate

Ronald ten Kate

Team Manager

The start of Stefan’s race was really good and we were all enjoying seeing him up there where we all think he can be. Surely it was a pity for the crash but thankfully enough he wasn’t hurt, so he’s ready to race again tomorrow. Takahashi was able to collect his first-ever World Championship point today: it hasn’t been an easy weekend so far for him – it’s a steep learning curve – but he is making more and more experience, which is the most important thing. He was able to set the same lap-time both at the beginning and at the end of the race, which means that there has been an improvement. Hopefully tomorrow he will be able to get in a mix and battle with the other riders.

Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team

Portuguese Round

Autodromo Internacional do Algarve, Portugal

WorldSBK 2017, Round 10

Sunny & Dry / 22

Saturday 16 Sep 2017, 14:49 UTC
  • Air Temp: 22°C
  • Humidity: 47%
  • Ground Temp: 39°C

# Rider Num Nationality Nat. Points Pts. Team Constructor Constr. Time/Gap
1 Jonathan Rea 65 GBR 25 Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki 34’38.383
2 Chaz Davies 7 GBR 20 Aruba.it Racing Ducati +6.189
3 Marco Melandri 33 ITA 16 Aruba.it Racing Ducati +10.166
4 Leon Camier 2 GBR 13 MV Agusta Reparto Corse MV Agusta +10.508
5 Michael van der Mark 60 NDL 11 Pata Yamaha Yamaha +13.739
6 Jordi Torres 81 SPA 10 Althea BMW Racing Team BMW +16.816
7 Eugene Laverty 50 GBR 9 Milwaukee Aprilia Aprilia +18.786
8 Lorenzo Savadori 32 ITA 8 Milwaukee Aprilia Aprilia +22.090
9 Xavi Fores 12 SPA 7 BARNI Racing Team Ducati +28.430
10 Román Ramos 40 SPA 6 Team Go Eleven Kawasaki +38.746
11 Raffaele De Rosa 35 ITA 5 Althea BMW Racing Team BMW +43.181
12 Ayrton Badovini 86 ITA 4 Grillini Racing Team Kawasaki +43.212
13 Anthony West 13 AUS 3 Team Pedercini Honda +43.325
14 Riccardo Russo 84 ITA 2 Guandalini Racing Yamaha +43.412
15 Takumi Takahashi 72 JPN 1 Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team Honda +54.303
16 Ondrej Jezek 37 CZE 0 Grillini Racing Team Kawasaki +59.880
17 Alessandro Andreozzi 121 ITA 0 Guandalini Racing Yamaha + 1’04.441
18 Alex Lowes 22 GBR 0 Pata Yamaha Yamaha +1 Lap
NC Leandro Mercado 36 ARG 0 IodaRacing Team Aprilia DNF
NC Stefan Bradl 6 GER 0 Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team Honda DNF
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