Rea looking for pace ‘reference’ against Yamaha and Ducati riders in Portimao

After topping a limited Jerez WorldSBK test, Jonathan Rea is looking to measure his pace against Yamaha and Ducati riders at next month’s Portimao test.  

While Honda looked fast and consistent in the hands of series rookies Iker Lecuona and Xavi Vierge, the Japanese manufacturer is not expected to be a main player with regards to the 2022 title, that is instead likely to come from Yamaha (reigning world champions) and Ducati who at times looked to have the best package in 2021. 

This is why Rea, who topped a Jerez test that only included the above-mentioned Honda pair, Lucas Mahias and KRT team-mate Alex Lowes, is aiming to gauge his impressive early season performance against the likes of current world champion Toprak Razgatlioglu and the Ducati’s led by Alvaro Bautista. 

Rea also mentioned BMW as a team he’s interested to observe when it comes to their outright pace as the team signed Scott Redding for 2022, but like Honda, the German manufacturer is unlikely to challenge for the title.

Looking ahead to next month’s test in Portimao, a two-day outing that will see Rea continue to evaluate old and new chassis components, the ZX-10RR’s electronics package and practicing race starts which were an issue last season, the six-time world champion told the official World Superbike website: "Well we have some chassis items to test again. We don't have so many things inside the engine. 

"I think electronics is an area we still need to work quite hard at, then aside from that, I need to practice some starts because there's something different with our start setup that I need to improve on. 

"My starts last year were okay but not incredible. They were much better in the past so we're trying to improve. Today my practice starts weren't too good so I hope to improve on that, then, I guess it's the first time we'll be with everybody. So, we'll see. 

"We've been testing only with Honda, they've been riding really well, but we need to reference the others: the Ducati, the Yamaha, BMW, so I guess most of those guys will be there. 

"It'll be an even better gauge. I like the track. I like the place, hopefully we can have a good feeling."