Rea: We have a good handle on 2022 bike set-up, happy with long run pace

Six-time WorldSBK champion Jonathan Rea has claimed the 2022 ZX-10RR package has been ‘finally put together’ following an impressive two day Portimao test.

Rea was among three riders to break the official Portimao lap record - Toprak Razgatlioglu and Alvaro Bautista being the other two - while the Kawasaki rider was also the first man to set the first ever sub 1m 40s lap on Superbike machinery. 

After topping day one of the test, Rea was eventually pipped to top spot by world champion Razgatlioglu, however, Rea’s pace over one lap and race distance was impressive to say the least.

Granted, Portimao is one of Rea’s better circuits from a results standpoint, but following a solid test in Jerez to begin the year (was fastest), a 2022 title challenge is already looking likely for the Northern Irishman. 

As was the case at Jerez three weeks ago, Rea compared different chassis components, along with new tyres from Pirelli. 

During Rea’s last race simulation, the 34 year-old alluded to feeling no drop off after 15 laps, something he’s always experienced at the Algarve circuit previously. 

Speaking after the test, Rea added: "We got a lot of laps in at this test. We have been going back and forward because we had a couple of chassis items we were not sure about. 

"Finally I think we can be pretty confident that we have confirmed a couple of items we found in Jerez at the previous tests. 

"We finally put the package together. In the middle of the day Pirelli brought some tyres that we had to try and then we worked on our plan in the afternoon. We did a long race simulation at the end - and some practice starts that were much better than the ones on the first day. 

"During the long run the feeling was that the set-up was taking some feeling away ‘from my hand’ but it is actually better. Normally in Portimao there is a big tyre drop after ten or 15 laps, but today I did not experience any drop in the long run. I’m pretty happy with that and we will keep working on that side of things. 

"It is important to be fast but it is important to be fast at the end of races. I think we can safely say we managed that today. So, all-in-all, it was a pretty solid day. 

"I think we have a pretty good handle on what our base set-up is going to be to start the year."