VAN DER MARK HEAD TO PORTIMAO
Round seven of the 2015 World Superbike championship takes place at Portimao in Portugal this weekend (5-7 June) with Pata Honda rider Michael van der Mark aiming to produce strong performances. Van der Mark won at Portimao on his way to last season’s World Supersport championship but already has Superbike experience of the demanding and undulating circuit, albeit from a damp and cold pre-season test earlier this year.
Despite scoring two podium finishes at Assen in this, his rookie WSBK season, van der Mark has retired from the last three outings and is targeting strong finishes in Sunday’s two 20-lap races, which mark the halfway point in the 2015 World Superbike championship.
The weekend’s race event will be followed on Monday 8 June by an official World Superbike test at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve at which Van der Mark will test new chassis components and electronics updates.
Michael van der Mark: “Last year was good with the win in World Supersport, even though it came with the rain. But I’m really looking forward to the weekend because I love this place. We had a test earlier this year so I’ve ridden the CBR Superbike at Portimao and even though it was really cold and often wet I was able to make some laps. I love the roller-coaster ride with all the fast corners and blind crests. Some parts are quite different on the Superbike but that also makes it more fun! But after too many DNFs already this season I really need some good strong results, so I’ll be working hard with the team this weekend to get me and the bike ready for Sunday’s two races.”