SOLID OPENING DAY FOR VAN DER MARK IN PORTUGAL
Pata Yamaha WorldSBK rider Michael van der Mark secured a fifth place on the WorldSBK timesheet on the opening day at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão, with a fastest lap posted during the cooler conditions of FP1 this morning. The Pata Yamaha rider declared himself satisfied with his pace on the opening day, as Michael is confident of further improvements ahead of WorldSBK Race 1 tomorrow afternoon.
Michael van der Mark – Pata Yamaha WorldSBK – P5 – 1’42.277: “It’s been a solid opening day here in Portugal. The first session this morning was a good one for us, even if the track didn’t feel the same as it did at the test here last month. But that’s typical Portimão and not unexpected. I struggled a little bit with the front feeling on the bike, so it’s also been challenging, especially this afternoon with the increase in track temperature. We’re still working to improve our pace in the heat, but the best set-up for this is proving a little elusive at the moment. But we’re definitely going in the right direction because the feeling with the bike improved at the end this afternoon. We have a few ideas to try tomorrow, but we’ll be ready to race.”