Tetsuta Nagashima (JPN-Kalex) in Moto2 and Carmelo Morales (SPA-Yamaha) in Superbike were the fastest riders in qualifying sessions and will head the starting grids of their respective categories in this weekend’s sixth round of the FIM CEV Repsol at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve.
In Moto2, Tetsuta Nagashima (JPN-Kalex, in photo1) improved on Steven Odendaal’s (RSA-Kalex) best lap in the first qualifying session to win his second pole position in a time of 1’45.602. The Japanese Ajo Motorsport Academy rider is doing his utmost to bring more excitement to the Moto2 European Championship category.
If Steven Odendaal, who finished the qualifying session 0.262 behind the pole, wins both races in Portugal he will be proclaimed champion with only two races remaining. However, the AGR Team rider, who will ride as wild card in the Movistar Grand Prix of Aragón at MotorLand Aragón, said yesterday that he has set aside the idea of being crowned champion in the Algarve so that he can focus on the racing. The AGR Team has the presence of Karlos Arguiñano in Portimao this weekend to encourage their team.
Steven Odendaal and Alan Techer (FRA-NTS TPRO Project) will start alongside Tetsuta Nagashima in the two Moto2 European Championship races this weekend. Ivo Paixao (POR-Kawasaki) was the fastest in Superstock 600 and the only rider to post a time under 1’49, with 1’48.972.
In Superbike Carmelo Morales (SPA-Yamaha, photo2) underlined his dominance with his fourth consecutive pole of the season. The Yamaha Laglisse rider arrived at Portimao full of confidence after beating Maximilian Scheib (CHI-BMW) in Albacete to take the leadership of the Superbike European Championship. The Targobank Easyrace SBK Team rider finished second in qualifying ahead of Alejandro Medina (SPA-Yamaha).
Right behind the Leopard Yamaha Stratos rider came David Mcfadden (RSA-Kawasaki), who is taking part in the Portuguese round with Team Tack. And just as in the Superstock 600 class, a Portuguese rider was the fastest among the Privateers: Tiago Magalhaes (POR-Kawasaki), fifth overall in Superbike and quickest Privateer rider.
Sunday’s race schedule is as follows:
Superbike (17 laps): 11.00h
Moto2 (17 laps): 12.00h
Superbike (17 laps): 14.00h
Moto2 (17 laps): 15.00h
In Spain, the races can be viewed live on the Movistar MotoGP channel which will broadcast all the races scheduled in the Moto3 Junior World Championship, Moto2 European Championship and Superbike European Championship categories. BT Sports (Great Britain), Sport TV (Portugal) and Eurosport via Eurosportplayer (France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands) also offer coverage of the Moto2 European Championship and Superbike European Championship with live broadcasts of each of the races through their digital network. In Italy, Sky will broadcast live both the Moto2 European Championship races.
In addition, all the races can be seen live on the Championship’s Youtube channel.
All the results and information about the Championship are on the official website: www.fimcevrepsol.com
