Pata Maxus Yamaha Focus on Clear Improvements Following Portimão Friday Free Practice

Xavi Vierge found promising race pace on board his Yamaha R1 WorldSBK in Friday Free Practice on the opening day of Round 2 of the 2026 FIM Superbike World Championship in Portugal today, while Pata Maxus Yamaha teammate Andrea Locatelli identified areas to improve for tomorrow.

The first day of action at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve (Portimao) got underway in clear, sunny conditions with track temperatures reaching more than 40°C this afternoon.

Vierge led the way for Pata Maxus Yamaha with two strong sessions of work with his #97 crew where they focused on long-run pace as well as tyre assessment for the weekend’s coming races – completing 40 laps across the two 45-minute Free Practice sessions. 

On the opposite side of the pit box, Locatelli’s lap count was the same, but he was not able to find the same confidence and feeling. Yamaha’s engineers and the #55 crew will work overnight to help the team’s Italian rider make a step for tomorrow.

Saturday starts with Free Practice 3 at 9:40 local time (WET), all-important Superpole qualifying at 11:15 before the feature race of the premier WorldSBK class, Race 1 at 15:30.  

Xavi Vierge: P10 – 1'40.804

“It has been a “solid start” let’s say! Since the beginning of the day the feeling with my R1 has been very good. We had some things to try from the test, and we tried it and it was the correct direction. It was so important to make many laps with the race tyres, because we know here the front especially is a bit critical, so we focused the day on the race pace. We made some long run laps in the afternoon as well – everything is very clear, we need just to find an extra two-tenths to be ready for the fight, but I think the way to follow is clear. We will have a chance to analyse this afternoon to see where I can improve my riding style and try to help also with the set-up of the bike, to see if we are able to do this small jump for tomorrow.”

Andrea Locatelli: P16 – 1'41.442

“This morning the feeling was not too bad and I was hoping that this afternoon we could improve. But unfortunately, we struggled a bit – so we’re working hard for tomorrow, because I know that soon I can find my way with the bike set-up and we can be faster. It’s a shame, because I’m struggling in some areas of the track in the exit of the corner, but we will look to make a step with this and for sure we can improve. Keep working hard, look forward, and try to do our best like always.”