24th/25th August 2019
After a sheer endless summer break, the WorldSBK paddock gathered together again this weekend in Portimao, Portugal for the first official test of the second half of the season. Also Markus Reiterberger finally got back onto the seat of his BMW S 1000 RR.
After the announcement was made last week, that the 25-years-old won’t have a seat in the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team anymore next season, he wants to give his very best for the last four remaining events of the FIM Motul WorldSBK championship again to recommend himself to the last remaining places in the world championship. The motivation is high and „Reiti“ prepared well for the rest of the season during this summer break.
The Youngster from Bavaria had to get back into the groove with his bike and the team on the first test day and was able to stay in seventh position for quite a while, but eventually had to give up on it at the end. Also the second test day was positive for the young German and Reiterberger has a good feeling with the BMW-Superbike after those many laps he did. A few improvements, also with the electronics and the braking behavior of the BMW S 1000 RR give him more security and Reiterberger hopes he can take that with him for the races that will take place in two weeks time in Portimao.
Markus Reiterberger finished this test in 14th position overall. But the result does not show the positive trend of this test weekend. The 25-years-old Superbike pilot is leaving Portugal in a good mood and he is motivated to return in two weeks time, when there are points to catch and give his best again.
Markus Reiterberger, #28: „I got along really well at this first test after the summer break. At the beginning we had some small adaption-issues with the new electronics, but that was the same for Tom (Sykes) and me and the problem was solved quite fast. After a few more setting changes of the bike I could improve my time to 1’43.2 and was only close to one second behind my teammate. I am missing 1.3 seconds to the top. In the morning of the second test day, we went out with the best settings of the previous day and I was able to run in between the seventh and tenth position. We tried out many things these days, also with the fork-set-up. Many interesting tests of the electronics were done as well. Position 14 may not look like it, but I feel quite comfortable on the bike and that is what tests are for at the end. The course of the test gives me hope for the races in two weeks time. I had fun and the team works well too and I hope that we continue to improve further. But in general I am happy.“
Commentaires