Final European Winter Test Complete in Portimao for Kawasaki WorldSBK Team

Garrett Gerloff and the newly-official Kawasaki WorldSBK Team tested their Ninja ZX-10RR for the first time at Portimao, between 28-29 January, after three previous winter tests at Jerez.

The 4.592km-long Portimao circuit was the final test venue in Europe before all involved in the new-look WorldSBK squad head to Australia for the first round of the new season in late February.

Damp patches and winds on day one were not helpful to Gerloff or anyone else at a test that featured almost all of his 2025 WorldSBK rivals, plus some WorldSSP riders.

For the second track outing in succession a change of weather for the final day of action prevented Gerloff from setting laps on 29 January. He and his team had already gathered some vital information during the first day at Portimao, which saw Garrett end up sixth fastest overall. The American rider’s best day one lap time was 1’41.164, which placed him just over half a second from the fastest rider.

On day one, Jeremy Alcoba was also able to exploit the dry track and complete testing around the undulating Portuguese track, as he continues to develop the new ZX-6R. The Jerez test and subsequent session at Portimao have highlighted the significant potential of the bike and rider, and this bodes well as they both prepare to make their debut during the first championship round in Australia.  

With the European element of pre-season testing now complete the next track outing for Gerloff and the Kawasaki WorldSBK Team will be at Phillip Island in Australia, during the official DWO pre-season tests on 17 and 18 February. A few days later the 2025 FIM Superbike World Championship will kick-off, at the same venue, between 21-23 February.

Manuel Puccetti – Team Principal

“Even though we were only able to ride for two days between Jerez and Portimao, we are very happy with how our tests went. Gerloff was able to ride many laps and was always very fast, confirming the validity of the work done by our technicians who found excellent set-ups for our Ninja ZX-10RR. We are ready for the Phillip Island tests and the first round in Australia – but not before having presented our team in Reggio Emilia and then in Japan.” 

Garrett Gerloff

“It was a positive test at Portimao. Although the conditions were not perfect we still had a good test and we were able to confirm some things, which is nice. I think, in general, we have a good base to take to Australia and I hope we can have a positive test there before race weekend. I am really happy with the bike, the team and I cannot wait to keep going in Australia.”

Jeremy Alcoba

“The Portimao test was conditioned by the weather, and we couldn’t complete all the work we had planned. But I was able to build confidence with my bike, which clearly has great potential. The engine is at a good point, while we need to continue working on the chassis. I’m really pleased with the work the team’s doing and I’m excited to meet with the media and sponsors in Reggio Emilia and, above all, to make my WorldSSP debut at Phillip Island”.

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