Gerloff Returns to the Top Five in Race 2 at Portimão

03-10-2021

Gerloff Returns to the Top Five in Race 2 at Portimão

The GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team enjoyed a return to the top five with Garrett Gerloff in the FIM Superbike World Championship’s final European race at Portimão, with 2021 rookie teammate Kohta Nozane in the points.

In the wet Warm Up, Gerloff was only 12th but come the Superpole Race, the American rider was able to maintain his starting position of eighth until the finish, despite the treacherous conditions.

The 25-year-old, though, gave his best in the afternoon’s main event, after an early mistake which saw him drop to 12th place, he started lapping at the same pace as the leaders, and at the chequered flag he had recovered to fifth position, his first top-five finish since the Donington round.

The Portuguese weekend was a difficult one for Nozane, but on Sunday the Japanese rider managed his best result of the weekend. The 25-year-old managed to recover to 10th in the first laps of the Superpole Race, but he was unable to extract his full potential in the treacherous conditions, eventually falling at Turn 13. Despite the disappointment, he kept focused and managed a 13th-place finish in Race 2, after a fierce battle for the final points-paying positions.

For SPRC results, click here.
For Race 2 results, click here.

Garrett Gerloff - SPRC: P8 / R2: P5

GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team

Race 2 was my best of the weekend, for sure. In the first couple laps I struggled a bit, then I had a massive moment in the last corner and almost high-sided myself into the grandstands, and this forced me back into 12th place. I just want a clean race because I feel good, especially in the final laps. The previous two races weren’t that great but at least I was able to get into the top-five in the final one. I am frustrated because I know I can do better than this, but this is a good starting point to build on. I have never raced at the track in Argentina, so I will watch the races from two years ago to prepare for it. The circuit looks nice and different and I am excited to go there. Now, I will go home and relax a little bit, then we will go to Argentina and try to finish the season strong.

Kohta Nozane - SPRC: DNF / R2: P13

GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team

The Superpole Race was run in difficult conditions. It was my first time on the wet here, the track was very slippery and the wind was very strong, and after five laps I made a mistake and crashed. My apologies go to the team for my error, and I also want to thank them because they fixed my bike perfectly by the start of Race 2. The wind was again very strong, and the long race was difficult, but we made a little step forward and managed a 13th place finish. Next up is Argentina, I can’t wait to be there.