The Bimota BSB staff accomplished the primary day of testing forward of the primary race of the 2026 season throughout the WorldSBK check in Portimao.
Bimota was on observe on the Portuguese circuit with riders Max Cook dinner and Joe Talbot for the 2026 season. They weren’t the one BSB riders, Kyle Ryde additionally rode.
The primary day was the primary alternative for each riders to expertise the BSB-spec Bimota KB998. The bike made its World Superbike debut final season and can make its BSB debut this 12 months with Nigel Snook’s FS-3 staff, which beforehand competed within the championship as an official Kawasaki staff.
The primary day of the Portimao check was hit by rain within the afternoon, which at this level appeared necessary for the World SBK check, however each riders have been in a position to get on observe for his or her first expertise with the brand new bikes, which actually left an impression on Cook dinner.
“Simply completed my first day right here in Portimao. Simply completed my first day with the brand new Bimota,” Cook dinner mentioned in a video posted in a while the AJN Steelstock Bimota Crew Instagram web page.
“Truthfully, it was a reasonably good day. The bike felt precisely like a race bike. This can be a correct weapon.”
“As quickly as I got here out of the pit lane, I had a smile on my face and thought, ‘This bike is unbelievable.’
“All the things works very effectively, it corners very effectively, it’s very steady underneath brakes and it’s very quick.
“It is utterly completely different to what I am used to. We’ve got one other open pit lane day scheduled tomorrow, and the climate appears to be like fairly good, so I am actually excited to enhance and check the bounds.”
Joe Talbot spoke in one other video posted Tuesday morning, explaining that the primary few days on the bike are about adjusting.
“What an incredible expertise. I liked each minute of it,” he mentioned.
“I did not do as many laps as I might have preferred as a result of climate, however hopefully (Tuesday) I can do extra laps and be taught and simply get used to the bike and be capable of generate knowledge each lap.”
“So I actually loved the Mega Expertise and I can’t wait to check it extra and trip the bike extra to get extra acquainted with all the things.”
“So I want to thank all of the staff for permitting me to work in Portimao and I can’t wait to be at Donington Park in April.”
