Positive Portuguese Round For Chris Clark

Chris Clark’s Portimão weekend ended with the American youngster buoyed by his improved performance in race two, and whilst the overall positions across both races may not be what he expected, his lap times are once again getting closer to the front.

In what was the hottest weekend of the year so far, the annual visit to the ‘rollercoaster’ was a challenging one, with temperatures in the mid to high thirties and the pace quicker than in recent years despite the conditions.

Chris rode well throughout the event and despite not putting together an ideal lap in Superpole showed grit and determination when the lights went out in both races.

Sunday’s second race had the team willing him on from the sidelines as the #27 made some hard but fair moves on his rivals and had it not been for a small mistake that saw him run off track it could well have been his best result of the year.

The next round of the FIM Supersport World Championship takes place in France at the Magny-Cours circuit in three weeks.

Chris Clark:

“I beat my FP1 time from last year on Free Practice this year which was a good way to start the weekend, and I was fourth overall in sector four which gave me confidence that we were starting to put things together. Superpole was a disaster. I just didn’t find a group to latch on to which screwed me, and it left me with a lot to do in the races. Fourteen riders received penalties and so I started eighteenth in race one, but I went backwards at the start, and I was really frustrated. Immediately in Sunday warm-up I was able to make some consistent laps, and, in the race, I made my best start of the season. I was aggressive and made up a ton of places and was having a good battle. I hit a false neutral and then my race was over as I lost the group. I am happy though with how things went. I am making progress, and I cannot thank the team enough for all they are doing and their belief in me. On to another new track for me, Magny-Cours in France. I cannot wait.”