SBK Portugal 2021: Schedules, favorites and where to watch the races live

The 2021 Superbike World Championship concludes its journey through Europe. The round of Portugal that is going to be held this weekend in Portimao puts an end to the triplet Iberian race courses and will leave everything ready to be resolved in Argentina and Indonesia. The battle is at a critical point.

Toprak Razgatlioglu took advantage of his double in Jerez and now has an income of 20 points regarding Jonathan Rea. The champion knows that in Portimao he has one of his last bullets if he wants to continue in the battle for the championship. If he leaves Portugal without cutting the differences it will be very difficult for him.

Jonathan Rea has won twelve of the last thirteen Superbike races at Portimao

And is that Portimao is the temple of Jonathan Rea. The precise circuit that the six-time champion needed at this time of the season, the one that will clear all doubts about what he is capable of in 2021. Because yes, Razgatlioglu gives the feeling of being stronger, but if he beats him also in Portimao, no there will be more to talk about.

Here is the fact: Jonathan Rea has won all the races he has run in Portimao with Kawasaki except one, in which he finished second. In total we are talking about the champion has won twelve of the last thirteen Superbike races held in Portimao, including one with Honda in 2014. The one he did not win was second.

Against such statistics it is difficult to compete, but if someone is breaking Rea's winning inertia that is Razgatlioglu. Despite the bad luck he has suffered so far, focused on the breakdown of Barcelona and the fall caused by Garrett Gerloff at Assen, he has a 20-point advantage in the general classification.

Also have to see if finally Alex Lowes will be able to play the weekend in Portugal, since he had to lose the second Jerez race due to the physical ailments he suffered. If Kawasaki cannot race, he will have to invent a second rider who will get on the bike and can help Rea.

The number of casualties in the queen category is going to be considerable, since to the possible of Lowes joins the already confirmed Lucas Mahias, Chaz Davies and Tom Sykes. It's what triplets have, that any incident causes an absence of too many runs. And this is going to be another key factor, because the Yamaha and Ducati squires are there.

At Ducati they still have some championship hope but they know they need the fight between Razgatlioglu and Rea to get to the next level. Portimao could be a good track for Scott Redding to rack up points and wait for there to be drama behind him, and watch out for Michael Ruben Rinaldi, who is very fit.

The only race that Rea has not won in Portimao in recent years was taken away by Álvaro Bautista in 2019, which adds to the streak he is going through with his Honda CBR1000RR-R of hopes that he can get another podium finish. Let's remember that he has been two in a row in Barcelona and Jerez. It is time to complete the triplet.

At BMW, Eugene Laverty will be back in the official team as a replacement for the injured Sykes, although the great hope of the Munich brand to get back on a podium is Michael van der Mark. By the way, that in Supersport 300 a Spaniard, Adrián Huertas, has many options to be champion.

The schedules vary due to the difference with Portugal and thus do not coincide with MotoGP

Going to the way to follow the races, DAZN continues to be the holder of the broadcasting rights of the World Superbike Championship. But there are other alternatives. Starting with Movistar +, which broadcasts all DAZN content. Eurosport will always broadcast the races live on its online platform, although it will sometimes be delayed on analogue channels.

RTVE also owns part of the rights, but they will only broadcast some live sessions. LaLigaSporstsTV, TV3 and the Superbikes videopass are other options to follow the races online. The schedules vary due to the time difference with Portugal and thus do not coincide with MotoGP. A mild weather is expected all weekend.

Schedules SBK Portugal 2021

Friday 1st

• FP1 SBK: 11:30 (DAZN)
• FP2 SBK: 16:00 (DAZN)

Saturday 2nd

• FP3 SBK: 10:00 (DAZN)
• Superpole SBK: 12:10 (DAZN)
• SSP300 first race: 13:45 (DAZN, Esport 3, Teledeporte)
• First SBK race: 15:00 (DAZN, Esport 3, Teledeporte)
• First SSP race: 16:15 (DAZN, Esport 3, Teledeporte)

Sunday 3

• WUP SBK: 10:00 (DAZN)
• Superpole Race SBK: 12:00 (DAZN, Esport 3, Eurosport, Teledeporte)
• Second SSP race: 13:30 (DAZN, Esport 3, Eurosport, Teledeporte)
• Second SBK race: 15:00 (DAZN, Esport 3, Eurosport, Teledeporte)
• Second race SSP300: 16:15 (DAZN, Esport 3, Eurosport, Teledeporte)