BMW and Honda Superbike test in Estoril: rain and thunderstorms loom

The summer break in the 2026 Superbike World Championship runs until Magny-Cours in early September, and the nearly two-month break from racing is interrupted by only a few test sessions. As the factory riders from Honda and BMW still have several test days left – only ten are permitted per season – the two factory teams are making the most of their free time.

For long-serving GP riders Jake Dixon and Somkiat Chantra (both Honda) as well as Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW), the test on 13 and 14 August at Magny-Cours was particularly useful – Danilo Petrucci (BMW) already knows the Circuit de Nevers very well after three seasons with the Ducati Barni Racing team. Extremely high temperatures made the two days of testing an ordeal.

The weather this week in Portugal is a completely different story, where both factory teams will be out in force on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Circuito do Estoril. The Portuguese track is new to the Honda riders, as MotoGP last visited Estoril in 2012. At 20 degrees Celsius, the weather is pleasant, though intermittent rain marred the first day of testing.

“Another new track for me – it’s brilliant,” said Honda rider Dixon. “Testing here is great fun. The first day got off to a bit of a difficult start as it was wet all morning, but then it cleared up and we were able to work through our packed schedule to test all sorts of things that will help us here and everywhere else.”

On the second day of testing, the Superbike aces were once again greeted by a wet track. According to the weather forecast, there is a risk of rain and thunderstorms throughout Wednesday.