Sportbike Portimão Race 2: Veneman wins on the line, Kawasaki one-two-three and total spectacle

Sportbike Race 2 at Portimão 2026: Loris Veneman wins ahead of Salvador and Torres. Entire podium for Kawasaki and Bartolini best Italian. Results and full report.

Veneman triumphs at Portimão: Race 2 decided by 94 thousandths

Portimão produced one of the most spectacular races of the opening part of the 2026 Sportbike season. Race 2 ends with a nail-biting finish: Loris Veneman takes victory ahead of David Salvador and Antonio Torres, all covered by just 94 thousandths.

A finish that perfectly sums up the spirit of the new class: total balance, constant battles and unpredictable results right to the chequered flag.

World Sportbike Portimão 2026: Torres wins Race 1, Suzuki on the podium with Fleerackers

Entire podium for Kawasaki: technical dominance at Portimão

The second race of the weekend confirms the trend already seen in Race 1: Kawasaki dominates the scene.

Finish order – Sportbike Race 2 at Portimão:

🥇 Loris Veneman (Kawasaki)

🥈 David Salvador (Kawasaki)

🥉 Antonio Torres (Kawasaki)

The Ninja ZX-6R proves to be the reference bike in the category, capable of combining speed on the straight and great stability in the technical sections of the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve.

Race report: tight battle right to the last corner

After a hard-fought start and several changes at the front, the race is decided in the final laps. The leading group stays close, with constant overtakes and tiny gaps.

On the final lap, Veneman builds his masterpiece:

a decisive attack in the middle sector

perfect defence in the final corners

an impeccable exit onto the final straight

Salvador tries to respond, but it is not enough. Torres completes the podium after having led part of the race.

Bartolini best Italian: fifth with Triumph

Among the Italians, the best is Elia Bartolini, who finishes in fifth position with Triumph. A solid race, even if without the pace needed to join the fight for the podium.

Encouraging signs for the rest of the season.

Standings and protagonists: Veneman launches the world title challenge

After the Portimão round, the new Sportbike category already has three key protagonists:

Loris Veneman – decisive in the crucial moments

David Salvador – consistency and speed

Antonio Torres – always competitive

The fight for the title has only just begun, but the level is already extremely high.

Why this race is already iconic

One of the closest finishes of the season

Three riders within less than a tenth

Absolute Kawasaki dominance

Continuous spectacle from the first to the last lap

Sportbike confirms itself as one of the most exciting categories in modern motorcycle racing.

Next race: eyes on Assen

After such an intense spectacle at Portimão, attention now shifts to Assen, where the championship could already offer new twists.

If these are the signs, the 2026 season promises memorable battles.