SBK, Prosecco DOC Portuguese Round, FP3: fear for Tom Sykes

Bad accident for Tom Sykes this morning during the third free practice session at the Autodromo do Algarve in Portimao, scene of the tenth round of the season: during his first lap the Kawasaki rider was thrown out of his Ninja, who suddenly caught fire.

Immediate red flag to allow the commissioners to put out the fire and provide first aid to Sykes who was transported to the medical center for checks: for him "only" a compound fracture in the little finger of his left hand.
However, the doctors did not declare him "fit to race" and for him the weekend therefore ends here, effectively mathematically handing the title to Rea, even if in the face of a similar accident what matters most is the physical health of the driver.

Once the session resumed, the fastest was once again Jonathan Rea, who really seems to be riding on velvet and at this point there is little margin of hope left for his opponents.

Behind him we find Chaz Davies and a Leon Camier who is really on the ball so far with MV Agusta: we'll see if that much sought-after first podium in WorldSbk finally arrives.
Fourth and fifth times for the two Yamahas of Van der Mark and Lowes, followed by the Aprilias of Laverty and Savadori, with Jordi Torres on BMW, Marcado on the RSV4 of the IodaRacing team and Stefan Bradl, completing the top ten.
Comforting results for Honda with the CBR which seems to adapt well to the irregular Portimao track and the strong wind which seems to be the main unknown in the riders' performance.

Below are the times recorded at the end of the third free practice session, which does not influence the Tissot-Superpole:

1. Jonathan Rea GBR Kawasaki Racing ZX-10RR 1m 42.054s
2. Chaz Davies GBR Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale R 1m 42.818s
3. Leon Camier GBR MV Agusta RC F4 RR 1m 43.378s
4. Michael van der Mark NED PATA Yamaha YZF-R1 1m 43.486s
5. Alex Lowes GBR PATA Crescent Yamaha R1 1m 43.627s
6. Eugene Laverty IRE Milwaukee Aprilia RSV4 1m 43.632s
7. Lorenzo Savadori ITA Milwaukee Aprilia RSV4 1m 43.697s
8. Jordi Torres ESP Althea BMW S1000RR 1m 43.754s
9. Leandro Mercado ARG IodaRacing Aprilia RSV4 1m 43.907s
10. Stefan Bradl GER Red Bull Honda CBR1000RR SP2 1m 43.980s
11. Marco Melandri ITA Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale R 1m 44.136s
12. Ayrton Badovini ITA Grillini Kawasaki ZX-10RR 1m 44.400s
13. Xavi Fores ESP Barni Ducati Panigale R 1m 44.451s
14. Raffaele De Rosa ITA Althea BMW S1000RR 1m 44.547s
15. Roman Ramos ESP Team Go Eleven Kawasaki ZX-10RR 1m 44.750s
16. Anthony West AUS Puccetti Kawasaki ZX-10RR 1m 45.165s
17. Riccardo Russo ITA Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10RR 1m 45.359s
18. Ondrej Jezek CZE Grillini Kawasaki ZX-10RR 1m 45.370s
19. Alessandro Andreozzi ITA Guandalini Yamaha YZF-R1 1m 45.534s
20. Takumi Takahashi JPN Red Bull Honda CBR1000RR SP2 1m 45.775s
21. Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki Racing ZX-10RR No time set