After qualifying sixth after Superpole took place on Friday 9 August Can and his crew made a set-up change for Race One, taking into account the hot air and track temperatures of the Algarve in August.

Ambient temperatures reached 31°C and track temperatures 44°C, and given the high track temperatures every rider made the same front and rear tyre choices.

Öncü started the race in a strong third position, remaining there until championship leader Adrian Huertas passed him at the infield hairpin. Öncü rode solidly in the second group of riders, none of whom could contain the pace of early leader Yari Montella.

Can was riding in sixth place on lap six, with the third group of riders 1.5 seconds behind him.

The race set-up on his machine would prove to be less than optimal and Can would finally come home in 11th place in what was a physically punishing race.

Having set the fourth fastest lap Öncü will now start Race Two from fourth place, leading the second row of the grid.

Can Öncü, stated: “I started very well and for a few laps I managed to keep up with the leaders. Before the race we decided to try some new solutions on our bike which unfortunately didn’t give the results we hoped for. Tomorrow we will go back to the previous set up. Eleventh place is not the result we hoped to get, but we will use the data collected today to improve in tomorrow’s race. I thank the team for their support.”

Swiss rider Marcel Brenner (Viamo Racing by MTM Kawasaki) was 21st in Race One.

A second and final WorldSSP race remains to be run at Portimao on Sunday 11 August, once more with a 16.30 starting time.

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