The 2019 FIM World Supersport 300 Championship launched back into action at the Portuguese Round, September 6-8 after a two-month summer hiatus.
Phillip Island Circuit backed Tom Bramich (Carl Cox-RT Motorsports by SKM-Kawasaki) was eager to build on his previous success at Donington where he achieved a season-best top 10 finish prior to the break.
With more than 50 riders on the 2019 WorldSSP300 grid, practice and qualifying sessions are split into Group A and Group B, with the top 30 from the two groups qualifying for Sunday’s race. For all riders who qualify outside of the top 30, they are granted one final opportunity to line up on the grid with a ‘last chance’ race on Saturday afternoon, and the top six over the line will compete in Sunday’s main race.
Bramich, in Group B, started the weekend adapting to the hot conditions of the Portugal circuit.
“We tried a few different gearings and different settings during Friday’s practice sessions, focusing on the balance of the bike. The track temperature in the second session was 46°C, a good indication of what the track conditions would be for the qualifying”
Said Bramich.
The Australian rider ran into trouble in Saturday’s FP3 competing with a busy track and making too many mistakes. The congestion continued into qualifying where Bramich finished 25th overall, bypassing the last-chance race.
“Qualifying was one of the tightest fields for the year, with only 0.3 seconds separating 12th to 27th”
Said Bramich.
Sunday’s race didn’t go to plan for the 22-year-old, as a bad start put him on the back-foot as he struggled to make any headway through the pack. Despite fighting for positions, Bramich finished in 28th position.
“I’m disappointed with my race, but it’s another experience and we have to take away the positives. It’s only three weeks until Magny-Cours and I cannot wait to make amends”
Said Bramich
View the full WorldSSP300 race report here www.worldsbk.com.au
The WorldSSP300 Championship continues onto Magny-Cours for the French Round, September 27-29.
