Bimota’s preparations for its first WorldSBK 💯season in 10 years continues this week in Portimao at the second and final European test of this winter, and Axel Bassani is enthused by the performance of its KB998.

Bassani ended the first day in Portimao seconܫd-fastest on the time sheets, one of only four riders to lap in the 1:40s despite the day beginning in wet conditions.

“It’s been a stranꦇge day because we started in wet conditions,” Bassani told WorldSBK.com.

“We did some lap🐠s to try to🌺 see how the bike was in this circuit. We waited and it started to dry, but the track was quite difficult out of turn four and turn 10 – there was a lot of water.”

Despite the difficult conditions, Bassani was positive overall about the KB998 on i൩ts firs💖t visit to Portimao.

“🦋The feeling with this bike on this track was good,” he said.

“We improved a little bit with the🅰 rear. With Showa, we worked hard. I think we’re going in the correct way and we need to continue witꦆh this.”

Towards the end of the day, SCQ tyres ඣwere mounted and riders attempteღd some late time attacks. Bassani’s was good enough to end second, 0.029 seconds behind Toprak Razgatlioglu.

“We ran all day with the hard compoun🌳d like e🎃veryone, I think,” Bassani said.

“We continued with the race tyre, and, in the end, we put on only one soft tyre to check where wღe are with it.

“We did quite a good lap. I think BMW and Ducati with Toprak [Razgatlioglu] and [Nicolo] Bulega have some ma🐼rgin, but we are there.

“We have to be happy; this is the most important tꦕhing. The team ൲did a good job.”