Xavi Vierge claimed Honda’s first top-10 finish of the 2025 WorldSBK season in Race 1 at Portimao, a circuit which he acknowledges is “a specia🐎l track”.

The Spanish rider was Honda’s only full-time rider present at the 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:World Superbike season opener in Australia back in February, and could only manage a trio of 11th-place finiᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚshes at Phillip Isl𒆙and.

The ret♐urn to E๊urope, then, has been positive for Vierge, who was expecting to begin the 2025 season as he ended 2024: fighting for the top-five positions.

“Last season from mid-season to the end we were quite conꦜsistent in these positions and we were expecting to start this year like that,” Vierge told WorldSBK.com after finishing fifth in Race 1 at this weekend’s Portuguese Round.

“But in Australia it was a little bi🔜t spec🐎ial – as always.

“So, now we come back to Europe, it’s true that Portimao is a special track where the rider can make a little bit more the difference, but I hope that we can continue like 🌼this; the team is working so hard and in the right direction.

“Of course, we want more, we are improving but not as fast as we need. But I think the way we are following is the correct one and I hope we can continue making these steps to keep clos൲ing the gap with the fast guys.”

Vierge added that the pre-event test in Portimao two weeks ag꧒o was important for Honda to rediscover the right direct♓ion after the difficult race in Australia.

“Luckily💖, after Au🦄stralia we had a test here in Portimao, and again we feel quite strong,” he said.

“We worked so much on the electronics side to try to minimise our weakest points. Finally we can make a solid race, the first thing I think was the qualifying, make a great qualifying – it helps a lot to make a go𒉰od race. So, happy with this Saturday.”