From Down Under to the Rollercoaster: MGM Optical Express Racing Takes on Portimão

Following a sensational season opener at Phillip Island, MGM Optical Express Racing and Tarran Mackenzie are ready for the second round of the 2026 WorldSBK season at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, Portugal.

The team arrives in Portimão riding a wave of momentum. Mackenzie’s incredible 4th place in the rain-soaked Race 2 in Australia has placed the team 7th in the overall championship standings. Now, the focus shifts to the “Rollercoaster”—one of the most physically demanding and technical circuits on the calendar.

The Challenge of Portimão
The Portuguese track is famous for its dramatic elevation changes and blind crests. For Mackenzie and the Ducati V4 R, this round represents a crucial test to confirm the progress made during the winter and the first round.

Tarran Mackenzie #95:

“I’m really looking forward to Portimão. Australia was a dream start, especially with that result in the wet, but now we need to prove our pace in all conditions. The Algarve circuit is like no other—it’s fast, bumpy, and requires a lot of confidence in the front end. Our goal is to find that ‘step forward’ in the dry that we discussed after Phillip Island. The team is working hard, and I feel ready to fight for the top 10 again.”

Source: MGM Optical Express Racing / WorldSBK.com