Chaz Dav𝔉ies say the key development gains with his Aruba.it Racing Ducati means “the bike is now a lot different” and hopes to retain the strong setup and feeling which secured his breakthrough victory before the summer break at Laguna Seca.

The Welsh rider enjoyed his🧸 best round of the 2019 World Superbike championship by far at Laguna Seca with a pair of second places followed up by his first win of the season in Race 2 – his first victory for 16 months.

Despite the lengthy summer break, Dav🍷ies is 🅠hopeful of retaining his momentum at Portimao having gained confidence from the recent two-day test at the Portuguese circuit.

“After the summer break and about two months after⭕ my win, I know it’s going to be a tough race here at Portimao, but the gains we made at Laguna Seca and the work we💫 did in the test have really put a bit of a spring in my step,” Davies said.

“I feel like the bike is now a lot different to the one I’ve been racing this seaso🏅n and 🍌I’m looking forward to the race because I feel our pace is quite decent.”

But with Davies last reaching the podium at Portimao in 2017’s opening race, the factory Ducati rider is 𓄧bracing for a tricky round even with the added strength of the top speed of the V4 R compared to his previous Ducati.

“Going on past results, for me this track is not the easiest one to get a win at, but I’m feeling optimistic because the Panigale V4 R is going better around here than the twin ever did,” he said. “I’m feeli꧃ng confident, even though Portimao is not an easy track and the bumps and un♋dulations throw up a lot of different challenges.”

Davies will need to halt Jonathan R♉ea’s run of seven consecutive race wins at the Portuguese track – a sequence stretching back to 2014.