Image: Supplied.

Australia’s Remy Gardner continued to progress closer to the front at Portimao, the Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK) rookie ultimately posting the seventh fastest time after two days in Portugal.

Both Gardner and teammate Dominique Aegerter tried many things to improve their feelings on the R1, with a time attack in the closing stages of day two seeing the number 87 notch a 1m40.202s.

The GYTR GRT newcomer completed 176s laps of the undulating 4.592km circuit in total and was 1.167s from pace-setter Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.It Racing Ducati) at the conclusion of the test, also less than eight-tenths from top Yamaha Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha with Brixx).

“Two more days of testing, that was good,” said Gardner. “We improved even though we just struggled a little bit to find the correct way on day two, but at the end we managed to improve the time. We got more experience before Phillip Island, I’m looking forward to that test to be ready for the beginning of the season.”

Gardner will have the opportunity to test once more at Phillip Island before the 2023 Superbike World Championship commences at the iconic venue on 24-26 February.