Jonathan Rea was 17th as free practice began at Portimao in Portugal on Friday on his return to the World Superbike Championship.

The record six-time champion is competing this weekend for the Honda HRC team, replacing the injured Jake Dixon in the line-up.

Rea called time on his racing career in 2025 and took part in his last race at Jerez in Spain five months ago at the final round of the championship.

The 39-year-old, who was then riding for Yamaha, missed the last race of the season at Jerez when he was ruled out with a knee injury following a crash in the Superpole race.

placeholder image — Jonathan Rea was 17th in the opening World Superbike free practice session on the factory Honda at Portimao in Portugal on Friday. (Photo credit: HRC)

Race joins new HRC signing Somkiat Chantra in the team this weekend, who is making his World Superbike debut. The former Moto2 Grand Prix rider missed the first round in Australia through injury. Chantra was 19th quickest in FP1.

Briton Sam Lowes topped the early times on the Marc VDS Racing Ducati V4R in a time of 1m 40.287s, which was only four thousandths of a second faster than championship leader Nicolo Bulega on the Aruba.it Ducati.

Alex Lowes was third for the bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team, 0.151s slower than Bulega, with Iker Lecuona fourth on the second of the factory Aruba.it Ducati machines, a further two tenths in arrears.

Former British Superbike champion Tommy Bridewell, in his first race weekend with the Superbike Advocates team on a Ducati, was 13th, 1.028s off Lowes’ benchmark. Fellow Briton Tarran Mackenzie, also an ex-BSB champion, was 15th fastest on the MGM Optical Express Racing Ducati, 1.342s down on Lowes.

Rea recorded his best lap in FP1 in 1m 41.907s, which was 1.620s adrift of pacesetter Lowes.

The Ulsterman is still learning the Honda CBR1000RR-R SP after only managing a limited amount of dry laps in weather-hit winter testing.

The second free practice session on Friday is scheduled for 15:00 GMT.

The top six from FP1 at Portimao:

1. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) 1’40.287s 2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) +0.004s 3. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +0.155s 4. Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) +0.376s 5. Yari Montella (Barni Spark Racing Team) +0.493s 6. Axel Bassani (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +0.502s

17. Jonathan Rea (Honda HRC) +1.620