Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) conquered the first day of Portimao free practice despite the bumpy track and windy conditions that faced the WorldSBK riders in Portugal today.
Rea had been fastest in the morning session and went even quicker in the afternoon with a 1’42.621, ending up over half a second quicker than the next best rider.
Jonathan Rea, Portuguese WSBK 2017
Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was second quickest and his team-mate Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) third.
Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) continued his forward momentum with the fourth best time, heading off the might of Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team), who was one of the few riders to not improve on their morning times this afternoon.
Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia) was sixth, and best Aprilia rider, with Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) the top Yamaha runner is seventh place.
Eighth quickest rider proved to be Italy’s Lorenzo Savadori (Milwaukee Aprilia) and the ninth Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team). Stefan Bradl (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team) completed the top ten riders who will automatically enter Superpole 2 on Saturday.
Davies, Portuguese WSBK 2017