Early season phenomenon Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) started his home round at Motorland Aragon from the top spot on the timesheets, leading both FP1 and FP2 sessions.

He ended up 0.519 seconds ahead of second placed rider Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha WorldSBK Team) and 0.542 seconds up on reigning champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team).

Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was fourth, in a final afternoon session that suffered from some small drops of rain at times.

Eugene Laverty (Team GoEleven Ducati) was fifth and one place ahead of precocious Superbike rookie Sandro Cortese (GRT Yamaha), who was over a second behind the best time on day one at this long circuit with a fast back straight.

The seventh rider home was Leon Haslam (Kawasaki Racing Team), with the improving Markus Reiterberger (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) eighth.

A frustrating day for Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) saw him ninth, and the only top rider not to improve on his morning lap when it came to FP2. Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Barni Racing Team Ducati) completed the top ten. Superpole and race one will take place on Saturday the 6th of April.

By Gordon Ritchie

Photos GnG