Rea Tops Day One At Misano

As the action got underway at a hot and humid Misano circuit in Italy Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) pushed himself to the top of the timesheets with a 1’34.901 lap set early in the afternoon session.

His team-mate Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) was second fastest although he fell at turn 16 late in the afternoon, on his final attempt at a leading lap. Like most top riders, his fastest time was set in the morning session, which he led before Rea moved ahead in the afternoon.

Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was third for Ducati, ahead of his own team-mate Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) despite Davies being on schedule for the fastest time of all after the first split this afternoon.

Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) made progress in the final ten minutes of the session, to finish fifth on his lone MV.

Jordi Torres (Althea BMW Racing Team) won the battle of the privateer Spaniards with sixth place, heading off Xavi Fores (Barni Racing Ducati), in seventh.

Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) secured eighth place in the heat of the Adriatic summer.

Just under a second from Rea, Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia) was ninth, with Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) tenth despite two small offs today.  

Laverty’s position made sure that all six manufacturers were inside the top ten places on day one.

Stefan Bradl (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team) was 17^th for Honda.

By Gordon Ritchie