The first 2016 FIM Supersport World Championship session at Phillip Island saw the reigning champion Kenan Sofuoglu the quickest rider, on a 1’33.664 after the first hour on track.
Despite a residual heavy limp from his 2015 left leg injury Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) was second, albeit 0.213 seconds from Sofuoglu.
Randy Krummenacher (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was third in his first ever WSS session, with another official MV triple, from Lorenzo Zanetti, in fourth place.
Young Briton Kyle Ryde (Ranieri Med-SC Racing), who blew the WSS class open at Donington last year as a wildcard, was fifth on his Yamaha.
Privateer MV Agusta rider Alex Baldolini placed sixth and the first CBR600RR home belonged to PJ Jacobsen, in seventh place on his Honda World Supersport team machine.
Kevin Wahr, Kyle Smith and Nico Terol completed the first session top ten, with Anthony West (Tribeca Racing Yamaha) 11th, despite his bodywork starting to fall off at one stage during the session.
One more practice session remains on day one.