Biaggi leads day one in wildcard return

Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing) continued his strong early form in his comeback wildcard weekend by blitzing to the fastest lap on day one, a 1’35.380, with Davide Giugliano (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati WSB) falling late in the halted and restarted session in his aim to lead the times.

He was second overall, with his team-mate Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati WSB) third and Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) fourth, and another late faller.

Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) and his team-mate Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) were fifth and sixth, Jordi Torres (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) seventh and impressive privateer Leandro Mercado (Barni Racing Team Ducati) eighth.

Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) and yet another privateer Ducati rider, Matteo Baiocco (Althea Racing Ducati), completed the top ten, 0.710 seconds from Biaggi.

A crash from Christophe Ponsson (Kawasaki Team Pedercini) brought out the red flags, and he was taken to medical, with his condition to ride being reviewed before he will be allowed to take to the track again on Saturday.