Rea fastest under lights on opening night

New World Champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) set the fastest practice time of the first night of track action at a floodlit Losail in Qatar, overhauling the first session fastest rider Jordi Torres (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils).

The two riders battling for an eventual second place overall finish, Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) and Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati WSB) were third and fourth respectively, building their rivalry early in the final race weekend of the year.

Strong 2015 season rookie rider Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda WSB) was a fighting fifth and Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) fifth.

Stand-in rider for the official Ducati squad, Xavi Fores (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati WSB), was a heavy first session faller earlier today but ended up seventh.

In a pleasant surprise on day one for Randy De Puniet (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) the French rider was eighth, one place ahead of his team-mate Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki). Niccolo Canepa (Althea Racing Ducati) rounded out the top ten places in a field of 22 riders in Qatar. Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda WSB) ran into problems in each session, cutting short his track time to 12 laps as he went 14^{th overall}. Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) was one place behind in 15^th place.