WSB: Sykes on top as Rea ninth on opening day in Jerez

Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) pushed his way to the fastest time of the first day of action at the Jerez round of the WorldSBK championship, with a lap time of 1’41.739.

Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) placed second fastest, just 0.038 seconds from Sykes, with Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) third quickest thanks to a late charge in the eventually warm and sunny conditions.

The Honda of Michael van der Mark secured fourth strongest time in pre-Superpole qualifying. Privateer Xavi Fores (Barni Racing Team Ducati) was fastest of all in FP1 and ended up fifth overall. The now recovered Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Yamaha) was sixth.

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Nicky Hayden (Honda World Superbike Team) scored the seventh best time on his return to a track he has tested at before, while double crasher Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) still ended up eighth fastest.

Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) was only ninth, having been seventh in the morning session.

Davide Giugliano completed the top ten on his official Aruba.it Racing Ducati. The first rider out of the automatic Superpole places was Jordi Torres (Althea BMW Racing Team) 11^th, with the Ioda Racing APrilia of Lorenzo Savadori also now having to ride in Superpole 1 to get a chance to enter Superpole 2 on Saturday.

Anthony West (Pedercini racing Kawasaki) was 14^th and Josh Brookes (Milwaukee BMW) 16^th.