WSB: Davies tops first day at Phillip Island

After the first two hours of track action in the opening round of the FIM Superbike World Championship at Phillip Island Chaz Davies remained ahead of the pack thanks to his morning session lap time of 1’30.189.

Second quickest, on a day when the track best was so nearly matched before any qualifying tyres had been thought of, was Jonathan Rea. Seven riders went under the existing lap record on day one.

As well as the factory riders, Panigale privateer man Xavi Fores was third quickest, one up on the official Kawasaki of Tom Sykes.

Marco Melandri was the first rider in the lists to have improved his morning time, albeit still fifth, ahead of fellow lap time improvers in the afternoon Alex Lowes  and Lorenzo Savadori.

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On the new Honda Nicky Hayden posted a morning time that was good enough for eighth in the rankings. The final two guaranteed places in Superpole 2 on Saturday went to Jordi Torres and Markus Reiterberger.

Eugene Laverty was 11^th, Michael van der Mark  12^th and the luckless Leon Camier 13^th, after a technical problem in the morning session.

Series rookie Randy Krummenacher was 14^th from the 21 riders on show. Wildcard Josh Brookes placed 18^th.

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