Xerox Ducati’s Troy Bayliss took first blood in this morning World Superbike free practice at Donington Park but left it until the last minute to go almost a second faster than Ryuichi Kiyonari.

Ten Kate’s Kiyonari had been swapping fastest laps with Rizla Suzuki’s Tom Sykes and HM Plant Honda man Cal Crutchlow for most of the session. Kiyo was the first man to go under 1’47s, quickly followed by Sykes.

Kiyonari then set a blistering 1’46.555 and promptly fell off, and that time stood until Bayliss went out with handful of minutes left and posted a 1’45.583.

It was a good first session for British riders with Crutchlow posting the third quickest time on a 1’46.463, Tom Sykes half a second behind him and Leon Haslam in fifth.

James Ellison, who is still suffering with a wrist injury, was ninth with Chris Walker rounding out the top 10.

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