GoldBet BMW’s Chaz Davies was not fazed by the wet and windy conditions in the first World Superbike free practice session at Donington Park this afternoon. The Welshman was one of the first riders out on the circuit, and after only his second lap climbed to the top of the time sheets. Davies completed four laps in total and finished the session with a time of 1’53.943.

The BMW rider had done enough and retreated to the warmth of his garage with 30 minutes of the session remaining, as no other racer could go faster than the Brit. Ducati Alstare wild-card rider Niccolo Canepa completed more laps than any other rider out on the track, a total of six, but it was not enough to go faster than Davies and the Italian had to settle for second, with a time of 1’56.058, three second behind the Powys based Davies.

Only a handful of riders ventured out of their garages, with five making it onto the time-sheets. MR-Racing’s Max Neukirchner only went around the Donington circuit twice, but it was enough to place him third quickest with a time of 1’56.205. Grillini Dentalmatic’s Vittorio Iannuzzo appeared unaffected by the rain and finished fourth fastest, followed by Ducati Alstare’s Carlos Checa, who returned to the series after missing the races in the last round in Monza after sustaining a shoulder injury. The Italian finished in fifth with a time of 2’02.395.

Davies was not the only Brit who managed to make it out on track, Fixi Crescent Suzuki’s Leon Camier did come out of his garage with less than five minutes remaining, but only went around the English track once, and didn't record a time. But none of the other British riders competing in the World Superbike championship went out in the first free practice session. There was only one incident out on track, when Althea Racing’s Davide Giugliano crashed at the Melbourne Hairpin, but was unhurt.

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