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Donington WSBK: Sykes quickest in opening session

Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes was the quickest rider in the opening timed World Superbike free practice session at Donington Park, and out-paced both Aruba.it Ducati’s Davide Giugliano and Jonathan Rea.

Sykes’ 1’28.554 was nearly one second off his lap record at the track, but he went two tenths quicker than the Panigale of the Italian and his team-mate, Rea. The Northern Ireland based racer set a 1’28.793 lap on the Derby track.

At first it was Sykes that led the charge with a 1’28.991, followed closely by fellow title challengers Rea and Davies. Then the Welshman lapped a 1’28.987 to go P1 on the 39 minute mark.

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But Davies’ Italian team-mate soared to the top of the sheets with a 1’28.971, but that only lasted a few seconds as Sykes went 0.4s quicker. Giugliano did improve on his best lap with a 1’28.763, but he was still 0.2s slower than Sykes, who’s 1’28.554 meant that he was the fastest rider this morning, with Davies slipping to fourth on the timing-screens.

Pata Yamaha’s Alex Lowes broke his collarbone during the last round at Sepang and had an operation last Wednesday to plate it. He passed the medical assessment and rode through the pain to end FP1 in a very respectable fifth. He even managed nineteen laps and was just one tenth shy of a time within the 1’28’s.

Fellow countryman, Leon Camier was as high as fourth during the one hour session, and ended the opening timed practice in P6, after a 1’29.221 rotation. Ramos, Hayden, Savadori, and Fores completed the top ten.

Milwaukee BMW’s Josh Brookes was P19 at the flag. Meanwhile MotoAmerica champ, Cameron Beaubier, who is standing in for the injured Sylvain Guintoli finished the session, in seventeenth.

The session was red flagged with thirteen minutes remaining, as Matthieu Lussiana crashed at Craner Curve and made a detour over the grass, but he was unhurt and walked away from the incident.

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