Althea Ducati World Superbike rookie Davide Guigliano set the opening free practice pace at the Nurburgring this morning, staving off a late challenge from former champion Max Biaggi and series leader Marco Melandri.
The Italian was a little over a second off the lap record with his 1'56.395, himself a tenth faster than Aprilia's Biaggi while Melandri, on the factory BMW, was less than a tenth slower that his compatriot on a 1'56.601.
Honda's Jonathan Rea also put in a late charge to take fourth fastest and is clearly not having to take any time to re-acquaint himself with Pirelli rubber after spending two days on MotoGP Bridgestones at Motorland Aragon.
The Irishman is only three-tenths slower than Guigliano and has Kawasaki's Tom Sykes right behind him. Sylvain Guintoli is in sixth place with reigning champion Carlos Checa seventh and Leon Camier, who is carrying a hip injury, in eighth.
Leon Haslam is a second off the pace in ninth and Eugene Laverty picked himself up from a turn 16 crash to go tenth quickest. Chaz Davies is in 12th behind Michel Fabrizio while John Hopkins is down in 18th place.
