Aprilia’s Marco Melandri was able to edge ahead of his team-mate Sylvain Guintoli in the opening World Superbike free practice session at his home track of Misano this morning, to top the timesheets.
The local lad was the only rider who lapped inside the 1’36’s and his best time of 1’36.938 comfortably put his Aprilia on the provisional front row. It was also a good outing for Ducati’s Chaz Davies, as his 1’37.217 rotation was enough to place him inside the top three.
Initially it was Guintoli who set the pace with a 1’38.161 only for the Kawasaki’s of Sykes and Baz to make an attack, with the reigning champ edging ahead of his French colleague to head the time sheets with 25 minutes remaining with a 1’37.464.
Melandri was looking to impress at his home circuit and did just that, with a 1’37.727 to go second, just one tenths slower than Huddersfield’s finest, smack bang on the 20 minute mark. But with six minutes left of track time available to the riders Melandri ousted Sykes from the top spot as was the first rider to lap inside the 1’36 bracket – with a 1’36.938.
But with less than two minutes remaining, Ducati’s Chaz Davies went up to third, pushing Sykes down to fourth, just as Guintoli went second fastest with a 1’37.123, and the top three remained the same as the chequered flag appeared.
Elsewhere Sykes and Ducati’s Davide Giugliano rounded off the top five, followed by Baz. Voltcom Suzuki’s Alex Lowes used his previous track knowledge from his Superstock 1000 and 600 days to set the seventh quickest time of 1’37.698.
The Derby-based rider went three tenths fastest than the Pata Honda of Jonathan Rea, and his fellow Voltcom team-mate, Eugene Laverty. Pata Honda’s Leon Haslam just missed out on a top ten finish this morning after his best lap of 1’38.326 was only good enough to place him 11th on the timesheets.
Alstare’s Christian Iddon ended the morning in 19th on his Bimota Evo machine. BMW Italia’s Sylvain Barrier returned to the Evo class, after being out of action because of injuries sustained in a road crash, and he finished the session in 18th.
