On a strange day for the World Superbike class to get through, the three (not two) practice sessions that the riders took part in were headed by Kawasaki Racing Team’s Tom Sykes with his 1:28.172 lap holding off Davide Giugliano on the Aruba.it Racing Ducati by .111 of a second.
Giugliano was to crash late in the third session, unhurt but at speed under braking into the first corner.
Third in the combined times was Jonathan Rea, .3 of second from his teammate Sykes.
Local man Leon Haslam on the Aprilia Racing Red Devils machine overcame the pain of three broken ribs to score the fourth fastest time at the circuit his father Ron holds his race schools at. Chaz Davies placed fifth, close behind the leaders on his official Ducati. Understandably the local riders were to the fore, with Voltcom Crescent Suzuki’s Alex Lowes making it five of the six top riders holding British citizenship.
Ayrton Badovini continued his strong form for BMW Motorrad Italia with seventh best time, as double Assen podium finisher Michael van der Mark on the Pata Honda slipped into eighth place.
Leon Camier, the first placed rider after a remarkable first session at Donington, was ninth overall on his MV Agusta Reparto Corse F4. Completing the top 10 to make it into tomorrow’s Superpole 2 session was privateer Ducati rider Matteo Baiocco (Althea Racing Ducati).
2015 Donington World Superbike Day One Results:
1. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki) 1:28.172
2. Davide Giugliano (Ducati) 1:28.283
3. Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki) 1:28.483
4. Leon Haslam (Aprilia) 1:28.516
5. Chaz Davies (Ducati) 1:28.542
6. Alex Lowes (Suzuki) 1:28.572
7. Ayrton Badovini (BMW) 1:28.582
8. Michael van der Mark (Honda) 1:28.748
9. Leon Camier (MV Agusta) 1:28.756
10. Matteo Baiocco (Ducati) 1:28.787
