Gordon Ritchie | April 29, 2016
Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) put his red V-twin at the top of the first day combined time sheets at Imola, setting a 1:47.014 lap that was exactly a third of a second ahead of the next best qualifier,
Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team).
It was a difficult second session for Sykes who had two technical issues, meaning he just missed a final chance to go faster than his 1:47.347. He still improved his best time from the morning session despite only setting 13 laps this afternoon.
Making smother overall progress in third place, Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) is in a good overnight position at one of his favourite circuits.
The rise of the MV Agusta brand in the World Superbike paddock continued with their lone rider Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) pushing his way to fourth on a dry track surface, albeit having to resort to his morning session lap time after going marginally slower in the afternoon.
A positive push from Markus Reiterberger (Althea BMW Racing Team) put him fifth, one place up on his team-mate Jordi Torres, and making him the top S1000RR runner on show.
Lorenzo Savadori (IodaRacing Team Aprilia) made it into the top seven thanks to his morning best time, with late faller Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) eighth after slipping off entering the final chicane.
Davide Giugliano (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) placed only ninth on his big vee-twin, and was another rider who could not improve in the afternoon practice session.
Tenth place went to privateer Ducati runner Matteo Baiocco (VFT Racing Ducati).
Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) got to 11th place before the action starts again on Saturday, while Spanish privateers Xavi Fores (Barni Racing Team Ducati) and Roman Ramos (Team GOELEVEN Kawasaki) were 12th and 13th respectively.
Top Honda runner was Michael van der Mark in 14th place, Josh Brookes (Milwaukee BMW) was 15th and first time Imola visitor Nicky Hayden (Honda World Superbike Team) as 16th. A total of 24 riders entered the Imola round, and all set a qualifying lap time.