SBK, Pirelli French Round, FP1: Jonathan Rea is immediately fastest

The Pirelli French Round began this morning, at 9am, with the first free practice session on the Never Magny-Cours circuit, a treacherous track where one of the most important unknowns is the weather.

The first "victim" of these pitfalls was Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia), who lost the front and fell at turn 6 after 15 minutes, fortunately without consequences.

Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) started immediately by dictating the pace, stopping the clock at 1'37.849, also improving the record set last year by his teammate Tom Sykes, returning after the injury suffered in FP3 in Portimao.
The English rider received the approval from the doctors, took to the track with a motorbike adapted to the precarious mobility of his left hand, and achieved the tenth fastest time.

Behind a Rea who is already in great shape we find a surprising Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) and Lorenzo Savadori (Milwaukee Aprilia), in great form with the RSV4.

Marco Melandri and Chaz Davies with the Panigale 1199 R Ducati stop in fourth and fifth place: therefore there are four manufacturers in the top positions.

The first top 10 of the Pirelli French Round is completed by Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team), Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team), Xavi Fores (BARNI Racing Team), Jordi Torres (Althea BMW Racing Team) and precisely from Sykes.

The riders will return to the track for the afternoon session at 14.30 pm, which will decide direct access to tomorrow's Tissot-Superpole.

Below is the ranking of the times recorded after FP1 of the Pirelli French Round:

1. Jonathan Rea GBR Kawasaki Racing ZX-10RR 1m 37.849s
2. Leon Camier GBR MV Agusta RC F4 RR 1m 38.032s
3. Lorenzo Savadori ITA Milwaukee Aprilia RSV4 1m 38.235s
4. Marco Melandri ITA Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale R 1m 38.249s
5. Chaz Davies GBR Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale R 1m 38.292s
6. Alex Lowes GBR PATA Crescent Yamaha R1 1m 38.320s
7. Michael van der Mark NED PATA Yamaha YZF-R1 1m 38.548s
8. Xavi Fores ESP Barni Ducati Panigale R 1m 38.663s
9. Jordi Torres ESP Althea BMW S1000RR 1m 38.799s
10. Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki Racing ZX-10RR 1m 38.853s
11. Roman Ramos ESP Team Go Eleven Kawasaki ZX-10RR 1m 39.354s
12. Leandro Mercado ARG IodaRacing Aprilia RSV4 1m 39.573s
13. Anthony West AUS Puccetti Kawasaki ZX-10RR 1m 39.770s
14. Eugene Laverty IRE Milwaukee Aprilia RSV4 1m 39.792s
15. Raffaele De Rosa ITA Althea BMW S1000RR 1m 39.819s
16. Davide Giugliano ITA Red Bull Honda CBR1000RR SP2 1m 40.845s
17. Ayrton Badovini ITA Grillini Kawasaki ZX-10RR 1m 40.350s
18. Alessandro Andreozzi ITA Guandalini Yamaha YZF-R1 1m 40.465s
19. Riccardo Russo ITA Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10RR 1m 40.655s
20. Matthieu Lussiana FRA Team ASPI BMW S1000RR 1m 41.081s
21. Jake Gagne USA Red Bull Honda CBR1000RR SP2 1m 41.341s
22. Ondrej Jezek CZE Grillini Kawasaki ZX-10RR 1m 41.672s