SBK | Prosecco DOC UK Round, Free Practice1: the rain doesn't stop Rea

A decidedly "British" climate for the first free practice session of the sixth round of the World Championship of production-based derivatives: on the legendary Donington Park track, heavy rain and cold temperatures affected the first outings of the drivers, who were able to do very little lap time.

Six laps, however, were enough for Jonathan Rea to print the best time of the morning, 1'44"229, with which he outdistanced his teammate, who boasts 9 victories in the last ten races on this track: the reigning champion, who he was in the pits for the entire session, he has already sent a clear message to his rivals.

The first ranking of the weekend is obviously conditioned by the weather: behind the Kawasakis we find, more than a second, Loris Baz with the BMW of Team Althea, followed by Leon Camier still recovering from the accident in Aragon.
The Honda rider will evaluate with the doctors, during the day of testing, whether his physical conditions are suitable for the effort that this track requires.

Fifth time for Leandro Mercado with the Kawasaki of the Orelac Racing VerdNatura team ahead of the Yamaha tester, and 2017 Enduro World Champion, Niccolò Canepa who remains ahead of the two officials Alex Lowes, eighth, and Michael Van der Mark who has no timed times.

The Ducatis don't shine in the wet: Melandri is seventh, Rinaldi tenth and Davies even thirteenth.
However, tomorrow's race should be dry so the session, or today's sessions if the bad weather persists, risk not being at all indicative of the real values, and gaps, on the track.

Among the wild cards, Leon Haslam is 11th while the highly anticipated Bradley Ray, Suzuki protégé and revelation of the British Superbike, did not turn.

Below are the times recorded during the first free practice session of the Prosecco DOC UK Round, at Donington Park:

1. Jonathan Rea GBR Kawasaki Racing ZX-10RR 1m 44.229s
2. Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki Racing ZX-10RR 1m 44.793s
3. Loris Baz FRA Althea BMW S1000RR 1m 45.236s
4. Leon Camier GBR Red Bull Honda CBR1000RR SP2 1m 46.288s
5. Leandro Mercado ARG Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki ZX-10RR 1m 46.612s
6. Niccolo Canepa ITA PATA Crescent Yamaha R1 1m 46.700s
7. Marco Melandri ITA Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale R 1m 46.768s
8. Alex Lowes GBR PATA Crescent Yamaha R1 1m 47.272s
9. PJ Jacobsen USA TripleM Honda CBR1000RR SP2 1m 47.401s
10. Michael Ruben Rinaldi ITA Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale R 1m 47.501s
11. Leon Haslam GBR Puccetti Kawasaki ZX-10RR 1m 47.575s
12. Jake Gagne USA Red Bull Honda CBR1000RR SP2 1m 47.621s
13. Chaz Davies GBR Aruba.it Racing Ducati Panigale R 1m 47.658s
14. Gino Rea GBR OMG Racing Suzuki GSX-R1000 1m 47.762s
15. Jordi Torres ESP MV Agusta 1000 F4 1m 47.971s
16. Lorenzo Savadori ITA Milwaukee Aprilia RSV4 1m 48.414s
17. Luke Mossey GBR Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10RR 1m 48.461s
18. Xavi Fores ESP Barni Ducati Panigale R 1m 48.800s
19. Eugene Laverty IRE Milwaukee Aprilia RSV4 1m 50.415s
20. Toprak Razgatlioglu TUR Puccetti Kawasaki ZX-10RR 1m 51.999s
21. Roman Ramos ESP Team GoEleven Kawasaki ZX-10RR 1m 52.052s
22. Mason Law GBR Team WD-40 Kawasaki ZX-10RR 1m 59.949s
23. Bradley Ray GBR Buildbase Suzuki GSX-R1000 No time set
24. Ondrej Jezek CZE Guandalini Yamaha YZF-R1 No time set
25. Michael van der Mark NED PATA Yamaha YZF-R1 No time set