SBK | Portimao test, day 1: Marco Melandri stands out

Marco Melandri already wants to be regretted by the Ducati Team: on the day of the official hiring of Alvaro Bautista, and the confirmation of Chaz Davies, he set the best time on the first day of testing in Portimao.

On a day in the middle of the Portuguese summer (35°C air, over 50°C asphalt) the rider from Ravenna lapped in 1'42"324, ahead of the Spaniard Xavi Fores and Jonathan Rea, the latter by a good half a second.
The reigning champion is the only Kawasaki rider on the track given the absence of Tom Sykes, who was sidelined by an injury in training which left him with a serious injury to his right ankle, which also puts his presence at the round on 15-16 September in doubt.

Followed by the Honda of Leon Camier, who had already carried out two days of private testing on this track, and the Yamahas of Alex Lowes and Michael van der Mark.

Chaz Davies is seventh, ahead of the Aprilias of Lorenzo Savadori and Eugene Laverty, with Torres finishing in the top ten.

Also riding today were Razgatlioglu on Kawasaki, eleventh ahead of Jake Gagne, in his last outings with the Honda team, Michael Rinaldi with Team Junior Aruba, Roman Ramos, Tati Mercado and Jhonny Hernandez.

Tomorrow we return to the track for the second and final day of testing before planning for the Round.