Superbike: Chaz Davies is the fastest in FP1 at Imola

The fifth round of the Championship began this morning at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola with the first free practice session, in which Chaz Davies set the best time ahead of his teammate, making his debut in the world championship, Davide Giugliano .

The Welsh driver, currently in third place in the drivers' standings, stopped the clock at 1'48.056, obtained on the last attempt before the checkered flag.
Davide Giugliano showed that he is already very competitive despite the two and a half month stoppage: the Roman driver was not long in coming and was only 210 thousandths behind his teammate, ahead of the KRT pair of Tom Sykes and Jonathan Rea .
Fifth place for Leon Haslam, in more difficulty than his direct rivals but recovering at the end.
Sixth, although with a full second behind, is David Salom (Team Perdercini Kawasaki) riding the third official ZX-10R, with Ayrton Badovini, Leon Camier, Sylvain Guintoli and Alex Lowes.
Good return to racing for Nico Terol's replacement in Team Althea, Michel Fabrizio, eleventh, two seconds from the top, while Michael van der Mark finished in twelfth place.
Crashes for Leandro Mercado (Team Barni Racing Ducati) and Christophe Ponsson (Team Pedercini Kawasaki), with the Frenchman undergoing tests at the circuit's medical centre.

Below are the times recorded in the first free practice session:

1. Chaz Davies GBR Aruba.it Racing Ducati 1199R 1m 48.056s
2. Davide Giugliano ITA Aruba.it Racing Ducati 1199R 1m 48.275s
3. Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R1m 48.320s
4. Jonathan Rea GBR Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R 1m 48.479s
5. Leon Haslam GBR Red Devils Roma Aprilia RSV4 1m 48.779s
6. David Salom ESP Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1m 49.081s
7. Ayrton Badovini ITA BMW Italia S1000RR1m 49.696s
8. Leon Camier GBR MV Agusta F4 RR 1m 49.850s
9. Sylvain Guintoli FRA PATA Honda CBR1000RR 1m 49.978s
10. Alex Lowes GBR Voltcom Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000 1m 50.052s
11. Michel Fabrizio ITA Althea Ducati 1199R1m 50.150s
12. Michael van der Mark NED PATA Honda CBR1000RR 1m 50.289s
13. Matteo Baiocco ITA Althea Ducati 1199R1m 50.400s
14. Jordi Torres ESP Red Devils Roma Aprilia RSV4 1m 51.473s
15. Niccolo Canepa ITA Grillini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1m 52.388s
16. Leandro Mercado ARG Barni Ducati 1199R 1m 52.412s
17. Randy de Puniet FRA Voltcom Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000 1m 53.044s
18. Roman Ramos ESP GO Eleven Kawasaki ZX-10R1m 53.340s
19. Santiago Barragan ESP Grillini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1m 53.940s
20. Imre Toth HUN Team Toth BMW S1000RR1m 54.159s
21. Gabor Rizmayer HUN Team Toth BMW S1000RR 1m 56.025s