Superbike: Melandri ahead of everyone in Free Practice 1

Under a beautiful sun and decidedly summer temperatures, the Jerez de la Frontera round began, the third to last event of the season, with the first timed practice session valid for access to tomorrow's Superpole.

The holidays were good for Marco Melandri who, in the second part of the session, set the fastest time against Tom Sykes and didn't let go until the end, leading the standings leader by around 50 hundredths and Chaz Davies by a tenth and a half.

Excellent performance for Toni Elias, confirming the great feeling he feels on this track, who sets the fourth time, keeping pace with the first three, and manages to keep Ninja Loris Baz and Sylvain Guintoli behind him, who is almost half a second behind. second from his teammate.

Completing the top ten are Davide Giugliano, Eugene Laverty and the two CBR Hondas of Jonathan Rea and Leon Haslam.
First EVO in the standings is Sylvain Barrier's BMW, twelfth behind Alex Lowes, who didn't seem very fit in this first session.
Behind him we find the category leader David Salom, who has recovered from wrist surgery, and Niccolò Canepa.

The drivers will take to the track again at 15pm for the second timed practice session.

Below is the ranking after FP1:

1. Marco Melandri ITA Aprilia Racing RSV41m 42.768s
2. Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R1m 42.813s
3. Chaz Davies GBR Ducati SBK 1199 Panigale R 1m 42.916s
4. Toni Elias ESP Red Devils Roma Aprilia RSV4 1m 43.136s
5. Loris Baz FRA Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R1m 43.171s
6. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Aprilia Racing RSV41m 43.174s
7. Davide Giugliano ITA Ducati SBK 1199 Panigale R 1m 43.192s
8. Eugene Laverty IRL Voltcom Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000 1m 43.399s
9. Jonathan Rea GBR PATA Honda CBR1000RR 1m 43.443s
10. Leon Haslam GBR PATA Honda CBR1000RR 1m 43.644s
11. Alex Lowes GBR Voltcom Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000 1m 43.718s
12. Sylvain Barrier FRA BMW Italia S1000RR1m 44.343s (E)
13. David Salom ESP Kawasaki Racing ZX-10R 1m 44.363s (E)
14. Niccolo Canepa ITA Althea Ducati 1199 Panigale R 1m 44.389s (E)
15. Alessandro Andreozzi ITA Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1m 44.473s (E)
16. Sheridan Morais RSA IRON BRAIN Kawasaki ZX-10R 1m 44.813s (E)
17. Claudio Corti ITA MV Agusta RC F4RR1m 45.240s
18. Jeremy Guarnoni FRA MRS Kawasaki ZX-10R 1m 45.348s (E)
19. Bryan Staring AUS IRON BRAIN Kawasaki ZX-10R 1m 45.518s (E)
20. Geoff May USA Team Hero EBR 1190RX1m 46.625s
21. Imre Toth HUN Team Toth BMW S1000RR1m 46.679s
22. Luca Scassa ITA Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1m 47.525s (E)
23. Gabor Rizmayer HUN Team Toth BMW S1000RR 1m 47.637s (E)
24. Aaron Yates USA Team Hero EBR 1190RX1m 48.676s

Jerez official WSBK lap records
Best lap: Eugene Laverty IRL Aprilia Racing RSV4 1m 40.620s (2013)
Race lap record: Marco Melandri ITA BMW GoldBet S1000RR 1m 41.958s (2013)