Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) posted a first session lap time under the existing race lap record and then improved it again in the afternoon to lead the field in the first contact with the Chang International Circuit this season.
His best lap was eventually a 1’33.573, compared to the race lap record of 1’33.817.
Given the rise in track and air temperatures in the afternoon session, Rea did not improve his morning session time until right at the end, but most top runners also eventually went marginally faster than their morning times.
2016 season Thai race winner Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) looked like he was about to pull one of his super-special laps out of the hat but he finally finished second, 0.210 from his team-mat Rea.
After the first look at the 4.554km long track in his career Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was third fastest, with Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) close behind
Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) made a positive start at a circuit he has podiumed at in the past, when riding for different manufacturers, going fifth overall today.
Xavi Fores (Barni Racing Ducati) took his privateer Ducati sixth and Jordi Torres (Althea BMW Racing Team) was seventh.
Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) slotted in eighth and the second BMW rider in the field, Markus Reiterberger (Althea BMW Racing Team) went ninth fastest.
Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia) eventually made it into the top ten, one place ahead of his team-mate Lorenzo Savadori (Milwaukee Aprilia) after a tough morning session.
The first of the new Fireblade riders was Stefan Bradl (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team), 12th with his team-mate Nicky Hayden (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team) 13th. Hayden was 1.376 seconds from the fastest after one day.
Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) made it up to 14th after setting no laps in the morning session, thanks to a technical issue.
Randy Krummenacher (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was 15th.
ENDS
