As the WorldSBK riders commenced their work at the Prosecco DOC Portuguese Round on Friday morning it was the World Champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) who went fastest in FP1. The Northern Irishman’s Kawasaki colleague Tom Sykes was just behind him in second, with Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) performing well in third.

Rea’s 1’43.170 lap around the 4.592km track at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve put him 0.346s clear at the top of the timesheet, ahead of his teammate Sykes. Camier was 0.559s off P1 in third, marginally quicker than fourth best placed rider Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati).

In beautiful clear conditions at Portimao Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team) was 0.825s down on Rea in fifth, making it an all British top five.

Also in the top ten were Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia), Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team), Xavi Fores (BARNI Racing Team), Stefan Bradl (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team) and Lorenzo Savadori (Milwaukee Aprilia).

The second practice session for the WorldSBK riders at the Prosecco DOC Portuguese Round commences at 2.30pm local time on Friday afternoon.