After his double victory at Phillip Island last month, Carlos Checa is still on the roll.
The Althea Ducati rider lead the first practice session at Donington Park posting a best lap time of 1’29″978 and so far the only rider to break the 1.
30 mark at the renewed circuit, however the others were not so far off pace, with eleven riders within a second of from Checa’s lap Second spot went to rejuvenated and very competitive Marco Melandri just 0.
156s from the Spaniard, while Jonathan Rea picked up third.
Fourth went to BMW’s Leon Haslam followed by a suprisingly fast Joan Lascorz on the Kawasaki, Suzuki’s Michel Fabrizio and reigning champion Max Biaggi, who is always slower on the first day out.
Ayrton Badovini as the sole rider for privateer team BMW (James Toseland is out after breaking his wrist last weekend in testing) finished the first session in eighth have lead briefly the top of the timesheets.
Closing out the top ten were Tom Sykes and Jakub Smrz.
Pedercini’s Mark Aitchison had a crash while Noriyuki Haga suffered a technical problem.
The Donington round also sees the return of Chris Vermeulen after his long recovery period who took the 19th spot.
WSBK Donington FP1 results:1.
Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) Ducati 1098R 1′29.
9782.
Marco Melandri (Yamaha World Superbike Team) Yamaha YZF R1 1′30.
1343.
Jonathan Rea (Castrol Honda) Honda CBR1000RR 1′30.
1844.
Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) BMW S1000 RR 1′30.
5665.
Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1′30.
6876.
Michel Fabrizio (Team Suzuki Alstare) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1′30.
7897.
Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1′30.
7978.
Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia SBK Team) BMW S1000 RR 1′30.
8279.
Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team Superbike) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1′30.
84210.
Jakub Smrz (Team Effenbert-Liberty Racing) Ducati 1098R 1′30.
86811.
Troy Corser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) BMW S1000 RR 1′30.
97012.
Eugene Laverty (Yamaha World Superbike Team) Yamaha YZF R1 1′30.
98513.
Leon Camier (Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1′31.
02214.
Ruben Xaus (Castrol Honda) Honda CBR1000RR 1′31.
11215.
Maxime Berger (Supersonic Racing Team) Ducati 1098R 1′31.
33716.
Noriyuki Haga (PATA Racing Team Aprilia) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1′31.
38717.
Sylvain Guintoli (Team Effenbert-Liberty Racing) Ducati 1098R 1′31.
78218.
Roberto Rolfo (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1′32.
15919.
Chris Vermeulen (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1′32.
67020.
Mark Aitchison (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1′33.
295