In scorching weather conditions Marco Melandri (Aprilia Racing Team) posted the fastest time in the opening Free Practice session ahead of Sunday’s 8th round of the Superbike World Championship at Portimao in Portugal.

Behind Melandri there was as ever a flurry of riders exchanging positions but at the flag it was Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team), Eugene Laverty (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki), Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki), Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team) and Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) that completed the top six.

Leon Haslam (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) finished ahead of his team mate Jonathan Rea, with Chaz Davies (Ducati Superbike Team) and best classified EVO rider Sylvain Barrier completing the current top ten riders that would make it through to Superpole 2, if things remain the same.

One notable absentee from the current top ten was Italian Davide Giugliano (Ducati Superbike Team) who was plagued with an electrical issue this morning, only managing 19th on the timing sheet.

Gabor Rizmayer made his BMW Team Toth debut replacing the injured Imre Toth. The Hungarian ended the session 24th overall.

Bryan Staring suffered a technical problem with his Iron Brain Grillini Kawasaki, the Australian hopeful of making it back on track for FP2 which takes place later today at 1530 local time.

The challenging circuit is a favourite amongst the riders and at the end of the first 45 minute session, 9 riders were covered by a second. The times are however expected to tumble in FP2 with the morning best lap currently 2.5 seconds slower than the circuit best lap set last year by reigning champion Tom Sykes.