As the riders undertook their first practice session at the Motul Thai Round it was Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) who topped the FP1 timesheet with a 1’33.742s lap of the Chang International Circuit.

The WorldSBK grid took the opportunity got to grips with the hot conditions with an ambient temperature of 30°C giving the riders an idea of what lies ahead this weekend.

With the times improving at the end of the hour long morning practice Rea put in a late best effort to finish the workout 0.11s ahead of second quickest participant Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati). Meanwhile, Melandri’s colleague Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing - Ducati) had led in the final minutes before ultimately ending up third, just two tenths down on Rea.

Xavi Fores (BARNI Racing Team) and Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) were fourth and fifth respectively, both just over half a second off P1.

The top ten was completed by Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team), Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team), Jordi Torres (Althea BMW Racing Team), Markus Reiterberger (Althea BMW Racing Team) and Nicky Hayden (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team).

Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) remained in his pit box throughout the session, the Englishman therefore not registering an FP1 time.

The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship riders will be back on track at 2.30pm local time in Thailand for FP2, with Friday’s top ten on the combined practice timesheets automatically going into Saturday’s Tissot Superpole 2 session.