In what could be a decisive session, former World Champion Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) moved to the top of the WorldSBK timesheets after another close FP2 at Donington Park that saw the fastest FP1 time of 1.29.314s set by Leon Camier (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) bettered by almost a second as the top 20 riders all improved their times.

The session saw 7 manufacturers inside the top ten as the WorldSBK riders closed in on the lap record time of 1.28.074s that was set by Sykes in 2013 with the top ten decided in the closing seconds.

Behind Sykes, last year’s Pole Setter Davide Giugliano (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati SBK Team) and Jonathan Rea on the second KRT machine rounded out the top three ahead of Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia) who proved that his FP1 pace was no fluke.

Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati SBK Team) dropped to 5th overall ahead of Leon Camier who continued his solid start to the weekend in 6th. The Andorran resident finished just ahead of the ever improving Alex Lowes (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) who put himself into contention in 7th before the podium finisher from 12 months ago slid from his machine unhurt with 5 minutes of the session to go.

Matteo Baiocco (Althea Racing) was a big improver from this morning, elevating himself into 8th ahead of Dutchman Michael van der Mark who left it until his final lap to put his Pata Honda into 9th. Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) finished 10th.

Currently 11th, and hoping to improve by 2 tenths of a second that would see him into Superpole 1 tomorrow (as it stands) is reigning champion Sylvain Guintoli (Pata Honda World Superbike). The French rider is marginally ahead of David Salom who currently lies 12th in the combined standings.

The third and final Free Practice session that will decide who gets to fight for the Pole Position tomorrow takes place at 1630 local time. Following this session the top 10 on combined times will automatically proceed to Superpole 2. They will be joined by the riders placed 1st and 2nd in Superpole 2 which will see the riders placed 11th to 20th after FP3 taking part.