After the opening 45 minute free practice session at a slightly overcast Laguna Seca circuit it was Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) who emerged fastest, with a comfortable gap of 0.236s over the chasing pack.

Starting strongly both Aprilia riders were at the head of the times until Chaz Davies (Ducati Superbike Team) edged between them with just over twenty minutes to go. Marco Melandri (Aprilia Racing Team) responded to ensure and Aprilia 1-2 but with a flurry of fast laps in the final 2 minutes it was reigning champion Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) who finished 2nd ahead of the Italian and the British rider who was nudged back to 4th.

Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) made an impressive Laguna debut in 5th, with Toni Elias (Red Devils Roma Aprilia) 6th and Leon Haslam (Pata Honda World Superbike Team) who strung together a series of personal improving laps 7th.

The Voltcom Crescent Suzuki pairing of Eugene Laverty and Alex Lowes were 8th and 9th, narrowly ahead of the second official Ducati of Davide Giugliano. Giuglianonhad been on course for a potential top 4 before a technical problem sidelined the Italian midway into the session.

Leon Camier returned to the WSBK paddock, this time replacing Claudio Corti on the MV Agusta Reparto Corse machine. The Briton, who has never been to Laguna Seca ended the session 26th overall as the team worked hard to find a solid base setting ahead of FP2.

Team Hero EBR had an encouraging start to their home race weekend with Geoff May and Aaron Yates both comfortably inside the provisional top 20.

After qualifying on the front row of the grid in 2013 for the official Ducati team, Niccolo Canepa (Althea Racing Ducati) was the best classified EVO rider in 12th position overall.

Larry Pegram (Foremost Insurance EBR) and Chris Ulrich (Geico Racing Honda) are both wildcarding this weekend and ended FP1 in 22nd and 23rd respectively.

Unlike a year ago, the weather at the Californian track has been mixed since the World Superbike protaganists arrived, with morning drizzle only clearing around lunchtime to leave brilliant sunshine in the afternoon. This bodes well for FP2 and FP3 which will take place later today before Tissot-Superpole tomorrow.