Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) set the fastest time of this morning’s opening Free Practice session at a warm and sunny Portimao circuit, ending 0.704s ahead of his closest rival Davide Giugliano (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati SBK Team). Alex Lowes jumped to 3^rd on the Voltcom Crescent Suzuki with his final lap to make it 3 manufacturers inside the top 3.

In what was a relatively uneventful session, Chaz Davies on the second factory Ducati was 4^th with Donington Park double winner Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) 5^th.

Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia) impressed once again to take 6^th ahead of reigning World Champion Sylvain Guintoli who looked much more comfortable than in recent races on his Pata Honda.

Jordi Torres (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) is making his WorldSBK race debut at the undulating Portimao circuit, he ended the first on track session in 8^th ahead of Matteo Baiocco (Althea Racing) who was another rider to improve on his last lap to take 9^th.

David Salom (Team Pedercini) was 10^th and as it stands would be the last rider to automatically make it into the Pole Position shoot-out tomorrow.

Leon Haslam (Aprilia Racing Team – Red Devils) suffered a technical problem almost immediately. He did make it back out with 8 minutes to go, only to return to the garage at the completion of his out lap. The rider currently 2^nd in the overall championship standings will be hoping to improve in later this afternoon.

Randy de Puniet (Voltcom Crescent Suzuki) was the only faller, the Frenchman finishing the session in 16^th.

FP2 is scheduled to take place at 1500 local time for a further 45 minutes.