The MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship returned to the Circuito Estoril for the first time in almost three decades with Scott Redding (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati) using his experience of the circuit to set the early running in the Pirelli Estoril Round as he topped the opening practice session of the weekend.

Redding raced on the circuit when he was competing in 125cc and Moto2™ and was straight on the pace at the Portuguese circuit as he posted a 1’37.181 to top the timesheets ahead of American sensation Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team) continuing to impress in his rookie season as he finished the session as the lead Yamaha rider. Loris Baz (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) was third after the 50-minute session.

Yamaha riders made up four of the top five times with Turkish sensation Toprak Razgatlioglu (PATA YAMAHA WorldSBK Official Team) in fourth place; just over half a second behind Redding’s pace setting time, and just over a tenth quicker than teammate Michael van der Mark. Reigning Champion Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) finished Free Practice 1 in sixth place.

Wildcard Jonas Folger (Bonovo Action by MGM Racing) was seventh as he made his second appearance of the season and showed strong early pace, finishing three tenths clear of Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK). Federico Caricasulo (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team) was the last Yamaha rider in ninth place; all six Yamaha machines finishing inside the top ten, with Chaz Davies (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati) rounding out the top ten.

Team HRC duo Alvaro Bautista and Leon Haslam were evenly matched in 11^th and 12^th respectively, just ahead of Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team). Matteo Ferrari (Barni Racing Team) was 17^th on his second appearance of the season, with Sheridan Morais (ORELAC Racing VerdNatura), Eric Granado (MIE Racing HONDA Team) and Loris Cresson (OUTDO Kawasaki TPR) rounding out the field as they made their first WorldSBK appearances of the season.

Top six following WorldSBK FP1, full results here:

1.) Scott Redding (ARUBA.IT Racing – Ducati) 1’37.181

2.) Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Junior Team) +0.438s

3.) Loris Baz (Ten Kate Racing Yamaha) +0.499s

4.) Toprak Razgatlioglu (PATA YAMAHA WorldSBK Official Team) +0.550s

5.) Michael van der Mark (PATA YAMAHA WorldSBK Official Team) +0.648s

6.) Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) +0.651s

You can follow all the action from the Pirelli Estoril Round with the WorldSBK VideoPass!