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With one last extremely fast lap, Johnny Rea made the second free practice session his own as well at Motorland di Aragón, the track that is hosting the third round of the World SBK season. A few drops of rain were no problem for the number one rider who set the best time in the final two minutes.
The Northern Irish two-time World Champion raised the bar to 1’50”062, hitting a top speed of 305 kph on the longest straight in the entire session. After a slightly quiet morning, Marco Melandri and his Panigale R took the second best time with 1’50”161, in other words, just 99 thousandths slower than Rea on his ZX10R and with the same top speed: 305 kph.
The third best time went to Tom Sykes, Rea’s teammate, who rode his Ninja to 243 thousandths behind the team Kawasaki number 1 rider. Behind number 66 were two other Britons: Chaz Davies, fourth after missing the morning session due to a blown engine, and Alex Lowes, fifth and looking good once again today on his Yamaha R1.
Hometown hero Xavi Fores rode his Barni Ducati to sixth place, Dutchman Van Der Mark finished practice with the eighth best time on the sheets, followed by Laverty astride the Milwaukee Aprilia and ahead of Mercado making his return, or rather his début, on the Iodaracing RSV4.
The two Honda riders are still struggling: Stefan Bradl is 1.624 behind the leader, finishing with the tenth best time, and American rider Hayden finished a full two seconds behind the top time in 14th place. So, a lot of work needs to be done on the new Fireblade SP.
Alex De Angelis brought up fifteenth place astride the team Pedercini ZX10RR, just ahead of Reiterberger on the second BMW. Leon Camier was also struggling, finishing sixteenth today. Riccardo Russo rode his Guandalini R1 to finish ahead of rookie Julian Simon astride Lorenzo Savadori’s Aprilia, with Badovini and Jezek bringing up the rear on the two team Grillini Kawasakis.
