Yamaha Enjoy Strong Opening Day in Jerez

Michael van der Mark led the way for Yamaha on the opening day Jerez, with the Pata Yamaha WorldSBK rider topping the timesheet in FP1 before finally finishing in second place, just two-tenths off the time of provisional pole sitter, Alvaro Bautista. Alex Lowes closed out the day with a long run on race tyres in FP2, but his time in the first free practice session was enough to secure the Briton fourth place on the timesheet. A resurgent Marco Melandri was sixth fastest, with his GRT Yamaha Supported WorldSBK teammate, Sandro Cortese, just one place further back in seventh position. Making his debut for the Ten Kate Yamaha Supported WorldSBK squad in Jerez, Loris Baz ended the day in 13th place, despite a high-speed crash at Turn 4 this afternoon.