Rea opens top as Laguna Seca WorldSBK kicks off

Laguna Seca WorldSBK - Free Practice Results (1)

Jonathan Rea picked up from where he left off at Donigton Park only a few days ago to top first free practice for round nine of the 2019 World Superbike Championship at Laguna Seca.

Leading the way throughout the 50mins session, Rea - who won all three races for Kawasaki on home soil last weekend - was more than half-a-second quicker than his nearest rival as he laid down an impressive early marker.

With the bikes that showed form at Donington Park expected to fare similarly well at the undulating Californian venue, Tom Sykes was second fastest on the BMW, while the in-form Toprak Razgatlioglu rounded out the top three.

Alex Lowes and Michael van Der Mark were closely matched for fourth and fifth, while Chaz Davies enjoyed a positive start to the weekend, the Welshman sixth and ahead of title contender Alvaro Bautista in seventh place.

Elsewhere, Eugene Laverty has been passed fit for the remainder of the weekend after setting the 14th quickest lap of the 19-strong field. If all goes to plan it will be his first WorldSBK start since round four at Assen.