Overview
- Alex Lowes led the opening day with a 1:40.622, the only lap in the 1:40s, followed by Nicolo Bulega and Sam Lowes split by 0.001 seconds.
- An early Turn 14 fall for Bulega triggered a red flag when Xavi Vierge struck his stranded bike; both riders were uninjured and Bulega later apologised.
- Overnight rain left the second day largely abandoned, with no meaningful running and only Tommy Bridewell and Philipp Oettl logging wet-times laps.
- BMW recorded encouraging speed as Miguel Oliveira finished fourth as top BMW on Day 1, with Michael van der Mark and Danilo Petrucci also inside the top seven.
- Honda fielded Jonathan Rea in place of the injured Jake Dixon, with Rea ninth on Day 1 and lamenting a winter of rain-hit tests that curtailed planned programmes.