Michael Rinaldi made his official debut for the Aruba.it Ducati team during WorldSBK free practi𓆏ce today as he finished sixth fastest. 

Rinaldi😼 also pipped team-mate Scott Redding on the timeshe🐭ets as the British rider was one place back in seventh. 

Redding was quicker of the two during this afternoon’s FP2 session - finishing 𝓡third behind Chaz Davies and Jonathan Rea, but it was the Italian’s time during the cooler morningꦰ conditions that kept him ahead.  

Aside from some ‘inconveniences’, it was a smooth first day 🐈for Rinaldi on his factory team debut.

"Today was a very special day. It was my debut 🅠with the Aruba.it Racing - Ducati team for an official session, that’s why I am very happy and fꦕull of pride," said Rinaldi. 

"I have to admit that both FP1 and FP2 were a bit special. We had to face some inconveniences that we did not expect but despite everything, my race pace is not bad🌠 and 𝓰this gives me great confidence ahead of tomorrow.

"I'm sure the team will work hard to put me in a position t💃o be competitive."

F𒈔or Redding, it was a slow start to proceedings as he was out🦹side the top ten during FP1. 

But that was as much to do with dedicating FP1 to working on ꦦused tyre performance and not putting in a time-attack effort as anything else. 

Redding summed up his day by saying: "I think it was a difficult Friday for all the riders. With my team, we have worked a lot on the choice of tir🌼es without focusing on the fast lap time but trying to find a good pace with both solutions. 

"The red flag ♐has interrupted our work but I think we have found positive indications. 

"It's difficult to compare the feeling I had today with last yeaꦺr's race𝔍, especially because the grip was really lower."