Chaz Davies returned to action with a bang on the opening day of World Superbikes practice in California.

The Powys-born rider set the pace on the Laguna Seca track on his comeback after a nasty accident in Misano.

Davies was give the green light to compete after a medical having fractured a bone in his lower back when he was run-over by Jonathan Rea in Misano.

The 30-year-old had been forced to miss the second race in Italy with his injuries and admitted after his check-up that he was still feeling some pain.

But he rode through the pain barrier to clock the fastest time on his aruba.it Racing Ducati of one minute 23.425seconds.

Davies said: “My ambition was to just build into the weekend, but things felt quite good right away and we got off a good start.

“In higher temperatures, like in the afternoon, I think we still have a little bit more work to do, but overall it’s been a good day.

“It’s so much fun to ride here at Laguna. We need more grip from the rear, both entering and exiting corners.

“It’s the first test I’ve given my body since Misano, and things felt quite normal aside from getting a little bit of back ache as the day went on.

“Hopefully a good night’s sleep will make me feel refreshed. We’ll take it lap by lap and see how it goes.”

Davies is third in the riders’ standings but 111 points behind reigning two-time champ Rea who leads by 50 points from Kawasaki team-mate Tom Sykes.

Speaking after his check-up, Davies said: “The majority of the pain has gone away and I am ready to get back on to the bike and can’t wait for the race.

“I don’t want to make an predictions now but I’ve only got a little bit of back ache and a little bit of rib pain.

“It is nothing I can see being a problem so I don’t think it will hold me back too much.”
Endig