Chaz Davies insists he can fight for the podium in Thailand this weekend as he looks to kick-start his World Superbikes campaign.

The Powys flier was 11th fastest in opening practice on the Buriram circuit on Friday as team-mate Alvaro Bautista again set the pace.

Davies improved on his morning time in second practice and reckons there is more to come as he gets used to the new Ducati Panigale bike.

“On the timesheets my position doesn’t look good, but the feeling is actually better than what we managed to show today,” said the 32-year-old.

“On the last run we tried a different front tyre, but for the moment it didn’t feel good.

“We also made a set-up change that didn’t give me such a good feeling, but we’re working hard and I feel like there is a margin to improve.

“The race is long and it’s hot here, for sure we need to work hard and focus on tyre life especially towards the end of the race. Our aim is to be able to fight for the podium in the races on Saturday and Sunday.”

Davies’s best time of one minute 34.093 seconds was just over a second slower than Aruba.it Racing team-mate Bautista who won the opening three races of the season in Australia on his debut.

The Spaniard was three-tenths faster than his closest rival and reigning four-time champion Jonathan Rea on a Kawasaki.