Chaz Davies is hoping overnight improvements will lead to a better showing in today’s World Superbikes race in Jerez after a disappointing time in the first race.

The Powys rider came home a distant seventh as Aruba It Racing team-mate Alvaro Bautista romped to another victory to increase his lead in the World Championship standings.

Davies qualified 11th but struggled to make any impact in the race as he continues to find it difficult to get a feeling for his new Ducati despite its undoubted pace.

“The race was a tough one,” said the 32-year-old. “After not getting a particularly good start, in the early laps the feeling with the bike wasn’t very good and I struggled to get into the rhythm.

“Then, in the middle part of the race I found myself a bit behind the group that was fighting for fifth place, but I couldn’t catch them.

“Unfortunately, there isn’t much to say, for me it was complicated just to get to the end of the race.

“The only positive aspect is that it was useful to do 20 laps in these conditions which allowed us to get a lot of information. We’ll have a look at all the data with the engineers and hopefully can come up with something good for tomorrow.”

Davies saw Spain’s former MotoGP rider Bautista roar home by a massive seven seconds from Holland’s Michael van der Mark to maintain his astonishing start to the campaign.

Bautista now leads by 55 points from reigning four-time champ Rea who must be fearing his dream of becoming the first rider to win the Superbikes title five years in a row is under severe threat.

Davies is seventh in the standings a huge 194 points behind his team-mate after a start to the season that has not gone to plan after shoulder surgery.