Australian Ducati privateer Steve Martin has been strong in qualifying this weekend.  He starts from 9th on the grid and lets hope that form carries through to the two races.  Steve won the Australian SuperBike Championship in 1999 and was 4th in the Australian SuperSport Championship last year.  He is racing with the DFX squad in World SuperBike this year with the support from Ducati Sydney and Australian freight company JAS.  He is also the development rider for Pirelli this year in what they are using as a learning year for their tyre development before Pirelli's planned assault on the 2002 World SuperBike Championship.

Away they go, Edwards leads through the first couple of corners before being taken by fellow American Ben Bostrom.  Corser up into 2nd now and out after Bostrom.  Bussei and Ulm in the dirt.

As they start lap 2 - Bostrom, Corser, Edwards, Hodgson, Bayliss, Antonello, Yanagawa, Laconi, Lavilla, Okada, Xaus, Chili, Martin, Gramigni, Parkes, Toseland, Pedercini, Stey, Sanchini, Pasini, Goddard 21st. 

Bayliss through on Hodgson for 4th and after Edwards.  Corser still trying to hunt down Bostrom but the American Ducati rider looks to have good speed here today.  Antonello starting to challenge Hodgson for 5th.  Bayliss starting to show a wheel to Edwards, the Texan looks to be struggling with grip from the rear through the faster corners.  Lavilla through on Antonello for 6th.

Bostrom, Corser, Edwards, Bayliss, Hodgson, Lavilla, Antonello, Yanagawa, Laconi, Okada, Xaus, Chili, Martin, Gramigni, Toseland, Parkes, Stey, Pedercini.  Bayliss under Edwards for 3rd.  Corser is still not catching Bostrom and Bayliss will be right on the Aprilia's case any moment now.

Bayliss gets better drive and runs past Corser, Bayliss has the bit between his teeth.  I give it 3 laps before he gets past Bostrom.

Bayliss had closed on Bostrom a little that lap, the gap now down to 9 tenths of a second.  Edwards through on Corser who seems to be looking down at his bike occasionally.

6 tenths is now the gap to Bostrom on lap 6, Edwards 3rd, Lavilla through on Corser for 4th.  Goddard on the new Benelli is 18th.  Bostrom has pulled back a couple of tenths on Bayliss now, this could be a battle of the tyres with Bostrom on Dunlops and Bayliss on Michelin.

Lavilla through on Edwards for 3rd.  Corser really struggling with the rear end on the way in to  the corners by the look of it.  Lavilla is coming on really strong and is now only 1.7 seconds behind race leader Bostrom.  Bayliss right on Bostrom now but the American pulls out again through the tight section.  Bayliss closes up again through the fast stuff but once more Bostrom pulls out in the tight section.

Lap 10 of 25 - Bostrom, Bayliss, Lavilla, Edwards, Corser, Hodgson, Yanagawa, Laconi, Antonello, Okada, Chili, Xaus, Martin, Toseland, Stey, Gramigni, Goddard now 17th.

Hodgson through on Corser for 5th.  Bostrom and Bayliss pulling out a little more from Lavilla who is now 2.5 seconds behind the leaders and in 3rd.   Yanagawa through on Corser for 6th, the Aprilia rider is now being hounded by his Aprilia team-mate Regis Laconi.

Lap 14 now and Yanagawa on a charge, under Hodgson for 5th.  10 laps to run, Bayliss half a second behind Bostrom.  Laconi through on Corser for 7th.  Steve Martin 14th, Goddard 16th, Craggill 23rd.  Teenager Broc Parkes seems to have disappeared from the time-sheets, possibly the result of a mechanical failure once again.

Laconi through on Hodgson for 6th.   Bostrom, Bayliss, Lavilla, Edwards, Yanagawa, Laconi, Hodgson, Corser, Antonello, Okada, Xaus, Chili, Toseland, Martin, Chambon, Gramigni, Stey, Borciani is the order with 8 laps to run.  Antonello runs wide and puts his hand in the air, unclear whether it was brain or mechanical failure.

Bayliss through on Bostrom for the lead, can he clear out?  As he just been biding his time? They are coming on to back-markers now but they are keeping out of the way quite well so should not be a factor.

Bostrom seems to be very good through the tight couple of turns at the end of the lap which could be telling come the last lap.  Bayliss makes a mistake and Bostrom back through.  The track surface is very hot, Bostrom and Bayliss are sliding wickedly but it must be said that Bostrom is sliding more, but it is also a common opinion that the Dunlops are easier to control when sliding.

Could Bayliss just be settling to watch Bostrom here for a little in the hope of putting enough pressure on to force the American to maybe push that little bit too hard and make a mistake. 

Lavilla now right with Edwards and challenging for 3rd.  Goddard in the pits on the Benelli.  No shame there as this has been a great showing from the new machine on the scene.  Lavilla takes 3rd back from Edwards.

Bayliss through on Bostrom after a series of fast left-handers but Bostrom does not give it up and squeezes back under Bayliss mid-corner.  Will Troy try it again or will he settle for the points.  I hope not as I tipped Bayliss for the win in our tipping comp'.

Final lap - Bostrom had a couple of bike lengths on Troy but it is through the fast section that Bayliss closes up , there it is Bayliss through for the lead, can Bostrom come back, he is good in the final tight section, Bayliss sliding wildly now, who gets it on to the main straight is going to be the key, if a slide happens that will be it, Bayliss holds on for the win.  Fantastic race.

Lavilla finished in front of Edwards but was docked 5 seconds due to passing under a yellow flag so is relegated to 4th.