Bayliss and his Infostrada Ducati teammate Ruben Xaus came in contact with each other at Druids, the second corner on the Brands Hatch circuit as they took to the track for the start of the final Superbike qualifying session. The fall left the current championship point's leader with a cracked rib on the lower right and side of his back, plus an amount of bruising in the same area. He spent much of the day at the circuit's medical centre, before taking part in the afternoon's free practice and Superpole sessions.

"First I would like to say that it was no-ones fault, it was just one of those things that can happen and I just wish that I wasn't involved in it," Bayliss said. "I'm just very happy that I've come away from the crash feeling how I do as it was a big crash."

In regards to the incident Bayliss said "I knew that Ruben was in front of me on the inside of the track and I started to go fast down Paddock Hill Bend and as I started to go up the hill into Druids, he started to come across and then there was no room for me and I was off the edge of the track in the grass and that was the end of it. I knew I was in trouble then.

"I didn't think that I was even going to be able to ride in the Superpole, but I got strapped up and did a lot of the free practice session before it. It's unbelievable. This morning my back felt the best it has been since the crash at Laguna Seca two weeks ago, so it was incredible to go out there today and only be able to make two corners. I'm pretty sore I must say.

"We'll try a couple of things tomorrow morning and I'm keen for the races. There's nothing I can do for it at the moment other than rest. I know that we can improve the bike a lot more, as we are a bit behind with our preparation now after being in the medical centre all day."

As a result of the crash, Bayliss was unable to improve on his time from yesterday's opening qualifying and finished with the seventh fastest time overall between the two sessions. The rules for Superpole would give Bayliss a starting position of no worse than eighth if he elected not to have taken part, but as is his character, he took part in Superpole and was rewarded with the forth fastest time (a 1:26.801) and a starting position on the outside of the front row of the grid.

Fastest man in Superpole was local favourite Neil Hodgson (HM Plant Ducati) who was the only rider to dip into the 1:25 mark around the demanding 4.221km Kent circuit, recording a time of 1:25.752. Second fastest was former World Champion Colin Edwards (Castrol Honda), who after being the fastest rider in the morning session could only produce a 1:26.050 on his single flying lap. Third went to local 'wild card' rider Michael Rutter (Renegade Ducati with a 1:26.771, with Bayliss fourth.

Row two will be headed by Italian veteran Pierfrancesco Chili (NCR Ducati, 1:26.871), followed by Brit James Toseland (HM Plant Ducati, 1:26.970), Spaniard Juan Borja (Spaziotel Ducati, 1:26.987) and American Ben Bostrom (L&M Ducati, 1:27.036). The top ten was completed by 'wild card' Shane Byrne (Renegade Ducati, 1:27.162) and fellow Brit Chris Walker (Fuchs Kawasaki, 1:27.170).