BAYLISS SHINES AT A SUNNY LOSAIL

Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) continued his fast pace from day one to record the fastest lap in regulation qualifying today, and subsequently the Superpole win, marking his return to SBK racing in the best possible style. His team-mate Lorenzo Lanzi made it a superb day of action for twin-cylinder faction, running to second place, some 0.332 seconds from Bayliss. The 2001 World Champion’s Superpole lap of 1’59.696 is a new track best in qualifying, and was posted on race tyres, not qualifiers. Bayliss preferred the feel of tyres he was used to after extensive winter testing, and with only one day of dry testing at this race, he opted for a softer race tyre.

PITT COMES GOOD IN FOUR-CYLINDER STAKES

Andrew Pitt (Yamaha Motor Italia) was a startling effective third in Superpole, after finishing official qualifying in the same position. He was to beat the Winston Ten Kate Honda of James Toseland by only 0.002 seconds, with Pitt himself 0.414 seconds from Bayliss’ best-ever performance. Toseland’s pace in Superpole counteracted the disappointment of his team-mate Karl Muggeridge, who fell on his Superpole lap, having been second fastest after the final regular qualifying session this morning, and fastest in the free session in the afternoon. Despite his fall, Muggeridge will start the two 18-lap Losail Superbike races on Saturday from the back of the second row.

CORSER ON ROW TWO AFTER SINGLE LAP CONTEST

Such was the pace of Superpole that even the winner of one race last year, Troy Corser, was ousted from a front row start, running his Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra machine to fifth place, just over half a second from Bayliss. His ride put four different makes of machine in the top five places. Behind him on row two will start Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia), Corser’s team-mate Yukio Kagayama, and then the luckless Muggeridge.

ROW THREE FEATURES PETRONAS AND BARROS

Despite some pessimistic expectations, the 900cc Petronas triple was up to the task of not just qualifying for Superpole, but almost allowing Steve Martin to claim a second row starting position. The tough and rapid Aussie rider scored ninth place, 1.2 seconds from pole at one of the fastest and longest tracks of the year. Behind Martin the welcome presence of Alex Barros and his Klaffi Honda took tenth best time, an impressive showing on a bike which is still undergoing development, in Barros’ first ever SBK Superpole. Another former MotoGP rider and SBK rookie, Roberto Rolfo, excelled at Superpole, improving from his regulation position of 14th to start the races in 11th, one whole row closer to the best qualifiers. The last place on row three went to the fastest ZX-10R rider on show, and the PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse machine of Chris Walker.

NIETO LEADS SPANISH HOPES AFTER TOUGH QUALIFYING

A lack of testing time on dry 2006 spec tyres held back the dry qualifying efforts of Fonsi Nieto (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse), as he scored 13th fastest time after a cautious Superpole. Behind the Spaniard, three Italian riders finished the Superpole contest off, with DFX Honda riders Pierfrancesco Chili and Michel Fabrizio 14th and 15th respectively, while Marco Borciani (Sterilgarda Berik) was 16th after a steady ride. Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) was surprise omission from Superpole, just missing the cut-off time by one position, but with many other big names behind him, at the start of this most competitive season imaginable.

WORLD SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP

After a conservative opening day Winston Ten Kate Honda rider Sebastien Charpentier unleashed his abilities on a dry track in final qualifying, recording a new best lap of 2.03.093. It was his 12th career pole, making him second equal in the all-time standings, alongside Paolo Casoli. Charpentier’s team-mate, Kenan Sofuoglu scored a magnificent second place in dry conditions, with a lap just under second from Charpentier’s unapproachable best. Kevin Curtain (Yamaha Motor Germany) scored top Yamaha placing on the grid, in fourth position, while former Ten Kate Honda rider and 2005 Qatar race winner, Katsuaki Fujiwara (Megabike Honda), went fourth. Broc Parkes (Yamaha Motor Germany was just under two seconds from Charpentier, and fifth fastest, while former Suzuki rider Javier Fores (SLM Racing) was an impressive sixth for his new team. Norwegian rider Kai Borre Andersen (Hoegee Team Suzuki) was best GSX-R pilot on show, in sixth, with Christian Zaiser’s 11th place on the LBR Ducati the fastest twin-cylinder performance.